ARI KOIVUNEN Schedules Finnish Dates

The winner of the Finnish national TV talent competition "Idols", 23-year-old heavy metal singer Ari Koivunen, has scheduled the following dates:

Feb. 07 - Bar Kino - Pori, FIN
Feb. 13 - Liikuntahalli - Laukaa, FIN
Feb. 14 - Hartwall Areena / Kirkan muistokonsertti - Helsinki, FIN
Feb. 16 - Kaapelitehdas / Finnish Metal Expo - Helsinki, FIN
Feb. 20 - Hullu Poro Areena - Levi, FIN
Feb. 21 - Ravintola Taika - Ylläs, FIN
Feb. 23 - Ravintola Umpitunneli - Tornio, FIN
Feb. 24 - Bepop - Saariselkä, FIN
Feb. 25 - Hotelli Luostotunturi - Luosto, FIN
Feb. 26 - Hullu Poro Areena - Levi, FIN
Feb. 27 - Ravintola Taika - Ylläs, FIN
Feb. 28 - Tahkovuori Piazza - Tahkovuori, FIN
Feb. 29 - Kuhmo-talo - Kuhmo, FIN
Mar. 06 - On The Rocks - Helsinki, FIN
Mar. 07 - Summassaari - Saarijärvi
Mar. 08 - Kulttuuritalo / Emma-gaala - Helsinki, FIN
Mar. 14 - Lohi - Lohja, FIN
Mar. 20 - Hullu Poro Areena - Levi, FIN
Mar. 21 - Teatria - Oulu, FIN
Mar. 23 - Sokos Hotel Kimmel - Joensuu, FIN
Mar. 28 - Promenadikeskus - Pori, FIN
Mar. 29 - Tanssikeskus - Järvenpää, FIN
Apr. 12 - Hotelli Tallukka - Vääksy, FIN
Apr. 19 - Kantri - Kauhava, FIN
Apr. 26 - Viihderavintola Konsta - Kaustinen, FIN
May 01 - Nosturi - Helsinki, FIN
May 31 - Pakkahuone - Tampere, FIN

In other news, Koivunen has been nominated in the following categories at the Emma Gaala (Finnish Grammy equivalent):

* Best Male Vocalist
* Debut Album of the Year
* Audience's Choice - Best Finnish Artist

Emma Gaala will be held on Saturday March 8, 2008 at Kulttuuritalo in Helsinki. Koivunen is scheduled to perform at the event, which is sold out but will be broadcast on the Finnish channel YLE TV2.

Ari Koivunen's debut solo album, "Fuel for the Fire", has been certified double-platinum in Finland for sales in excess of 60,000 copies.

A special edition of "Fuel for the Fire" was issued in Finland on November 21, featuring a live DVD and acoustic versions of two album songs ("Hear My Call" and "Angels Are Calling") as a bonus. The live DVD contains material from Ari's concerts in Helsinki last summer and as well as interview footage.

"Fuel for the Fire" (Sony BMG) was produced by Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE) and Pasi Heikkilä (45 DEGREE WOMAN). Among the other metal luminaries who have contributed material to "Fuel for the Fire" are Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT), Janne Joutsenniemi (SUBURBAN TRIBE), Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA) and Jarkko Ahola (TERÄSBETONI).

"Angels Are Calling" acoustic version:
 

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