The Best of the Best: Estonian Music Festivals to Check Out on Your Next Trip
Jazzkaar 2021 Festival. Photo by Rene Jakobson
The small but mighty country of Estonia offers a spectacular culmination of culture and what better way to showcase all of the talent it has to offer than through world class music and arts festivals. From folk music to metal, jazz to classical there’s a renowned festival for everyone’s interests, offering a cultural experience that you won’t soon be able to forget. Often festivals are accompanied by exciting tours of the surrounding beautiful areas or art exhibitions offering plenty to peruse and explore, there’s not a single dull moment. Let’s dive into the best Estonian music festivals to visit and what they’re all about!
If you’re interested in Estonian folk music, how it relates and figures in today’s world and how it ties to the country’s culture as a whole, there’s three great festivals to explore. Possibly the most well known is the Viljandi Folk Music Festival. The festival has taken place every year in what is deemed to be one of the most beautiful small towns in Estonia, Viljandi, since 1993. The festival’s main goal is to increase awareness of the roots of the country’s culture as a whole and keeping these roots alive through music and the arts. Not only does Viljandi Folk offer 4 days of non stop folk music from the world’s top musicians in the genre but it also presents the opportunity to take a course in “regilaul,” the unique call and repeat musical storytelling our culture has thrived on for centuries, courses in traditional folk instruments, and an accompanying arts and crafts exhibition as well as hands-on demonstrations. A total experience! Several of Estonian Music Week’s past performers such as Maarja Nuut, and Puuluup have been staple artists at the festival and this summer Mari Kalkun, one of this year’s EMW performers and NÖEP offered a concert there as well!
Gallery from Viljandi Folk 2019. Photos: Kevin Kohjus, Silver Tõnisson, Martin Kosseson, Ako Lehemets
Two other Estonian folk music festivals worth mentioning are Viru Folk and Hiiu Folk. Viru Folk has been taking place for a dozen years now, focusing on a different region and community within Estonia or it’s surrounding region and the folk culture as well as music of those places. Featuring music, cuisine, arts and cinema, it’s a total cultural immersion and experience! Hiiu Folk takes place on the picturesque island of Hiiumaa and on top of offering days of music, you have the opportunity to take part in several hands-on course as well as a guided tour of the island’s scenic spots so there’s plenty to explore and do. The festival brands itself as being environmentally friendly and the most family and nature centric festival in the country.
Jazzkaar Festival 2021. Tin Men & The Telephone. Photo by Andra Hamburg, andrahamburg@gmail.com
Are jazz, blues and soul more your vibe? Then Estonia has several world-class festivals to offer you in that respect! One of the most well-known is Jazzkaar, taking place mainly in the capital city Tallinn but also featuring concerts in several major cities around the country, it is the biggest jazz festival across the Baltic States since 1990. Over 3000 artists for around the world have performed, featuring stars such as Bobby McFerrin, Chick Corea and Pat Metheny as well as top notch local acts of course. EMW ambassador and performer not only in the past but also in this year’s upcoming festival, Kaili Kinnon, has had the honour to perform at the festival as well, not to mention previous artists who’ve performed at EMW such as Kadri Voorand and Mingo Rajandi. Another artist performing at this year’s Estonian Music Week, up and coming talent Rita Ray, also put on a great concert a Jazzkaar last year.
Juu Jääb festival has been taking place since 1997, started by famed Estonia jazz saxophonist Villu Veski and has the unique location of the tiny Muhu island, making for a truly different experience! Featuring several days of stellar music, there’s also the opportunity to visit the Music Room at the Muhu Music Farm in which you can pick up instruments, jam and create as well as explore music on your own and with other artists. Sõru Jazz is also a great festival to check out, taking place again in Hiiumaa, right by the water at Sõru port. Happening for the 14th time this year, a plethora of genres from rock to blues and from jazz to folk are covered as well as superb mixing of the genres. What makes Sõru Jazz unique is that it only features Estonian musicians so if you’re looking for a great place to get better acquainted with local jazz and the like, this festival is the one for you!
Classical and opera? Estonia has that covered as well! Klaaspärlimäng or Glasperlenspiel is a classical and world music festival that has taken place for several years in the historical and academic city of Tartu. Offering an opportunity to explore not only local culture but those of countries from all over the world such as China, India and France; this festival has a lot to offer. Also a very worthwhile Estonian classical and instrumental music festival to visit is Pärnu Music Festival, run by the famous Järvi family of conductors. Eight days of top notch local and international musicians make this a must-visit festival for fans of the genre. For fans of opera specifically, the Saaremaa Opera Festival is the place to be. Gathering the best performers from opera stages around the world as well as from right at home, the festival offers four days of operatic immersion. On top of that, the younger generation has the ability to learn about culture surrounding both the musical genre as well as the country through hands-on courses.
Finally, for those who want to learn more about contemporary and alternative music, the Estonian Music Days is the perfect festival. Covering genres such as electronic to experimental and everything in between, there’s a lot to offer for all kinds of tastes. Previous EMW performer Ensemble U has also performed at the Estonian Music Days several times. The festival’s main goal is to unite and highlight similarities between culture and music within the Baltic countries and rotates between Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as host countries each year.
It’s clear that Estonia has a lot to offer when it comes to the full cultural and musical experience through it’s renowned and world-class festivals. Why not choose a couple to check out the next time you visit?
Written by: Kati Kiilaspea