Deep Purple's agent says the group was dissatisfied with advance ticket sales in Turku. Another show slated for Joensuu on Tuesday had already been cancelled for the same reason. Tickets can be returned for refund to Lippupiste sales outlets until July 9.

The Deep Purple shows likely suffered from competition from two big rock festivals, this weekend's Tuska in Helsinki -- starring Megadeth, W.A.S.P. and Testament -- and next week's Ruisrock in Turku, starring Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, the Specials and Canned Heat. The latter band, who played at the second-ever Ruisrock in 1971, have returned to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the country's biggest rock event.

From Concert Hall to Rock Club

In Helsinki, three acts scheduled to perform at the House of the Culture have been forced to shift their appearances to a much smaller venue because of poor advance sales. British New Wave singer-songwriter Nick Lowe and New Orleans pianist Dr John will perform at Tavastia Club instead this Saturday and the following Saturday respectively, while the US band Good Charlotte plays there on July 22.

A Beach Boys concert scheduled for the House of Culture on June 29 was postponed indefinitely. Sales for an outdoor show featuring Green Day and Joan Jett in Helsinki in June fell far short of the organisers' target.

Foreign stars scheduled to appear at Finnish festivals this summer include Iron Maiden, the Cult, Alice in Chains, Alice Cooper, Mötley Crüe, Slayer and Iggy & the Stooges, Lisa Ekdahl, Massive Attack, Jeff Beck, Tori Amos, Gil Scott-Heron, Gotan Project, John Fogerty, Lee Konitz, Melody Gardot, Toto, Air, the Chemical Brothers, LCD Soundsystem, M.I.A., Jónsi, Tony Allen, Martha Wainwright, Bonobo, Caetano Veloso and the Baseballs.

The line-up also includes Finnish bands HIM and The Rasmus, who rarely perform in their home country.

Those arriving for one-off concerts include U2, Lady Gaga, Pink, Muse, Lisa Nilsson and Leonard Cohen -- with Sting slated to arrive in early September.