Tallinn Music Week 2010

Tallinn Music Week is a showcase festival and a music industry networking event that started out in 2009, a year that was declared the Year of Innovation in Estonia. Having partnered up with the foundation Tallinn 2011 (Tallinn will be the European Culture Capital in 2011!) and the country’s very own brain child Skype, it is a new and fresh initiative with an aim of integrating the Estonian music industry effectively into the European industry circuit, thus providing a new platform for the country’s best talent to spread further from its country’s borders.

2009 was a fantastic year for Estonian bands and music. The witty Universal-signed singer-songwriter Kerli was nominated for the European Border Beakers Award at EuroSonic, one of her songs picked for the new Tim Burton movie; the Universal-signed Viking metal outfit Metsatöll toured 32 dates in 11 countries of Europe; the guitar-trumpet-duo with mesmerizing soundscapes, UMA got to play at the London Jazz festival, Europe’s most revered jazz event; our MTV darlings Bedwetters toured the Nordic countries, penetrating through to the hearts of some important Swedish radio stations and the Scandinavian MTV in the process; and two exotic world beat acts you’d be surprised to find out to originate from Estonia, Svjata Vatra and Kirtana Rasa, took a Viking boat to EuroSonic this January — just to mention a few successes we had; we’ll be thrilled to tell you more, of course.

This simply means that from now on the last weekend of March will remain to be reserved for Tallinn Music Week in your calendars, and that from now on you will be seeing more and more Estonian bands and professionals at your festivals, conferences, events and parties.

Tallinn Music Week 2010 is excited to announce a festival line-up of 83 bands and musicians that will also include a completely new segment of music this time — at our second-ever festival we are proud to showcase some brilliant contemporary classical music, presented by the Estonian Composers Union. Our hard rock and metal enthusiasts of Nailboard Records and Hard Rock Laager have this time taken an impressive initiative in expanding their showcase into a full three-day festival of its own right — the Tallinn Metal Week, that will take place at the club Tapper. Jazzkaar Festival and the Estonian Jazz Union will share the grand No99 Theatre with Viljandi Traditional Music Centre to stage the promising jazz talent and some exhilarating world music outfits. Rulers of the Deep, the Estonian deep house superstars known far and wide, will present themselves together with some fresh club music talent by Julm Records. The night-time festival hot spot will again be the beloved underground “Mecca”, the Von Krahl Theatre & Bar in the heart of the old town, that will host the Radio2 showcase of witty pop and rock on Friday and the Hea Uus Heli (Good New Sound) festival showcase, full of some gorgeous indie, electronica and shoegaze on Saturday. You will most definitely love it once you end up at Mustpeade Maja (The Lodge House of the Order of the Blackheads) — a mystical basement bar with vaulted ceilings in a 15th century craftsman’s house that will be musically programmed by the concert series Odessa Pop and the Estonian Composers’ Union this time, or at Juuksur bar — a Soviet-time hairdresser’s that is now the indie kids’ favourite getaway just around the corner. Those of you longing for a darker experience with some drone, punk and dark electronica will have a good reason to head towards the RockStars bar. In Tallinn’s biggest live club Rock Café you will find the heart-warming opening party “Humppa tai kuole”(our Finnish friends will get it) and some Latvian superstars on the night to follow.

Beside the fantastic Estonian talent, there are also bands from neighbouring countries present at this year’s event: Finland, Latvia and Lithuania are all represented, thus pointing out Tallinn’s significance as the inevitable geographical link between the Nordic countries, the rest of the Baltics and Eastern Europe — an important stop in the routing of any band travelling from Scandinavia to Russia or mainland Europe. “Estonian talent will always remain the focus of Tallinn Music Week, but we’d love to give our guests and festival-goers a broader overview of the whole neighboring market next to Estonia,” comments Helen Sildna, organizer of Tallinn Music Week.

The Skype’s Go Change the World Award is becoming a tradition, as our partner Skype will continue issuing an award for the most promising Estonian talent of the festival — a financial prize given to the artist judged to have the most international potential. Last year’s award went to the electro-pop band Popidiot, who recently won four awards at the Estonian Music Awards Gala, one of the awards being for their fantastic “Hanging On Friday” video they made with the support of the Skype Award. Check out the video.

Tallinn Music Week 2010 will take place on March 25–27. Our delegates’ registration is open.

Comments from 2009:

Robert Meijerink (EuroSonic): “Tallinn is a beautiful place to take a dive into the Estonian music scene. Great venues and warm atmosphere in beautiful surroundings. Tallinn Music Week has a huge potential to become the ultimate platform and gate to the Estonian and maybe the Baltic music scene.”

Paulina Ahokas (Finnish Music Export): “This event made me realize what an amazing talent pool and enthusiastic atmosphere there are in Estonia, and I am convinced the event will activate local co-operation and ambition even further — and both of these are indeed needed for international work: it is a lot of hard work! Tallinn Music Week’s staff did an amazing job, and I am looking forward to the next edition!”

Vegard Waske (By:Larm/Bureau Storm): “Very good venues and sound-systems, interesting seminars; all-in-all just an exciting and inspiring event. The enthusiasm of the audience and the general quality of the music tells me TMW might be THE place very soon for those who search for new unexplored talent.”

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Tallinn Music Week extends thanks to supporters and partners:

Tallinn2011, Nordic Hotel Forum, Skype, Saku Rock Music, Kultuurkapital (the Cultural Endowment of Estonia), Estonia’s Ministry of Culture, Estonian Air, Vikingline, Eventech, RGB Velvet, Sailinvest – Sea the Future, Raadio2, ETV, Postimees, Rada7.ee

BrainStorm presents their brand new album at Tallinn Music Week

Latvian stadium rock super-stars BrainStorm present their brand new international album “Years & Seconds” at this year’s festival. BrainStorms keyboard player Maris Mihelsons says they are looking forward to the shows in Estonia. “We have always had great shows with spectacular afterparties in Estonia! It will surely be even more fun to play at Tallinn Music Week, when the city is full of musicians and music lovers from all around the world!”

On Friday, 26th of March, BrainStorm will share stage at Tallinn’s biggest rock club Rock Café with "The Newcomer of 2008" and "Eurovision Estonia 2010" finalist Groundhog Day and the latest Latvian indie-sensation Instrumenti – well known already in Eastern Europe, France, Italy and Scandinavia with their “Life Jacket under Your Seat” single.

This year, Tallinn Music Week has opened doors also for artists from neighboring countries. Additionally to BrainStorm and Instrumenti from Latvia, Lithuanian triphop band Fusedmarc will celebrate their recent deal with Playground Records, Finnish electro-duo Jesse will play at Hea Uus Heli showcase in Von Krahl, Odessa Pop programme in Mustpeade Maja includes Finnish indie-electronica band Rubik and Finnish metal legend Amorphis will test the sound limits of the metal club Tapper. Tallinn Music Week will get a kicking start on Thursday, 25th March with legendary Eläkeläiset.

“Estonian talent will always remain the focus of Tallinn Music Week, but we’d love to give our guests and festival goers a broader overview of the whole neighboring market next to Estonia” comments Helen Sildna, organizer of Tallinn Music Week.

BrainStorm esitleb Tallinn Music Weekil uut albumit

Läti poprocki ikoon BrainStorm esitleb festivali raames Rock Cafes oma 15. märtsil ilmuvat rahvusvahelist albumit "Years & Seconds", millele lisaks tuleb ettekandele ka ansambli tuntumad hitid läbi viimase kümnendi.

BrainStormi klahvpilli mängija Maris Mihelsonsi sõnul ootavad nad Eesti kontserte väga. "Meil on Eestis olnud alati vägevad showd ja võimsad järelpeod! Kontsert "Tallinn Music Weeki" raames tõotab tulla aga veelgi lõbusam - on ju sel ajal kogu linn täis muusikuid ja muusikahuvilisi üle kogu maailma..."

BrainStormiga jagavad 26. märtsi õhtul lava ka Eesti Muusikaauhindade galal Eesti avalikkuse teadvusse vuhisenud "läti pandad" ehk ansambel Instrumenti, kelle lugu "Lifejacket is Under Your Seat" on tuntud ka Eesti raadiojaamade kaudu ning "Delfi Noortebänd 2008" võitja ning "Eesti laul 2010" finalist Groundhog Day.

Tallinn Music Week on tänavu avanud oma uksed ka teistele põhja- ning lõunanaabrite artistidele. Lisaks Rock Cafes esinevatele BrainStormile ja Instrumentile astuvad Von Krahlis Hea Uus Heli showcase’il üles äsja Playground Recordsiga lepingu sõlminud Leedu triphop bänd Fusedmarc ja Soome electro-duo Jesse; Mustpeade Majas täiendab Odessa Popi programmi Soome indielektroonika bänd Rubik ning Tapperi klubisse maandub müristama põhjanaabrite metali legend Amorphis.

Eesti muusikaauhindade jagamisel võidutses möödunud aasta TMW menubänd Popidiot

25. veebruari  õhtul jagati Nokia Kontserdimajas A. Le Coq Live Eesti Muusikaauhindade tseremoonial kuldmikrofone möödunud aastal albumi üllitanud Eesti muusikutele. Hääletamisel osales 131 liikmest koosnev muusikatööstuse ja sellega lähedalt seotud valdkondade valikuline zürii.

Puhta töö tegi galal viies auhinnagategoorias nomineeritud Eesti-soome süntpopitrio Popidiot, viies koju neli trofeed, sh parima video auhinna, mis valmis möödunud aastal Tallinn Music Weeki partneri Skype poolt välja pandud „Skype’s Go Change the World“ rahalise preemia abil. Režissöör Heleri Saariku käe all valminud hedonistlik fantaasiavideo loole „Hanging On Friday“, mida on pärjatud ka MTV Baltikumi FRESH tiitliga, edestas samuti mullusel TMW festivalil esindatud indielegendi Röövel Ööbiku hittvideot „Kids’ Stuff Rokk“ ning tänavu Raadio 2 showcase’il üles astuva ainulaadse mental punk pundi Winny Puhhi „Peegelpõrandat“.

Popidiot võitis ka parima elektroonikaartisti, parima popartisti ning ihaldusväärse aasta ansambli auhinna. Püüdmatuks jäi vaid aasta albumi tiitel, mille pälvis Röövel Ööbik oma Universali plaadifirma all ilmunud ning mullustes Eesti Ekspressi Areeni ning Postimehe kriitikute edetabeleis esikohal trooninud „Ringraja“ eest. Röövel Ööbik võitis ka aasta rockartisti tiitli.

Teistest möödunud aasta TMW tähelepanuväärsematest artistidest napsas uue tulija auhinna artpunk bänd Chungin&The Strap-On Faggots, kelle kaasnominentidest retroroki kvartetti Dramamama võib aga näha-kuulda tänavuse festivali raames Von Krahlis Raadio 2 showcase’il, kus astub teiste seas üles ka muusikaauhindade galal elektroonikaaartisti kategoorias nomineeritud darkpop bänd Sinine. Vaiko Eplik  tõestas enda suveräänset staatust kohalikul muusikamaastikul aasta meesartisti tiitli võiduga.

TMW 2009 artistidest võitsid kuldmikrofoni:

• Röövel Ööbik: aasta album ("Ringrada"), parim rockartist
• Popidiot: aasta album („Antenna of Love“), aasta elektroonikaartist, aasta ansambel, parim muusikavideo („Hanging On Friday“).
• Chungin & The Strap-On Faggots: aasta uus tulija
• Vaiko Eplik: aasta meesartist

Vaata Popidoti kuldset videot "Hanging On Friday"

A Taste Of Tallinn to Come

A TASTE OF TALLINN TO COME The appearance of Estonian acts Kirtana Rasa and Svjata Vatra at this year’s European Talent Exchange Programme may be a taste of what’s to come at Tallinn Music Week March 25-27. Svjata Vatra – which translates to “Holy Fire” and sounds like an Estonian version of Gogol Bordello – and the more mellow tone of Kirtana Rasa will be at the Grand Theatre in Groningen, The Netherlands, Jan. 15. Both acts came to the attention of ETEP talent booker Robert Meijerink at last year’s TMW. Tallinn Music Week organiser Helen Sildna believes the ETEP slots and the fact quirky Estonian singer-songwriter Kerli has been nominated for a European Border Breakers Award are further evidence of an upturn for the country’s music business. She cites further evidence of Estonian music starting to break borders beyond winning a Eurovision Song Contest, including Svjata Vatra’s tour in Europe’s Carpathian region, which was topped by a performance at Romania’s Felsziget Festival. Jazz duo Uma played London Jazz Festival and Kosmikud played Finland’s Summer Of Rock Festival, while Metsatöll, Talbot, and MTV darlings Bedwetters all managed European tours, although in some cases they only covered four or five neighbouring countries. Bullfrog Brown signed a deal with a UK blues label Green Bullet and also had its Mother River Delta EP declared the “Best European Record of 2009” by Canadian magazine Blues Underground Network. Sildna, formerly a promoter with Baltic Development Group but now working independently, believes it’s only a matter of time before an Estonian act gets wider success and started TMW with the idea of creating a shop window for Baltic talent. She previously felt the Estonian music business lacked the infrastructure to best promote its national talent, and says she was driven by the fact the situation wouldn’t change until somebody did something about it. “It’s been a weekend of fine music in an arresting and friendly locale. There’s a diverse and vibrant scene here, and enough people with the passion and drive to really make something of it”, said UK-based online magazine Drowned in Sound, reporting the inaugural TMW in 2009. Sildna was expected to be drumming up interest for the 2010 event at Ebbingekwartier in Groningen at 10 p.m. Jan. 14. There’s a promise of Viking Whiskey and Hot Honey Beer.

Kirtana Rasa and Svjata Vatra are playing EuroSonic next Friday, 15th January!

Kirtana Rasa and Svjata Vatra are playing EuroSonic next Friday, 15th January! Tallinn Music Week vol. 2 will take place on March 25–27, 2010. 2009 was a fantastic year for Estonian bands and music. The first Tallinn Music Week was successful beyond our expectations, our bands have had increasingly busy schedules and, guess what? – 2010 will be even better! So, Tallinn Music Week is here to remain in your calendars during the last weekend of March and, watch out – from now on you will be seeing more and more Estonians at your festivals, conferences, events and parties. Next week two of our successful bands from the first TMW – Svjata Vatra and Kirtana Rasa, will set sail towards lovely Groningen and EuroSonic to perform at the festival’s most prestigious venue, the Grand Theatre, right at the Grosse Markt on Friday Night:

Svjata Vatra - Friday, 15th Jan 21:30 Grand Theatre (main)  - Friday, 15th Jan 23.45 Grand Theatre (upstairs)

Neither of the bands are anything you would expect from Estonia. Svjata Vatra (Holy Fire!) are classified as fire-folk and labelled the “Estonian Gogol Bordello” – with Estonian pipes and Ukrainian trombone, you’ll notice yourself dancing to the most outrageous Balkan rhythms. Just two hours later Kirtana Rasa will make you feel like you are witnessing a full moon in India: “Theirs is a slow-burning fusion of styles influenced by numerous years spent travelling – an approximation of languages, cultures and traditions. Anything but interminable hippie drones, African and Eastern flavours permeate their harmonium and djembe-led set, its highlight a delicate, restrained number sung in French,” said Drowned in Sound after seeing them in Tallinn. Talking of some more Estonian action at EuroSonic, the quirky singer songwriter Kerli is one of the nominees of the European Border Breakers Award and, last but not the least, we also have a surprise for you! To give you a small hint; go looking for it around the new festival centre at Ebbingekwartier and trust us, you WILL notice it!

What else has happened in Estonia while you weren’t looking? Svjata Vatra had a tour in the Carpathian region, topped with a performance at the FelSziget festival in Romania. UMA - a trumpet/guitar duo with some crisp Nordic beauty up their sleeve - had a concert at Europe’s most revered jazz festival, the London Jazz Festival. The Universal-signed Viking metal outfit, Metsatöll, and the mystically menacing Talbot both managed to tour extensively in Europe, while Kosmikud let their wild and witty rock-sound loose at the Summer of Rock festival in Finland. Sinine, just announced as the Estonian “New Comer Of The Year”, got a deal with Accession Records, and our MTV darlings Bedwetters toured 5 countries getting to the heart of some important Swedish radio stations and Scandinavian MTV in the process. The blues trio Bullfrog Brown signed a deal with a UK blues label Green Bullet and impressed us further by having their “Mother River Delta” EP declared the “Best European Record of 2009” by Canadian magazine, Blues Underground Network. Winners of the Tallinn Music Week “Skype’s Go Change the World Award” Popidiot, made a fantastic new music video, which immediately grabbed MTV Baltics’ FRESH title, remaining in the MTV Baltics’ TOP 20 and World Chart Express rankings for almost half a year. Together with Chungin & the Strap-On Faggots, Popidiot were nominated for MTV Baltics’ Best Artist award at this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards. Popidiot were featured as Artist of the Week on the NMO - a website promoting Nordic music to the world.

Check out Popidiot’s video “Hanging On Friday” The legendary indie punk band Röövel Ööbik (Robber Nightingale) signed a licensing deal with the Baltic office of Universal and have broken their career’s album sales record. Check out the video for the opening track of their 7th album “Kids’ Stuff Rokk” that won the MTV Baltics’ FRESH prize and stayed in the top position of both MTV Baltics’ Top 20 and the MTV World Chart Express charts for several weeks. 

Tallinn Music Week vol. 2 will take place on March 25–27, 2010 and we hope to see you all there to have some more fun with you. “It’s been a weekend of fine music in an arresting and friendly locale.