Following a triumphant series of performances in South America with several sold-out gigs where Marko Hietala joined Tarja Turunen as a special guest, the two former NIGHTWISH members are set to captivate European audiences with their enthralling collaboration
The European trek, which will kick off in September in Germany, promises to be an unforgettable experience as these two familiar voices reunite on stage once again.
Tarja recently released her first greatest-hits album “Best Of Tarja – Living The Dream”. Her live show will feature a selection of songs from her career, also found on “Best Of”, including fan favorites and her own personal picks.
Adding to the excitement, Marko and Tarja recently collaborated on the duet single “Left On Mars”, which received widespread acclaim.
Inspired by a tale of love and longing, this ethereal ballad combines Marko‘s emotive lyrics and powerful riffs with Tarja‘s hauntingly beautiful vocals, creating a symphony that resonates deep within the soul.
Hietala states about “Left On Mars”: “A love song to my wife which ends up uniting two old friends. Even if the song itself sucked, I would be pleased about the result.”
Marko will perform his own songs with his band before joining Tarja on stage for a night that promises to be nothing short of memorable.
Expectations are high as the duo continues to delight fans with both old and new songs, building on the success of their South American tour.
Tarja and Marko’s “Living The Dream Together Tour 2024” European dates:
Sep. 08 – DE Berlin – Huxleys Neue Welt
Sep. 09 – DE Bremen – Aladin Music Hall
Sep. 10 – DE Saarbrücken – Garage
Sep. 12 – DE Leipzig – Hellraiser
Sep. 13 – DE Hamburg – Grünspan
Sep. 14 – DE Herford – Kulturwerk
Sep. 16 – NL Groningen – De Oosterpoor
Sep. 17 – NL Utrecht – Tivoli Vredenburg (Ronda)
Sep. 18 – DE Bochum – Matrix
Sep. 20 – DE Ulm – Roxy
Sep. 21 – DE Obertraubling – Eventhall Airport
Sep. 23 – DE Frankfurt – Batschkapp
Sep. 24 – DE München – Backstage
Sep. 25 – CH Pratteln – Z7
Hietala was recently asked by El Planeta Del Rock if there is any chance of him and Turunen starting a new band together. He responded: “I won’t close that option off. We haven’t talked about it, putting up a group together or anything like that. But at the moment, it seems that we’ve got a different kind of connection than it was [in the] past. Because then the camps were really divided already when I stepped into [NIGHTWISH].
“And it was hard to find the truth of things, because a lot of it was like a managerial turf war where we got told certain things by one side and told certain things by the other side and lots of confusion — blah, blah, blah — and in the end, yeah, what we already realized a few years back when we were all together there doing the Christmas shows in Finland that after all the hassle has died and the noise has died and everything, you still find out that you lost a friend. And that was the main [reason] why we are basically doing this together again.”
In January 2021, Hietala made the poignant announcement of his departure from NIGHTWISH, citing a profound lack of validation in his life for several years. His decision marked the end of an era for the iconic symphonic metal band. In the wake of his departure, the band swiftly enlisted the talents of Jukka Koskinen, a seasoned session bassist known for his work with WINTERSUN.
Koskinen seamlessly transitioned into his role, making his live debut with NIGHTWISH in May 2021 at the band’s highly anticipated interactive experiences. With his adept musicianship and stage presence, Koskinen honored the legacy of NIGHTWISH while bringing his own unique flair to the performances.
Despite the departure of Hietala, NIGHTWISH continues to captivate audiences worldwide with their evocative music and mesmerizing live shows. The addition of Koskinen to the lineup ensures that the band’s creative journey persists, promising exciting new chapters in their storied career. As they forge ahead, NIGHTWISH remains a beacon of innovation and excellence in the realm of symphonic metal, enchanting fans with their transcendent soundscapes and enduring spirit.
