Arriving a few blocks away, the walk to the venue already sets the tone. The closer we get to Ääniwalli, the rougher the ground becomes; broken concrete, uneven patches, the kind of surface most people wouldn’t think twice about, but when needing the support of a rollator, you feel every bit of it. Lean too much into your hands and arms, and it starts to hurt there. Ease off, and the strain shifts elsewhere. Either way, something pays for it, and it distracts from the excitement for the SKYND gig.

Right by the entrance and ticket check, the ground is at its worst. It slows everything down before you even get inside.

While my husband handled the press check-in, one of the security staff members approaches us, very friendly, attentive, and immediately helpful. He explained where the ramps are, how to reach the right side of the stage as they have reserved a designated space for wheelchair and rollator users. He also offered to arrange a separate chair if needed. It was simple, but it was done right. And that kind of interaction sticks in your mind in a genuinely good way!

Inside, the instructions were logical, but putting them into practice in an already quite packed venue is something else entirely. My chaos brain (hello ADHD) is trying to map it all out while navigating a crowd that’s already settling in. Thankfully, I wasn’t doing it alone.

Getting through the crowd becomes a constant loop of “excuse me”, “sorry”, “can I pass”, sometimes louder, sometimes repeated. Most people respond kindly once they realise what’s going on. Some take longer. And yes, there are those small frustrated reactions (the sighs, eye rolls, you know what I mean, right?) that hit harder than it probably should. It’s not effortless, and those moments do add a layer of anxiety on top of everything else.

Eventually, after a lot of small “negotiations”, we make it through around the bars, past the ramps, and down to the right side of the stage. There, slightly tucked away, is the reserved space for mobility aid users. Not obvious from afar, not large but it’s there and it matters.

Overall though I’m so grateful for the great and considerate community that the SKYND fans can be! 🖤

You can feel the excitement and anticipation of the gathered crowd already properly and here and there you can pick out some diehard fans dressed up for the occasion, with true crime or SKYND inspired outfits. You can already feel that this will be a special night.

I settle in with my rollator and stay seated for the entire set, positioned just behind another seated attendee but still with a somewhat clear view of the stage. From our position on the right side, we’re seated near a large open factory doorway, which leads to another doorway that leads outside. Both doors stay open for most of the show. At first, it’s easier to ignore with the awesome show definitely distracting from it!

But over time, the cold air keeps drifting in slowly building up. The kind of sneaky thing you only fully register once it’s already there.

The music pulls you in. The body tries to keep up.

And then it begins. SKYND, with Father and Deadbeat take up their spots on stage and as soon as the first notes of ‘Michelle Carter’ come through the speakers, you can feel the energy release coming from the crowd. Straight from the beginning quite some people dancing and passionately singing along to SKYND‘s songs.

SKYND doesn’t just perform, they build something immersive. Each track feels like a case, an investigation, and the audience becomes exactly what they frame us as, witnesses. And the crowd responds to that. People are locked in, focused, pulled into each story as it unfolds.

Nearby, two older women reacted with open excitement, with small gasps and whispered comments, that mix of awe and “this is intense” energy. It was unexpectedly wholesome in the middle of something so dark.

At the same time, awareness of space comes and goes. I suppose some people are so deep in the experience that everything else fades out, including what’s happening around them. So you adapt to it constantly. On stage, SKYND delivered a performance that was both controlled and expressive. There’s weight in the themes, but also moments where it shifts, slightly quirky and playful, even a bit ironic, just enough to break the tension at the right times.

It’s genuinely an art form how everything is balanced. The music, the themes, the visuals, the performance and poses. It never tips too far in any direction. It keeps you right there, inside it, witnessing it all. It’s so well crafted, and definitely not to glorify, but rather to look deeper, to start asking the questions why, to understand what’s underneath the surface of darkness, all masterfully merged into the art that their music and shows are!

One moment that sticks comes from “Columbine”, where the line “you can kiss my ass” was delivered with such theatrical attitude and a sharp, kind of playful gesture, cutting through the heaviness without breaking it.

Father held his main position at the back left of the stage for most of the set, working between guitar, pedals, and keys. His presence was steady and controlled but visually striking, especially with the lighting framing him and his guitar from behind. His mask occasionally catching the light under the hood added another nice layer. Toward the end of the set, he stepped forward more, bringing that presence even closer to the audience and lifting the energy further.

Deadbeat, mostly partially hidden from me behind the drum kit (at least in the angle I was seated at), but he still makes his presence known, rising at times to hit the higher parts of the kit with added force and emphasis. A few slick stick spins to add character, while his mask catches the light from behind the kit in a striking way.

Throughout the set, the band feels fully locked in but as the show progresses, that connection becomes even easier to read. Not less intense, just more visibly relaxed within it.

The final track hits hard and the crowd knows it. It’s one of those unreleased SKYND tracks that already feels massive live. The reaction in the room says enough and judging by the buzz online, it’s not just us! With teasers already hinting at a release sooner than expected, this one is going to land. Can’t wait for it!

After the set is done we don’t rush out.

Letting the main crowd clear first just makes sense both to move more easily and to avoid the worst of the push. It also gave us time to secure some evidence on the way out: I couldn’t resist the hoodie (in a size too big of course for extra cozy comfort), the tour shirt, patches…and yes, also that frigging adorable bow!

On the way out, the same security staff member checked in with us again, making sure everything went okay and if we had a good time. Not in a rushed or routine way but he seemed to genuinely care. That kind of consistency sticks. And honestly, it matters more than it should have to.