Pristine nature, a hubless motorcycle and Kalevala the Musical

Finland’s national epic, Kalevala, inspires a musical adaption. Paybill peeked behind the scenes as Julia Murney recorded her role as the witch Louhi in Kalevala the Musical, penned by Johanna Telander. (Photo: Kalevala the Musical)

Verge Motorcycles speeds to the future. The Finnish startup’s fully electric motorbike, Verge TS, has made headlines since its futuristic hubless design was revealed in 2021. Now the company is getting ready to deliver its first bikes within the next two months, writes Impakter. (Photo: Verge Motorcycles)

Visiting Helsinki? The Crafts magazine has compiled a handy guide of its highlights from Finland’s capital city and surroundings. Think museums, independent shops and places to eat. (Photo: Nina Ijäs)

This isn’t a film for the faint-hearted. Deadline reveals the trailer for W, an allegorical horror film by former pop star Anna Eriksson. The film, set in a medical institution in a snow-covered wasteland, is scheduled to premiere at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. (Photo: Anna Eriksson)

Finnish sponsorship marketplace Sponssa gets picked up by its German counterpart. The deal lets Sponssa and its new owner, Sponsoo, align their efforts in connecting sponsors with athletes and clubs of more than 300 different sports. Arctic Startup has the details on the acquisition. (Photo: Sponsoo)

Finnish “elven trip hop” artist GEA releases a new single, Uusikuu ('new moon'). The track gets a praising review in Your EDM, which says it represents “a turning point for the Finnish artist in both quality and style: the perfect marriage of electronic and folk, modern and ancient, earthly and celestial has been achieved”. (Photo: Sanna Saastamoinen-Barrois)

If standup is your thing, we have an event for you. Comedian Ismo Leikola is touring in Europe and the US this autumn and is known for giving a unique perspective to familiar things. But what makes Ismo laugh? You can find out from our interview. (Photo: Rafael Cardenas)

Looking to escape into peace, quiet and pristine nature? You aren’t alone, as Finland’s 41 national parks keep drawing crowds. According to Yle, the Pallas-Yllästunturi and Urho Kekkonen national parks in Lapland were the most popular in 2021, with Nuuksio National Park in the capital region coming in third. (Photo: Harri Tarvainen / Visit Finland)

Hotel Torni, a Helsinki landmark, has gotten a “bohemian” revamp. Finnish interiors studio Fyra was tasked with redesigning the hotel's public spaces. Dezeen talked with the designers about how they layered different colours, styles and historical references to foster the 1931-built hotel’s “bohemian ambience”. (Photo: Sokos Hotels)

Almost anything can be 3D printed, but the byproduct is often plastic waste. To tackle this, Helsinki-based Bloft Design Lab has developed a large-scale 3D printer which uses shredded waste plastic and recycled plastic pellets to make its prints. Read more about the startup’s planet-saving plans on Arctic Startup. (Photo: Facebook / Bloft Design Lab)