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

Apr. 19 - Kantri, Kauhava - FIN
Apr. 26 - Viihderavintola Konsta, Kaustinen - FIN
May 01 - Nosturi, Helsinki - FIN
May 29 - The Liquid Room, Tokio - JP
May 31 - Pakkahuone, Tampere - FIN
Jun. 01 - YleX Pop-Festival, Helsinki - FIN
Jun. 06 - F1 Boat Grand Prix, Lahti - FIN
Jun. 07 - Nallerock, Kuopio - FIN
Jun. 13 - Sataman Yö-Festival, Jyväskylä - FIN
Jun. 15 - Myötätuulirock-Festival, Vantaa - FIN
Jul. 10 - Oluset-Festival, Iisalmi - FIN
Jul. 18 - Wanaja-Festival, Hämeenlinna - FIN
Aug. 01 - Kokkola Rock, Kokkola - FIN
Aug. 02 - Sulatto-Festival, Raahe - FIN
Aug. 08 - Ravintola Z-One, Varkaus - FIN
Aug. 09 - Night Factory, Harjavalta - FIN
Aug. 15 - Virgin Oil Co, Helsinki - FIN

Ari Koivunen performed a "medley" of his songs "Fuel For The Fire" and "Hear My Call" at the Emma Gaala (Finnish Grammy equivalent) on March 8 at Kulttuuritalo in Helsinki.

Footage of the performance, which was broadcast on the Finnish channel YLE TV2 (along with the rest of the awards ceremony), can be viewed below.

Koivunen was nominated in the "Best Male Vocalist", "Debut Album of the Year" and the "Audience's Choice - Best Finnish Artist" categories at the Emma Gaala but came away empty-handed.

Ari Koivunen has commenced work on his sophomore solo album with producer Nino Laurenne of THUNDERSTONE. Like its predecessor, the new CD is being recorded and mixed at Sonic Pump Studios.

A special edition of Ari Koivunen's debut solo album, "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.
 

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