Pori Jazz festival fulfils most artist demands but draws the line at importing chewing tobacco from the US

Pori Jazz festival treats artist requests seriously but will not import chewing tobacco from the United States to satisfy a performer.

The 60-year-old festival remains an exception among Finnish music events by relying almost entirely on local staff and suppliers.

Artist production manager Nelli Petro, who works for production company Aku Tehtaan, oversees logistics, accommodation, technical requirements, meals and general comfort for performers. Her team includes nearly 200 people from subcontractors.

This year’s demands have not caused major complications, Petro said, though she cannot disclose details because contracts prohibit sharing specific rider requests.

One request proved impossible to meet: an American artist wanted a tin of chewing tobacco produced in the US and delivered to the backstage area. The brand is not sold in Finland, so the team could not source it.

Petro said the only solution was to compare ingredient lists of available products in Finnish shops. Once a domestic brand with an almost identical composition was found, the artist accepted it.

The festival, now in its 60th year, continues to build its programme and production around local talent and expertise, setting it apart from other major music events in Finland.