Artists

The Amaro Duho band was founded in 2021 by Matild Dobi, who in 1984 was part of the foundation of Ando Drom band, with whom she participated in numerous domestic and international tours and which was one of Hungary's best-known bands playing authentic gypsy music.

Since then, Matild has been representing Roma culture with several formations, both here in Hungary and internationally (Romano Drom, Olah Gipsy Beats, Somnakaj Gipsy Musical). After 5 LPs and more than 1,000 concerts she saw that the time had come to realize her dream of playing music with her children, thereby passing on her decades of musical experience and Roma cultural values to them.

The resulting family band Amaro Duho (which means “our soul”) plays traditional Hungarian Oláh gypsy music. Together, they bring a captivating fusion of traditional music, infused with their own melodies and thoughts, creating a unique and unmistakable sound. They welcome you with love.

The band is currently working on their first album and has performed in numerous clubs and festivals since its foundation, both in Hungary and abroad.

Amy Laurenson is an award-winning Scottish pianist from Shetland, currently based in Glasgow. Rooted in the traditional music of Shetland, whilst growing up surrounded by classical music, she has developed a style which ebbs and flows between traditional, classical, and jazz influence. This diversity of influences has resulted in a vision which challenges the role of the piano as a solo instrument in traditional music.

After receiving the title of BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2023, Amy released her debut album Strands which reflects on her traditional Shetland roots and how this has grown to be intertwined with threads of contemporary influence and ideas. Strands was longlisted for Scottish Album of the Year Award 2024.

Amy Laurenson - piano
Miguel Girão - guitar

Angus stands out for bringing Estonian-language reggae to wide audiences, carving a unique niche in the local music scene. The band is like a train sweeping passengers onboard for a breezy ride through warm winds and infectious grooves. Their energy is irresistibly memorable.

Let the emotions carry you!

Anu Taul is a singer and songwriter from Mulgimaa, born into a family of artists, musicians, and instrument makers. Today, she lives and creates in Haanja, on the uplands of Võrumaa, in the Haanimaa. Her music is deeply rooted in nature and inspired by cultural heritage and the Finno-Ugric worldview. Anu’s voice is sensitive and soulful, reaching deep within and taking listeners on an inner journey. At the Viljandi Folk Music Festival, she performs both her earlier songs in the Mulgi language and pieces from her 2022 album Metskass, with lyrics by Erkki Peetsalu. These songs are born of Haanimaa’s rolling landscapes – simple and grounded, yet with a light and optimistic sense of life. The concert’s tunes explore connections – between people and nature. As Anu says, music that flows from the heart is a bridge linking us to our ancestors and to all living things.

The soundscapes are created on guitars by Jaan Jaago.

Cätlin Mägi takes the Viljandi Folk Music Festival stage with an audiovisual concert she describes like this: “The stage might get pretty crowded that evening. I’ve invited some instrument makers and singers from the archives. They haven’t exactly responded clearly, but a few might still show up. I’ll be there with my jaw harps, they’ll bring their instruments and stories from another time. And hopefully, we’ll all share a delightful hour together. This year’s festival theme “To Each Their Own Instrument” sent me digging through manuscripts and archives. I looked for old song lyrics and recordings about instruments and their makers. I listened to hundreds of hours of archive material, songs, conversations with old players, archive videos, searching for tunes where the playing itself takes centre stage. As it is said in Estonian folk songs: “Dear little instrument, oh joy, dear kannel of play. The instrument won’t feed a family.” An instrument brings joy and calls you to dance, but it also leads to taverns and work parties. In folk songs, an instrument is never just an instrument. It’s a delight, temptation, and sometimes a real troublemaker.”

Curly Strings is an acoustic four-piece band that draws its inspiration from their own personal heritage in the current Estonian cultural space. Intense and playful ensemble work paired with beautiful memorable melodies and sincere presentation form the main basis of

Curly Strings’ soundscape. The band’s rise in the Estonian music scene in 2013 was something of a phenomenon, bringing their music straight into the hearts of many Estonians and it’s stayed there ever since.

For years, Curly Strings has delighted Viljandi Folk audiences with their infectious energy and sparkling personalities. This year, they’re back on stage with their authentic zest for life and masterful playing to help us all embrace the summer festival to the fullest – come rain or shine.

Eeva Talsi - fiddle, vocals
Villu Talsi - mandolin, vocals
Peeter Hirtentreu - guitar, vocals
Taavet Niller - double bass, vocals

Duo Mann & Juula (Maria Mänd and Juuli Kõrre) are two fiddlers from Pärnu who've known each other since childhood. They passionately play Estonian folk music, channeling legendary old-time fiddlers. Camps and festivals across countries, studies in Gothenburg, and curiosity about other traditions have inspired experimental folk compositions, moody yet sensitive, energetic, vibrant, and brimming with pure joy.

New material crafted during their Swedish studies will soon be heard at Kirsimägi. Their music captivates both dancers and listeners alike.

The special project Duo Ruut³ draws listeners into rhythms and a soundscape expanded threefold. This time, Duo Ruut’s distinctive musical landscapes merge with the groove of a rhythm section featuring electric guitar, bass, and percussion. The new dimension opens up musical paths that feel both familiar and refreshingly new, and the shared breath and lively rhythms of Duo Ruut³ are sure to get listeners’ hips moving.

Ann-Lisett Rebane and Katariina Kivi - kannel, vocals
Tõnu Tubli - percussion
Indrek Mällo - bass guitar
Jaan Jaago - electric guitar

An instrumental quintet of piano, violin, guitar, bass and drums, Epifolium caterva breathes new life into traditional Seto folk motifs (a unique cultural area in South-East Estonia), reinterpreting them in imaginative and truly original ways. These familiar traditions are masterfully reimagined through a unique lens, weaving together the unexpected textures of jazz, classical, electronica, cinematic music, electronica, and acoustic folk into a distinctive, beautiful instrumental tapestry. It’s a soundscape that soothes as much as it surprises and comforts as much as it challenges.

Rahel Talts - piano
Helin Pihlap - violin  
Mart Adermann - acoustic guitar
Oskar Nursi - drums and percussion

Who are these young adults roaming the world with backpacks and instrument cases, always ready to make music together whenever the chance arises – whether on a patch of grass, at a café table, around a campfire, or on a street corner? Chances are, they are the participants of Ethno Estonia.

Ethno Estonia is one of the largest and longest-running of the international Ethno camps held in dozens of countries. For the 30th time, these 18–30-year-old musicians, equipped with joyful hearts and rolled-up mattresses, will gather near Viljandi before the festival and spend 10 nights and days learning songs, dances, and tunes from one another.

Adapting this year’s festival theme a little, Ethno Estonia could be described as “A different instrument every year”, since each camp brings together a unique lineup that performs a one-of-a-kind concert programme built from the music of the cultures represented and the instruments that happen to come together that time. This year’s anniversary programme brings listeners both contrasts and the human similarities and values that connect us all – from Brazil to China.

ETHNO Estonia Youth is a vibrant and diverse traditional music collective that brings together nearly 40 young musicians aged 13 to 17. This ever-evolving orchestra spends a week at Kärstna Manor, where they play music together and learn from one another. With the guidance of mentors, the group prepares a colorful concert programme of Estonian folk music, which they then perform at the Viljandi Folk Music Festival. The week-long camp and the excitement of performing on a folk stage offer young musicians unforgettable memories, the joy of shared creativity, and valuable experience – while also taking the audience on a captivating journey through Estonia’s musical heritage.

Norway's Gangar brings a fresh take on Nordic roots music. The young, five-piece ensemble digs deep into Norway's extensive folk archives to uncover rare traditional tunes, giving them modern arrangements influenced by rock, folk-metal, and jazz improvisation.

Inspired by artists such as Hoven Droven, Meshuggah, and AC/DC, Gangar's sound is driven by the unique Hardanger fiddle. Once vilified as "the devil's instrument" and banned in churches, it is now celebrated as Norway's national instrument and gives Gangar its distinctive voice. Their mission is to bring traditional Norwegian melodies to a wider audience.

Since their first concert in 2021, Oslo-based Gangar have become one of Norway’s most exciting young folk exports. Their five members bring a mix of styles and expertise, creating a unique, hybrid approach to folk music.

Gangar are renowned for electrifying live shows full of energy, audience interaction, dancing, and virtuosic musicianship. They have played across Europe, Australia, and the USA at festivals including Rudolstadt, Sziget, Celtic Connections, and Port Fairy.

With their second full-length album, recorded in 2024 and set for release in 2026, Gangar elevate their sound with fearless new arrangements and collaborations with acclaimed guest artists.

Mattias Truell Thedens - Hardanger fiddle
Oskar Goedvriend Lindberget - saxophone
Richard Max - guitar
Jonas Thrana Jensen - bass
Henrik Dullum - drums

Contemporary Nordic Folk since 1981.
Nordic folk music stretched, reshaped, and brought vividly into the present.
With their distinctive take on Nordic folk music, Groupa stands as a true supergroup in the genre. Since their founding in 1981, they have been trailblazers of progressive Nordic folk, shaping the sound of generations to come. At Viljandi Folk Music Festival, Groupa appears as a trio – the core format that has defined the band’s sound for much of the past two decades.

You will hear powerful ancient melodies alongside original compositions, free improvisation, and an extraordinary palette of sounds. Deeply rooted in tradition yet constantly in motion, Groupa’s music is playful, exploratory, and intense. Rhythm, texture, and close musical interplay shape a sound world where every detail matters.

The trio features Mats Edén (viola d’amore, hardanger fiddle), Jonas Simonson (flutes), and Terje Isungset (drums and percussion), renowned for his inventive use of natural materials such as wood, stone, and glass.

Minimalist at times, explosive at others, Groupa offers an intimate concert experience where tradition is alive, transformed, and deeply present.

Jonas Simonson - flutes
Terje Isungset - drums, percussion
Mats Edén - viola d’amore, hardanger fiddle 

HrayBery is a Polish-Ukrainian ensemble reviving traditional village music. Drawing from nearly forgotten scores and archival audio recordings from the border region of Poland and Ukraine, the band invites the audience to experience a long-forgotten world of music. The ensemble's repertoire proves that this region was once a melting pot of cultures, where Poles, Ukrainians, Jews, and Roma lived side by side. This tradition was shaped by cultural exchange across borders and generations.

Armed with instruments typical for the region (fiddle, hammered dulcimer, frame drum), HrayBery performs vivid traditional dance pieces such as the cossacks, kolomyikas, mazurkas, polkas, waltzes and more. This is an open invitation to dance – solo, in pairs, or in a group.

HrayBery have performed live at numerous dance events and concerts in Poland, where the band resides, and abroad (Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Italy).
In 2023, the band released their first album, "Karczma."

Agata Weber - frame drum
Maksym Nakoneczny - violin
Marta Bodnar - violin
Serhii Postolnikov - hammer dulcimer

Four musicians, four distinct genres, one fresh shared voice. In the collaboration of Peedu Kass, Villu Talsi, Theodor Sink, and Simone Minn, poetic and intense improvisation weaves together with classical music elements. They explore bold new takes on tradition. This genre-blending project has already caught international attention – this autumn, the ensemble performed at the WOMEX world music expo. Simone Minn is a violist and singer, a member of the traditional folk band Kvintrad, and is currently finishing her debut album. Villu Talsi is Estonia’s top mandolin player, best known from Curly Strings. Theodor Sink is an outstanding cellist, concertmaster of the ERSO cello section, and an active member of several chamber music ensembles. Peedu Kass is a standout figure on Estonia’s music scene, a master of acoustic, electric, and synthesizer bass, equally at home in bands like Miljardid or orchestras. These virtuoso musicians craft a melodically rich tapestry blending Nordic minimalism, European classicism, and global eclecticism. It’s a fresh, dazzling cross-genre ensemble on the local jazz scene.

Peedu Kass
Villu Talsi
Theodor Sink
Simone Minn

Justament is a legendary Estonian ensemble active since 1980, winning hearts nationwide over four decades. Their signature sound blends folk vocals with country, bluegrass, and country rock. Since the 1990s, their repertoire has been mostly original material. Justament has left a lasting mark on Estonian music with beloved songs that connect generations through warmth, humor, and sincerity.

The concert is the first extensive monographic presentation of Polish Karaim songs, showing this music in a broad cultural context.

The history of Karaims in Poland goes back over six hundred years. The Karaim language is related to Tatar or Turkish (from the Muslim cultural sphere), while their religion derives from Judaism (with Hebrew as the liturgical language and the Torah as their Holy Book). It’s an extremely interesting minority that has preserved their language, religion, songs and cultural identity thanks to the Karaims’ passion for research. Karaim music has cosmopolitan qualities. In addition to creating their own songs, Karaites often borrowed melodies from countries where they settled. Their music echoes with Polish, Russian, Crimean Tatar, and Ukrainian melodies.

Karolina Cicha - vocals, accordion
Patrycja Betley - frame drums and percussion instruments
Mateusz Szemraj - dulcimer

Much of folk music is made for dancing, and Keelepeksjad focuses on that rhythmic side, drawing from Estonian and other nations’ traditions. Think electric energy, improvisation, guitars, and pure heat, all while honoring and centering the traditional source material. The guitars of Jaak Sooäär and Marek Talts let them deliver lively melodies with polyphonic, multi-layered flair, taking even a familiar polka off on wild new paths. Henno Kelp grooves on bass guitar with modern rock tones, while Karl-Juhan Laanesaar lays down the driving rhythm foundation. At their spring Jazzkaar show, the band celebrated the release of their new album Kalev tuli koju, featuring arrangements of Estonian folk dances alongside Jaak Sooäär’s original compositions inspired by traditional tunes. It earned Keelepeksjad the New Folk Artist award of 2025 at the Estonian Traditional Music Awards Etnokulbid.

“It was a joy to watch their chemistry hypnotize the crowd on an exciting sonic journey for a long time.” – Jakob Lille on Keelepeksjad’s concert.

Jaak Sooäär - guitar
Marek Talts - guitar
Henno Kelp - bass guitar
Karl-Juhan Laanesaar - drums

Folk ensemble Kiiora is inspired by Seto and Finno-Ugric music. In addition to Estonian traditional repertoire, their programme includes a significant amount of original music rooted in folk traditions. Because of their lively stage energy, audiences have nicknamed the group the “spark band”. Once the music carries listeners to the dance floor, the age or origin of a tune no longer matters – the vibrant playing is always equally engaging.

We’ve now been together for 15 years, introducing traditional music all across Europe. At the most recent national Dance Celebration, nearly 10% of the pieces performed were composed by them!

Matis Leima - violin and garmon
Mihkel Sildoja - garmon
Laurits Leima - guitar
Martin-Eero Kõressaar (guest performer) - bass guitar

Tallinn City Theatre actor Kristjan Üksküla has captivated audiences in recent years with deeply personal yet universally resonant original work. His concerts feel like journeys through inner landscapes – intimate, honest, and radiantly open. At the same time, Kristjan's music pulses with danceable rhythms that engage listeners and let their thoughts fly high. This year at Viljandi Folk Music Festival, he performs with a special ensemble whose rich sound expands the poetic world of his songs even further. The four musicians' sensitive, layered playing creates a unique stage atmosphere. The set features Kristjan's own lyrics and compositions exploring the fragile beauty and pain of being human. The concert includes songs from his released albums Uinunu laul and Üle ääre, plus newer material.

Kristjan Üksküla - guitar, garmon, vocals
Krista Citra Joonas - bansuri
Sundari Lüllmann - violin and percussion
Gustav Nikopensius - guitar
Tobias Pilv - double bass

Kulno Malva is an accordionist, folk musician, and composer with a distinctive personal style. He’s been a familiar face at Viljandi Folk for over 20 years, performing with groups like Svjata Vatra, Ninks Suns, Lepaseree, Riffarrica, and others, but this is his first solo show. Expect pieces from his three solo albums Victoriale, Teine, and Akordionimeditatsioonid – plus some tracks that haven’t made it to disc yet.

Kulno says of himself: “I love to experiment and explore – breaking free from the stereotypes of my favorite instrument, the usual sound expectations, and its standard role. Estonian folk traditions inspire me, without a doubt, as do the accordion’s vast sonic range and playing possibilities.”

Kuula Hetke is an improvisational flute duo featuring Kärt Pihlap and Katariina Tirmaste. Through their direct, one-of-a-kind sound, they blend acoustic flute landscapes with electronics and voice, effortlessly pulling the audience into their musical world. The duo’s core repertoire draws from traditional motifs of the flutists’ home regions, plus their own compositions, which they skillfully unpack and reweave on stage into fresh forms. Every concert becomes a unique experience, shaped by presence in the moment and deep listening.

At this year’s festival, Kuula Hetke teams up with visual artist Okeiko, known for her colourful style and whimsical characters. Mastering multiple media, Okeiko crafts a one-off video backdrop for the evening, created live in the moment – just like the duo’s music. Together, these three women weave sound and visuals into a dreamlike realm brimming with joy for life and profound sensitivity.

Lõõtsavägilased was launched in December 2013 when Margus Põldsepp put together a group of students who had studied accordion in his class (Andres Eelmaa, Rasmus Kadaja and Tobias Tae). He wanted the students to get some experience and get to know what it feels like playing in a band. After that, the band started developing very quickly, so what started out as a small project became something a lot bigger.

For the first six months, they focused solely on instrumental tunes, but afterward shifted emphasis to singing. During the first few years, they had four accordions on the stage but in 2017, the soloist Andres Eelmaa swapped his main instrument to a bass guitar to add a different hue to their music. In January 2019, Ott-Mait Põldsepp who plays the guitar and the mandolin joined the band.

Lõõtsavägilased play mainly traditional music, but they don’t shy away from other genres either. Over the last ten years they’ve given more than 900 concerts, played at all the bigger folk festivals in Estonia and collaborated with acts like Untsakad, Zetod, Jaan Pehk, Hardi Volmer, and Metsatöll.

Lummatus fuses electronic soundscapes and beats with Estonian runic songs and bagpipe tunes, resulting in a captivating blend of mystical, meditative and electro-organic dance

music. The ensemble's name, “Lummatus” is derived from an Estonian word that represents a state of being enchanted by something a bit frightening and mysterious.

Kerli Kislõi - bagpipe and other traditional instruments
Eliise Selisaar - vocals
Oskar Maasikas - production and virtual instruments

Mandoterror is a five-member folk-hardrock band that combines mandolin melodies with nordic melancholy. In 2021, the band released their debut album Kodumaa laantes, which earned the “Golden Record 2022” and the Estonian Cultural Endowment’s Annual Award for successful musical achievement. Since releasing their debut album in 2021, the band has released four singles.

Kristjan Kuusmik - lead vocals, guitar
Tanel Sakrits - mandolin
Peeter Hirtentreu - guitar
Aap Odres - bass guitar
Veli Rooger - drums

Manhu present a fascinating reinterpretation of the music of Yunnan's Yi people, most specifically the Sani people of the Stone Forest region, an area geographically cut off from other Yi populations and hence developing its own unique musical and cultural identity. Manhu have been playing together since 2003 and all members are from the Sani farming community, rarely leaving except for performances, which have included two US tours with over 90 concerts and workshops and shows at prestigious venues such as Beijing’s National Theatre. Highly authentic, all the band members are multi-instrumentalists, proficient in a wide range of Yi instruments and singing styles and their upbeat interpretation of these often inaccessible traditions features many locally iconic instruments that help forge a quirky and original sound.

Their 2020 debut album Voices of the Sani, released by the World Music Network, spent three months in the top 20 of the Transglobal World Music Charts reaching a high of No. 8, with many very positive reviews including the BBC Music Magazine, Songlines, World Listening Post etc. and was ranked No.1 on Global Village for two months. Manhu have also been featured on the front cover of The Rough Guide to World Music Unplugged, an outstanding recognition for a group of humble and gentle folk musicians of such remote origins.

After a successful performance at Rainforest World Music Festival 2025, they took their show to the global stage at WOMEX 2025. 

Hongmei Jin - lead vocals
Tao Wang - lead vocals, strings
Yanxiang He - drums, percussions
Helin Gao - strings
Xuehui Gao - bass

Mari Jürjens is a freelance actress, singer, and songwriter. She has released five solo albums featuring her original work: 22 (2010), Maa saab taevani (2013), 27 (2016), Omaenese ilus ja veas (2020), and …aga samas… (2024). For Omaenese ilus ja veas, she won the Estonian Music Award for Author Song/Folk Album and the Golden Record for Female Artist of the Year (2021). Her album …aga samas… earned victories at the Estonian Music Awards for Author Song Album of the Year and Female Artist of the Year (2025), plus Golden Records for Album of the Year and Female Artist (2025). Mari has collaborated and performed with acclaimed Estonian musicians including Riho Sibul, Tõnis Mägi, Vaiko Eplik, Mari Kalkun, Curly Strings, Jaan Tätte, and Liisi Koikson. Her songwriting draws inspiration from time's relentless flow, the human experience, growing up, and Estonia's natural landscapes.

At the concert, Mari performs with accompanying band: Andre Maaker, Marti Tärn, and Aivar Surva.

Mari Jürjens - vocals, guitar
Andre Maaker - guitars
Marti Tärn - bass guitar
Aivar Surva - piano and drums

A rare chance to experience the kannel magic and collaboration between singer-songwriter Mari Kalkun from Võrumaa and Latvian kannel virtuoso Laima Jansone. Let’s turn to our neighbours – musicians from both countries explore the unique qualities of Estonian and Latvian kannel playing, drawing inspiration from each other's traditions, techniques, and sounds.

Laima Jansone is an acclaimed Latvian kannel (kokle) player and composer working at the intersection of folk and contemporary music. Her artistry expands the instrument's sonic and expressive range through extended techniques, improvisation, and original composition. As a solo artist, she creates mesmerizing performances blending meditative soundscapes with rhythmic energy, fusing ancient roots with modern style. On the international scene, she's known with her electronic duo ZeMe.

Mari Kalkun is a charismatic singer and distinctive creator. Her voice, combined with kannel, piano, and electronics, weaves organic, storytelling soundscapes that transport listeners to a magical-realist dimension. Though this internationally celebrated musician has toured solo for over a decade across Europe, Japan, Canada, and New Zealand, she stays deeply rooted in her homeland — much of her songwriting is in the Võro language. She's released nine albums, the latest Stories of Stonia on the prestigious British label Real World Records, with a live version recorded in collaboration with the Estonian National Male Choir.

Ambassadors of South Ostrobothnian Folk Music.

Raw Finnish folk tradition fused with modern energy – powerful, bold and unmistakably Mäsä.

Mäsä-duo blends old and new Finnish folk music into a seamless, vibrant whole. Kyösti Järvelä’s expressive, driving fiddle meets Lauri Kotamäki’s rhythmic three-row accordion, creating a sound full of momentum, surprises and electrifying energy. Authenticity and passion shine through every note. Their repertoire features Finnish traditional tunes and songs, shaped by the duo’s unmistakable style. The 2025 album Hyppööllä presents both revitalized traditional melodies and brand-new compositions — all delivered with genuine Mäsä-duo fire. Regularly described as: “Finland’s tightest and toughest folk duo.”

Their discography includes Eläköön (2017), which was named Folk Music Album of the Year in Finland, Kutsumattomat (2020), released as part of the Finnish Folk Music Association tour, and Hyppööllä (2025). The duo won the first place at the Konsta Jylhä Competition at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival in 2017, represented Finland at the Samarkand Festival in Uzbekistan the same year, and was named Folk Ensemble of the Year in 2018 at the South Ostrobothnian Spelit.

Mulgimaa Noorteorkester aka MNO (Mulgimaa Youth Orchestra) was founded in the autumn of 2017 by musician and school principal Margus Põldsepp. Led by teachers from Karksi-Nuia Music School, most members originally came from there, but now they've grown to represent all of Mulgi Parish. It's truly a community orchestra – including music school alumni, students' parents, and other family members. They've performed at local events, Mulgi Festivals, Viljandi Folk Music Festival, Viru Folk, and Hiiu Folk.

Their repertoire spans polkas to rock, and everyone truly plays their own instrument – from trumpets to saxophones, not to mention kannels and electric guitars!

Nancy Vieira’s music invites listeners into the emotional heart of Cape Verde. At Viljandi Folk Music Festival she brings with her morna – a deeply expressive musical style that has not previously been heard at this festival and which is recognised on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Morna is music of longing, tenderness and quiet strength, and in Nancy Vieira’s hands it becomes an intimate conversation between singer and listener.

Nancy’s instrument is her voice: clear, direct and disarmingly honest. Through it she carries the stories, joys and sorrows of Cape Verde, while also reflecting the wider world shaped by migration and encounter. Her music moves naturally between morna and other Atlantic influences – echoes of Lisbon streets, hints of Brazil and Africa, and a subtle openness to jazz, fado and song traditions beyond borders.

Much of Nancy Vieira’s recent music has been recorded on her latest album Gente – meaning people – a title that reflects the human stories and encounters at the heart of her work. On stage in Viljandi, this music unfolds as a living tradition shared in the moment: a voice, a style and a musical language that speaks softly, yet stays with you long after the last note has faded.

Nancy Vieira - vocals
Jorge Cervantes - acoustic guitar
Olmo Marín - acoustic guitar
Nelly Cruz - electric bass
Diogo Carvalho - percussion

If you ask a musician about their instrument's age, you'll likely hear it has an extraordinarily long history. Indeed, there are countless instruments whose lineages span centuries. Instruments evolve over time, and most of us believe they improve. Mid-20th century saw the early music movement emerge as a beautiful offshoot of the hippie era, challenging conventional wisdom – including about instruments. Folk musicians already tend to forge their own paths. Plenty of confusion, sure, but can we really agree instruments will ever be "finished"? The road we're about to explore isn't straight and it's the side streets that reveal the most fascinating sights. Still, hope remains that the big picture will eventually come into focus.

Nova Lyre is a folk ensemble with a distinctive instrumental lineup, featuring three young musicians rooted in southern Estonia. The band draws inspiration from the unique musical flavors of various Estonian regions, with a special focus on the members’ Võro and Seto heritage. Their sound blends the timbres of cello, violin, talharpa, Teppo type diatonic accordion, jaw harp, and voice. Each instrument highlights its own traditional style, and their interplay creates a magical, mysterious, and thrilling sonic language – planned chaos. At this year’s Viljandi Folk Music Festival, the ensemble spotlights dance music, alongside folk songs and tracks from their debut EP Õbepõesas, which was released in the autumn.

Liina-Mai Põldsepp - fiddle, talharpa, vocals
Leele Jürjen – cello, vocals
Riko Misnik – Teppo type diatonic accordion, jaw harp, vocals

OOPUS is an Estonian audiovisual folktronica band that merges ancient runo songs with contemporary electronic dance music – ranging from techno and acid to dub and ambient. Blending analog synthesizers with traditional instruments like Estonian bagpipes and overtone flutes, OOPUS delivers high-energy performances that reimagine folk heritage as a soundscape of the future.

At the heart of every OOPUS show lies a unique fusion of live music, immersive visuals, and storytelling drawn from Finno-Ugric mythology. Their performances are known for custom-built light installations, movement-reactive visuals, and a club-inspired stage presence, often placing the audience at the center of the experience.

Formed in 2017 by musicians Mari Meentalo and Johannes Ahun, OOPUS began as an exploration of the space between folk and electronic music. Visual artist Aleksander Sprohgis later joined the team, bringing a new visual language to the group. In 2019, dancer Raho Aadla expanded the project’s creative direction further, integrating dance and movement-triggered visuals.

Since releasing their debut album NÕIDUS (2019), which was nominated at the Estonian Music Awards 2020, OOPUS has brought their signature blend of analog synths, live looping, and Estonian folk to a wide variety of stages – from underground raves and immersive meditative sets to major international festivals such as Burning Man (USA), ESNS (Netherlands), Linecheck (Italy), Nordischer Klang (Germany), Borderland (Sweden), and Viljandi Folk Music Festival (Estonia) to name a few. Their second album Folk On Acid (2022) received the Raadio 2 Special Prize at the Estonian Ethno Music Awards. Their third album Reivlender was released in 2026.

OOPUS has collaborated on multidisciplinary projects such as Meelte Videvik
(Twilight of Senses, with Sunbeam Productions and a renowned conductor Kristjan Järvi), BMW Estonia’s 4th Series launch, the town of Viljandi, and the Tartu 2024 European Capital of Culture.

Mari Meentalo - Estonian bagpipes, vocals, mouth harps, overtone flute, live
looping
Johannes Ahun - analog and digital synthesizers, sound engineer
Aleksander Sprohgis - custom-built light installations, visuals
Raho Aadla - dance
Aurelia Kuum - assistant/manager

Orkesta Mendoza is the brainchild of Tucson-based producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Sergio Mendoza – a Latin music pioneer whose sound is rooted in the place that made him. Raised on the international border in Ambos Nogales, Sergio grew up absorbing the eclectic mix of music spilling from Bordertown radio stations, and that sense of place has never left his work. The result is a bold blend of Indie Rock and Latin music that has become a cornerstone of Tucson culture – and a sound that continues to evolve through Mendoza's gift for global collaboration. From arranging Esto Sí Es Cumbia for Los Ángeles Azules to co-producing albums with Calexico's Joey Burns and John Convertino, Orkesta Mendoza brings together musicians from across regions and genres to create something entirely its own.

Four musicians came straight from a gig. At one point, they realized there was no hope of making it home that night. By the ruins of an old house, they built a fire and settled in to wait for dawn. One of them said: “Friends, let's play for the memory of the people who once lived here!” And they started playing when suddenly they saw…

What happened next? You'll hear it at the concert.

This isn't just a concert – it's a gathering where old friends share the stage and programme, time and space, music and stories.

Piret Päär - folk tales
Cätlin Mägi - bagpipe, jaw harp, whistles
Marko Mägi - saxophones

Puuluup sprouted from the roots of the talharpa tradition on Vormsi island and shakes its treetop with carefree glee in the streams of zombie folk and punk, trad-hop chi kung, Vivaldi and Jung and the band’s neverending urge to bow. Puuluup’s lyrics mostly discuss topics concerning cross country skiing and energy politics, with some sudden digressions to hygiene and love. They are known for their detailed descriptions of various important objects of nature and culture, pensive humor and choreographies suitable for all age groups. If you come to enjoy the concert right in front of the stage, keep yourself rooted in the ground and your hands up, as you may have to carry the gliding weight of some 100-kilo talharpa surfers. 

Ramo Teder - talharpa, vocal, looper, effects
Marko Veisson - talharpa, vocal, effects

RaagaRegi opens a dialogue between the musical traditions and patterns of two ancient cultures. Indian ragas meet the thought-worlds and soundscapes of Estonia's rhythmic runic folk songs, woven into a visual whole by live-created video projections. These seemingly distant cultures are closer through music than one might imagine. RaagaRegi is a journey of the mind, carrying listeners through stories, sounds, and images toward the great mystery of what it means to be human. We move together across land and through water, along the day into night, past the stars, around the moon's curve to where the hours are counted.

At the same time, we shine a light on one very special instrument: the bansuri. To each their own instrument and sometimes you discover one from a faraway, exotic world.

Meelika Hainsoo - vocals, talharpa, tanpura
Krista Citra Joonas - bansuri
Andre Maaker - guitars
Alyona Movko-Mägi - visuals

Regisong Podcast is a podcast series by the Estonian Traditional Music Centre. Six seasons are now available, each with 10 episodes for learning, singing along, and reflection. Each season features a cultural figure who helps contextualize ancient runic songs and bring these primal texts closer to listeners. The concert carries the same spirit: hear veteran singers from the podcast perform old regisongs, with mother-daughter duo Leelo Tungal and Maarja Kangro weaving the stories around them.

Singers: Silver Sepp, Lauri Õunapuu, Meelika Hainsoo, Kärt Johanson. They are joined by the next generation.

Stories: Leelo Tungal and Maarja Kangro.

Salu is an Estonian-Danish quartet at the centre of which are traditional folk texts from Kambja Parish in South Estonia, where the band’s creator, Elina Kasesalu comes from. Built on the texts, sayings, spells and lyrics, a strong foundation of bass, drums and guitar, contrasts with soft vocals and a warm violin sound.

Rooted in tradition, they draw a line to the past, while the music unfolds as a curious dialogue between tradition and experimentation, creating a colorful and attention-grabbing soundscape.

These songs trace of Elina’s identity, inspired and shaped by the many choices in life and a world that is constantly shifting, yet grounded in the familiarity and certainty of where she comes from. The name Salu comes from her roots – her father’s surname, and also the name of her childhood home, connected to her mother’s family in Kambja Parish.

Elina Kasesalu - violin, vocals
Mikkel Schmidt - bass
Jeppe Ellegaard - drums
Thomas Brunbjerg - guitar

This concert takes listeners on a journey through life on Ruhnu: from weddings and celebrations to the church and shoreline, from everyday moments to the solitude of seafaring. Centuries-old tales speak of a small community's joys, faith, and survival offering a glimpse into a unique culture whose continuity was broken by the great evacuation of 1944. The trio invites you to dance to fiddle tunes from Ruhnu, sing along, and immerse yourself in the special, powerful world of Ruhnu Island and its people's heritage. Archival materials and videos feature Ruhnu's landscapes, people, customs, and dances.

Karoliina Kreintaal - fiddle, vocals
Lee Taul - fiddle, vocals
Kairi Leivo - storytelling, vocals

Sten-Olle is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and film composer hailing from tiny Estonia. He writes in his native (and haunting) Estonian and has received a lot of praise especially for the deep lyrical depth of his compositions, contrasted with an indie touch of writing catchy riffs and using bits of orchestra to blend it all into a cohesive, mesmerizing sound.

His third album Rapla receives continuous radio airplay in all Estonian language radio stations and was noted as album of the month in the Estonian jazz-radio Raadio Tallinn right after it’s release. His songwriting has evolved from simpler singer-songwriter days into full-blown arrangements with countless musicians, but, as he himself likes to say: “I don’t know enough music to write complicated stuff, so I have to make the simple stuff sound as if I did.”

Kelly Vask, musician and songwriter, joins Sten-Olle on stage at Viljandi Folk Music Festival.

Sten-Olle Moldau - vocals, guitar
Kelly Vask - vocals

Tell Your Birds is an experimental folk music collective with an artistic expression built on wandering, discovering and getting lost while telling a story through sounds and melodies our ancestors have coded into the archives and passed on as their braids grew longer.

The collective draws inspiration from Latvian and Estonian traditional musics, situating these influences alongside the different musical backgrounds involved, such as electronic and contemporary classical music, and the use of field recordings. Tell Your Birds aims to embody folk music for today’s ears full of city noises, bedroom ballads, radio hits, long drones or rave pulses.

Vija Moore - percussion and vocals
Kärt Tambet - violin and jouhikko
Kristīne Tukre - concert kokle and zithers
Simone Spampinato - synthesizer and live electronics

There is spirit and fire in the music of The Zawose Queens. There are the vibrations of the ancestors, coming through on traditional instruments – soaring chizeze fiddle, buzzing illimba thumb piano, ngoma drums that chatter and thunder – and voices that go deep, high and out there. There's the connection to nature, to ceremony and ritual, in their dance-inspired fusion, their blend of the organic, harmonic and modern-day electronic. There are lyrics that tell, in their native kigogo, of the passion for music, the wonders of life. Of pride in environment, in tradition. In their East African roots.

Pendo and Leah Zawose showcase the fluid polyrhythms and rapturous polyphonic singing of the Gogo (aka Wagogo) people of the arid, hilly Dodoma region of central Tanzania.
The most famous exponent of this musical tradition is the late, great Dr Hukwe Zawose (Pendo’s father and Leah’s grandfather).

Their debut album Maisha (2024) marks the first time that women from this famous musical family take their place as lead vocalists and performers. The collection of songs ranges from the stripped back and traditional-sounding to those treated with subtle electronic elements.

Pendo Zawose
Leah Zawose

“To Each Their Own Instrument” is a concert performance created by the Estonian Traditional Music Center, tracing the story of Estonian folk instruments. Musical and oral traditions have been a means of survival, a voice of resistance, and a carrier of community. The stage comes alive with colorful tales and pivotal figures from our cultural history. The performers are students from the folk music programmes at Heino Eller Tartu Music College, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, and the University of Tartu’s Viljandi Culture Academy. Born from workshops of acting, movement, and musical creation, this production brings archive-preserved traditional material to life through a new generation of performers.

Performers/musicians:
Emma Lotta Kiviberg - bagpipe, flute, vocals
Kertu-Liis Õnnis - kannels, vocals
Marie Välja - fiddle, cello, vocals
Mart Adermann - guitar, vocals
Riko Misnik - Teppo-type diatonic accordion, jaw harp, vocals
Romet Allingu - Teppo-type diatonic accordion, double bass, vocals

Creative team:
Director - Lee Taul
Dramaturgy - Inga Ronk, Lee Taul
Visual, lighting, decorations - Merike Paberits, Mati Ploompuu
Movement and stage speech - Rauno Kaibiainen, Shannon Quinn
Musical design, sound engineer - Marko Peder

Tõnis Mägi is one of Estonia's most influential and beloved composers, whose voice and songs have accompanied generations. He's performed with bands like Muusik Seif, Ultima Thule, 777, and Estraadiraadio. His gold-certified catalogue includes timeless hits like “Koit”, “Ilus oled, Isamaa!”, “Jäljed”, “Déjà vu”, “Liivakell”, and many more that have left a lasting mark on Estonian music.

In Viljandi, Mägi takes the stage solo: just him and the keys!

In 2024, Toomas Valk was named the fourth Vabariigi Pillimees (Vabariigi Pillimees is a generally recognized badge of mastery for Estonian folk musicians). He comes from Setomaa, the village of Nedsaja, and is a musician with a distinctive playing style that combines the essence of a traditional village accordionist with the characteristics of a modern performer. Toomas has put his heart into researching and bringing old Seto accordion tunes back to life, while also contributing to the creation of new Estonian folk music. His main instrument is a three-row garmon which was custom-made for him in the Netherlands. Late 2025 saw the release of his solo album featuring original garmon compositions. At this year's festival concert, he'll focus on showcasing material from that album.

Trifoor sets the ground rumbling with Estonian folk music and fierce female energy! They draw the listener into the mysterious depths of traditional folk music and bring to the stage the material from archives. By combining the traditional sound of acoustic instruments with the rhythmic groove of electric instruments, the band creates a genre-bending and unique musical style. They give folk and rock a fresh breath of air and a playful form.

Trifoor came together in 2023 at the Viljandi Culture Academy and has since grown into a five-member band. The band proudly holds the Grand Prix of a youth folkband contest “Noor Pärimusbänd 2025.” In January 2026 Trifoor released their debut album.

Marta-Helene Hansing - fiddle, vocals
Ariana Arutjunjan - guitar, vocals
Emma Lotta Kiviberg - flute, vocals
Emilia Peil - drums
Kristina Kullang - bass guitar, vocals

Triinu Orgmets is a folk musician whose true passion is the kannel. She studied folk music and kannels at Viljandi Culture Academy. For Triinu, the kannel is like a second mother tongue: an instrument where tradition, improvisation, and contemporary soundscapes intertwine.

Her compositions dance along the boundary between heritage and modernity. By exploring ancient playing techniques and archaic soundscapes, she brings them to today’s audiences through her distinctive interpretation, sometimes weaving in fairy tales or runic verse as lyrics.

Triinu’s music carries sincerity, curiosity, and direct presence. Each piece unfolds like a small story – tales of roots, people, and time that live on through sound. Listeners are invited into the kannel’s world: sometimes reflective and immersive, sometimes playful and flowing, but always honest and authentic.

Tuulebant+ got started 10 years ago when some brave local guys decided to jam together. Over the years, they've shared stages with countless others, played epic parties (each one wilder than the last), rocked various festivals (including Viljandi Folk Music Festival 2025), and picked up wisdom along the way.

Their repertoire spans songs and tales from nearby and as far as seven seas away. Sometimes they are about a jolly fiddler, other times a captain bursting with zest for life. With so many tunes, including plenty of originals, they've once again called in reinforcements from friendly bands who've brought their skills and energy to the mix over the past decade.

Richard Ott Leitham - diatonic accordions, banjo, vocals
Karl Kobin - fiddle, vocals
Kert Krüsban - guitar, vocals
Ernst Valdmaa - bass guitar, vocals
Uku Zolgo - Estonian diatonic accordion, vocals
Ott-Mait Põldsepp - mandolin, guitar, vocals
Sander Udikas - whistles, saxophone, vocals
Tõnis Kirsipu - percussions
Martin Mänd - sound and Ipad (to make it all sound nice)

Untsakad is an Estonian folk music ensemble founded in 1992. They adopted the name Untsakad in 1993, having previously performed as Rahvastepall. The group collects and performs Estonian folk songs, with a repertoire spanning historical themes (WWI, War of Independence, WWII, Forest Brothers, Soviet era) plus sailors' songs and village party tunes.

They've released 10 albums: Karmi elu sunnil (1994), Nuur ma olli, ull ma olli… (1995), Päälinna Laiv Von Krahlis (1996), Nižni Novgorod (1997), Metsa läksid sa (1998), Tütarlaps Merimeeste Kõrtsist (2000), Untsakad 10 (2002), Metsa läksid sa 2 (2006), Meie küla pidu (2011), and Nõiduvad huuled (2025).

In 2025, they won the Etnokulp Album of the Year award.

Jaanus Jantson - guitar, vocals
Ilmar Kald - fiddle, vocals
Jaanus Põlder - mandolin, vocals
Margus Põldsepp - Estonian diatonic accordion, vocals
Marek Rätsep - bass guitar, vocals
Tauno Uibo - sound engineer

Four Musicians who have won the badge of Vabariigi Pillimees will unite on stage at the festival: Juhan Uppin (first-ever titleholder, 2018), Martin Arak (second, 2020), Kert Krüsban (third, 2022), and Toomas Valk (fourth, 2024). Vabariigi Pillimees is a generally recognized badge of mastery for Estonian folk musicians.

Toomas Valk from Setomaa brings a distinctive style blending old village musician vibes with modern stage performer. His garmon playing is quite a challenge for the students as he seems to find notes that aren't even on the buttons.

Kert Krüsban started experimenting with sounds as soon as he could fit his grandfather's tiny children's garmon on his lap. Thanks to Lahemaa Rahwamuusikud, these sounds turned into proper tunes, and he grew into a diatonic accordion player there. Now he's teaching the next generation and we might even see some of his students in future competitions of Vabariigi Pillimees.

Martin Arak from Rõngu (aka Kandle-Oss) has made playing the folk kannel his passion, just like his ancestors. This third-generation folk musician captivates with charisma, nimble fingers, and a voice that gets everyone within a kilometer singing along!

Juhan Uppin is considered one of the finest, most respected, and most decorated instrumentalists of his time. Beyond performing, his day job is teaching and researching folk music. His everyday instrument is the Teppo-style accordion; his "Sunday instrument" is the kannel.

To Each Their Own Fiddle!

Viiulikvartett is a group of young folk fiddlers exploring rich, authentic violin sounds. They prize genuine style and danceability, playing at the edge where tradition meets contemporary expression. Their repertoire draws from Estonia's folk music treasure trove, exciting tunes from various regions, plus original compositions inspired by traditional sounds. Four violins unlock endless possibilities!

At Viljandi Folk Music Festival, the quartet highlights players and singers whose archived songs have most inspired them, paying homage to Estonia's legendary instrumentalists and their dance music legacy. The fiddle takes center stage as a lens to explore the unique styles of Estonian folk instruments. On stage, four distinct voices blend – to each their own fiddle!

Liina-Mai Põldsepp - fiddle
Emma Elisabeth Toots - fiddle
Lisette Ant - fiddle
Jakob Ermann - fiddle

Zetod is a musical phenomenon born in Värska in 2003, which began with the idea of bringing Seto boys into the pop-rock world, combining a contemporary sound with their cultural heritage. At the time, it was something completely new and electrifying.

Over the years, this bold initiative has grown into one of Estonia’s most beloved and unique ensembles. Zetod have won numerous awards, released seven studio albums, and even experimented with creative boundaries using music generated by artificial intelligence. In 2026, the band will celebrate its 23rd year of activity.

With unforgettable stage energy, yet always respecting tradition, Zetod are vital popularizers of heritage culture among the younger generation and a worthy calling card for Southern Estonia worldwide.

Zetod's goal is simple: as long as the Seto man's heart beats – and it beats hotter with time – the Seto spirit and song must be brought to stages all over the world for the joy of the listener.

Jalmar Vabarna
Matis Leima
Artur Linnus
Martin Kütt
Jaanus Viskar