Features
A Taste Of Tallinn To Come
The appearance of Estonian acts Kirtana Rasa and
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.