Finnish RASKASTA JOULUA has issued the following update on their Official Website:

Raskasta Joulua (Heavy Christmas) will begin its annual tour again in November. Last  year a large part of the tour concerts were sold-out, culminating the tour in the three shows at Tavastia Club in Helsinki, with a total of 2000 spectators. The audience of the whole tour exceeded the 8000 limit of the viewers. This year’s program includes more concert halls, although the clubs have not been forgotten. The repertory will also be added by new arrangements.

This year the Raskasta Joulua-project will present a new soloist, Pasi Rantanen (ex-Thunderstone). Pasi sang already in the project’s debut album, and will now have his debut on tour.

Other soloists are Marco Hietala (Nightwish, Tarot, Northern Kings), Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica, Northern Kings), J. Ahola (Teräsbetoni, Northern Kings, Ahola), JP Leppäluoto (Charon, Harmaja, Northern Kings), Tommi “Tuple “Salmela (Tarot), Ari Koivunen (solo, Amoral), Ilja Jalkanen (Ex-Heater, solo), and Antony Parviainen (Machine Men).

Soloists vary from place to place. In the Tour-band are still playing Erkka Korhonen (artistic director and guitarist), Vili Ollila (keyboardist), Erkki Silvennoinen (bassist) and Thomas Wäinölä (guitarist). Mirka Rantanen (drummer) makes a comeback after one year’s break!

The tour dates, so far:

19.11.2011  Eura  Osmantupa   
25.11.2011  Espoo  Amarillo   
26.11.2011  Pälkäne  Sappee   
01.12.2011  TBA    
02.12.2011  Levi  Hullu Poro Areena   
03.12.2011  Oulu  Teatria   
04.12.2011  Ylivieska  Akustiikka  
05.12.2011  Raahe  Raahesali  
08.12.2011  Turku  Klubi   
09.12.2011  Tampere  Klubi  
09.12.2011  Tampere  Klubi  
10.12.2011  Helsinki  Nosturi  
10.12.2011  Helsinki  Nosturi  
15.12.2011  Jyväskylä  Paviljonki
16.12.2011  Mikkeli  Vaakuna   
17.12.2011  Kuopio  Musiikkikeskus  
18.12.2011  Kuhmo  Kuhmotalo