Ireland
http://www.altan.ie/

^{Moving and listenable}

No Irish traditional band in the last dozen years has had a wider impact on audiences and music lovers throughout the world than Altan with their exquisitely produced award-winning recordings, ranging dynamically from the most sensitive and touching old Irish songs all the way to hard hitting reels and jigs, and with their heartwarming, dynamic live performances.

Throughout, there has been the unwavering commitment of the band to bringing the beauty of traditional music, particularly that of the Donegal fiddlers and singers, to contemporary audiences in a way that brings out all its qualities and destroys none. In fact, Altan have always believed that Irish traditional music is a modern music in every sense and its growing influence and popularity have proved them right.

Loch Altan is situated in north-western Donegal. The lake lies in the shadow of Errigal and Musckish - two of the main mountains in the Derryveagh Range that spread north-east towards the Caledonian mountains in Scotland. This is a very appropriate background to the band Altan, as this picturesque area is the source and inspiration for their music and song.

• Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh – fiddle, vocal
• Dermot Thomas Byrne – accordion
• David Francis Sproule a.k.a. Dáithí Sproule – guitar, vocal
• Ciaran Michael Tourish – fiddle, whistle, vocal
• Kieran Curran a.k.a. Ciaran Curran – bouzouki, mandolin

Estonia

^Harken

Anu Taul offers you a program that is based on runo songs. Anu’s earlier albums “Tähe tüdar” (Star Daughter) and “Engi Aig” (Soul Time) provide the listener with original and powerful runo song arrangements. She pursues the same style at the Festival. Anu describes her program as follows:

“Old songs are like apples on an ancient tree, I pick and taste without actually knowing how deep the roots reside in the ground. “Tasting” runo songs I sense the flowing time like a wind that is rustling in the branches of my familiar apple tree. These songs are here and now with me and I am with you sharing the songs that ancient and fresh all at once”.

• Anu Taul – guitar, vocal
• Triinu Taul – bagpipes, Jew’s harp, vocal
• Andre Maaker – guitars
• Marko Mägi – soprano saxophone
• Reigo Ahven – percussion

Estonia

^{For gourmands}

The ensemble was established to introduce organ suites composed by Edgar Arro. Edgar Arro has written six suites for organ on Estonian folk music themes. Ene plays a selection of them on the organ and Anneli and Celia introduce their originals. Arro did not add his compositions references to the originals, that is why identifying and performing them is the result of a true research. At the same time it provides us with an opportunity to use, say, different folklore texts with the same melody which also makes the performance of E. Arro compositions more varied. Instrumental tunes are performed as they originally were. In addition to all that the ensemble performs some choral preludes and other pieces composed by Arro and other Estonian composers in their folk style choral format.

Arrotajad gave one of their first concerts at Viljandi Folk Music Festival in 2004. They have performed in several Estonian and Finnish churches, and participated in choral evenings with their folk style chorals, arrangements and improvisations both at Tallinn Dome Church and in Finland. The ensemble represented Estonia in Helsinki at the Estonian Congregation 10th anniversary Holy Mass in February 2006.

Photo by Päivi Lassila.

• Ene Salumäe – organ
• Celia Roose – bagpipes, long pipe, kannel, vocal
• Anneli Kont-Rahtola – violin, bowed harp, kannel, vocal

• Anneli Kont-Rahtola: +372 408 463 103; marahtola@msoynet.com

Estonia

The ensemble has focused on arranging Christian Caucasian, particularly Armenian folk songs. They are trying to find common ground between Estonian and Armenian music. In fact several Caucasian folk songs discover a crisp Northern sound in the arrangement by Atlas.

• Erle Võsa-Tangsoo – vocal
• Maria Mölder – vocal
• Prita Purre – flutes
• Brigitta Davidjants – canon (Caucasian string instrument)
• David Davidjants – double bass, bass guitar
• Kill Kaare – darbuka, dholak, djembe

• Brigitta Davidjants: +372 564 894 43; brigitta@bahamapress.org

Estonia/Russia
http://www.narvamuuseum.ee/ru_pages/suprjadki.htm http://avenue.ee/

^{Listenable and moving}

Avenue and Suprjadki have performed at the Festival on previous years as well. They have always been a surprise with their freshness and energy. Their repertoire contains Russian and Estonian folk songs that they try to enrich with the so-called soft rock. Such a combination of styles and cultures fascinates both rock and folk music fans.

The project came to life in the winter of 2004 when Vladimir Cherdakov (AveNue lyrics and music author) tried to perform a folksong together with Marina Kuvaitseva (the leader of Suprjadki). Thus the idea to join the two ensembles – a folk song choir “Suprjadki” and a rock ensemble “AveNue” – was born.

AveNue

• Vladimir Tšerdakov – guitar
• Kirill Adõlin – bayan
• Kirill Smirnov – bass guitar
• Ilja Lazarev – drums

Suprjadki

• Vocal: Marina Kuvaitseva, Nadežda Moskaljeva, Elena Sabinina, Natalja Atonen, Oksana Avarjaskina

AveNue

• Kirill Smirnov: +372 555 818 24, +372 562 153 43; kirill@avenue.ee

Suprjadki

• Marina Kuvaitseva: +372 564 747 22; suprjadki@hot.ee

Päev	Kell	Koht	Hind
Thursday	20:00	Ööpäeva Telk	70EEK
Saturday	16:00	Telk	70EEK

1. Ireland

Ireland

^{For gourmands}

Brendan Begley is the youngest member of the musical Begley family from the west Kerry Gaeltacht. As well as being a solo musician he plays with the group Beginish and the infamous Boys Of The Lough. He presented the traditional music program Geanntraí on TG4 (the Irish language television service) for 9 years and is also involved in other music and documentary program making.

He has three solo albums ‘Seana Choirce’ (pub. Gael Linn), ‘We won’t go home ‘till morning’ (Kells Records) and his most recent recording Oíche go Maidean / It could be a good night yet’ on his own label. He has also recorded with the Chieftains (Bells Of Dublin and The Long Black Veil) and of course with the Boys Of The Lough and Beginish.

• Brendan Begley – diatonic accordion, vocal

• Brendan Begley: breanndan@eircom.net

Hungary
http://www.csikband.hu/

^{Moving and listenable}

The Csík Band that plays traditional peasant folk music was formed in Kecskemét in 1988. During the years past they have made Hungarian folk music and their band more and more popular through innumerable successful concerts and barn dances in Hungary and abroad. Their acceptance into the professional community is proven by the fact that the Csík Band won the “The Young Master of Folk Art” title in 1991. The band was also given the title of an “Excellent Folk Art Ensemble”.

In Kecskemét they have been organizing barn dances. As the hosts of such events, they invite well known folk artists and musicians to the dance, and also provide an opportunity for talented young soloists, dancers and barn dance music makers to show themselves on stage.

The concert program of the band consists mainly of Hungarian and Romanian pieces of music from Transylvania, however, songs and dance music from Hungary are also performed.

• CsÍk János – violin, vocal
• Szabó Attila – violin, tambura (lute)
• Kunos Tamás – viola, drum
• Barcza Zsolt – dulcimer, accordion
• Bartók József – double bass
• Szokolai Balázs – wind instruments
• Majorosi Marianna – vocal

Estonia
http://www.diskreetsemangotrio.ee

^Newcomers
Discreet Mango Trio is an ensemble playing traditional music, mainly presenting runo songs in rock key. Despite the name, however, the band has nine members.
The ensemble is trying to establish a contact between contemporary folk culture – various pop music genres – and traditional music. This the dimension via which Discreet Mango Trio has made their way from runo song world to contemporary rock world.

DMT has given 25 concerts – from folk and jazz festivals to true full-scale rock concerts. The group has, among other performances, given an hour long live radio concert on Estonian Raadio 2 in a popular program R2 Live. Furthermore, the band has released two radio singles “Hobusemäng“ (Horsegame) and “Must naine“ (Dark Woman). Both pieces have got plenty of airplay both on Estonian national and commerce channels, and they have also been listed for quite a while in various radio charts.

• Leele Lattikas – vocal
• Lemmo Lattikas – Jew’s harp, accordion, vocal
• Margit Ott – vocal
• Mauri Sööt – vocal
• Kristjan Pilt – guitars
• Oliver Laanet – guitars
• Rando Lester – bass guitar
• Janno Pokk – violin
• Janek Koldekivi – drums

• Kristjan Pilt: +372 569 187 36; dmtrio@hot.ee

France
http://www.duo-bertrand.com/

^{Moving and listenable}

Since 1991, the Duo Bertrand have been determined to bring back to life the traditional music of the Breton-Vendée Marshland, its region of origin.

The Duo Bertrand is Thierry, the uncle, who plays the veuze, and his nephew Sébastien who plays the diatonic accordion. They mainly play old pieces from the oral heritage which they have “collected” from the last singers and musicians of the tradition. Duo Bertrand en Compagnie, an ensemble of 6 musicians, modernize this music with “Couleurs Racines”.

• Thierry Bertrand – veuze (pipe), oboe
• Sébastien Bertrand – diatonic accordion
• Thierry Moreau – violin, cello
• Youenn Landreau – Chapman Stick
• Stéphane Atrous – saxophones
• Sylvain Fabre – percussion

Estonia
http://www.hennrebane.ee/

^{For gourmands}

Diatonic accordion special – The Festival asked Estonian best accordion players to present their Estonian folk music program!

The program is further spiced with the involvement of a percussion player Dmitri Dmitrenko. Two completely different musical instruments that enable an original approach to folk music. Their repertoire consists of old songs and tunes found in archives and Henn’s original compositions inspired by those oldies. The playing style of the duo could be characterized as glittering, rhythmic, dynamic, unexpected ... Come listen and it is highly likely that you get hit by a memorable folk music experience!

Henn Rebane – interested in different accordion music genres. He has tried to apply the expressive means of his instrument in a wide variety of ways. He has released 2 LPs and 8 CDs. He had published 5 scorebooks for accordion, among them three books with his original compositions: “5 Eesti tantsu” (5 Estonian Dances), “Lastealbum” (Children Album) and “Akordionialbum” (Accordion Album)

Dmitri Dmitrenko – percussion player who has been active in various Estonian musical groups ranging from the theatre Estonia orchestra to ensemble Karavan. Within this variety of groups one can find projects and bands playing pop, jazz but also folk music. His concert tours have taken him to most European countries, and he is still interested in new musical challenges.

• Henn Rebane – accordion
• Dmitri Dmitrenko – percussion

• Henn Rebane: +372 566 388 85; hennreb@hotmail.com

Estonia
http://www.urakaru.com/ETNO2006/index/

Estonian ETNO and ETNO+ unite about one hundred young musicians all over Estonia. ETNO is at full power on its way to meet its objective – to bring more and more people to the musical roots of their country.
At the concert you will hear what they learned during the week at the camp and maybe get enough inspiration to join next year.

• ETNO Camp instructors:

Bengan Jonasson, Elo Kalda, Kadri Lepasson, Jaanus Põlder, Emma Reid, Tarmo Noormaa, Tuulikki Bartosik, Janika Oras, Krista and Raivo Sildoja, Jenna and Bethany Reid.

• ETNO Camp students:

• Tuulikki Bartosik: tuulikki@urakaru.com

Estonia

Pickney Tiger is an ethnology PhD of a DJ as well as a concert promoter. Due to his specialty he has always been interested in the sounds of other nationalities, including pop, rock and other contemporary dance music styles.

At Viljandi Festival he presents a part of his collection gathered on his research trips and accumulated out of interest. Bhangra, reggae, ska, Russian and Ukrainian underground, Latin American jazz, cumbia, African hiphop, Yakut, Buryat and Tuva disco and lots and lots of other things that can be called cool and danceable.

• DJ Pickney Tiger

• Aimar Ventsel: +372 562 302 78 punkrock@haldjas.folklore.ee

Estonia/Ivory Coast

Fairy-tales and music from north to south.
“We live at the time when everything is fragile as air. When big towers fall, when important men fall, when the Internet may freeze at any random moment. At the time when a train may run off tracks, books may burn, however, story-telling remains.” A.E.
Piret tells stories and musicians from Norway, Estonia and Ivory Coast sing and play.

• Piret Päär – fairy-tale
• Marie-Lyne Guiraud – percussion, vocal, dance
• Letitia Tiemoko – percussion, vocal, dance

Estonia
http://www.uusvanateater.ee

Vahur-Paul Põldma from the theater Uus Vana Teater (New Old Theater) is expecting you with his story to be bowed on. He listens and tells sad, funny, horrible and beautiful stories, those happening here and there, but also some new and worse as well as old and more precious stories.
The storytelling summer is going to be special because Vahur-Paul cycles around with a bunch of people and listens what the juices of land, seawater and fire-wind are talking about, and all of this will be poured out where there are listeners and the highlight of the stories will naturally be Folk Music Festival.

Threshing room accommodates about 30 people and tickets are on sale in the Museum an hour before the stories take flight. Ticket is 10EEK of which 5EEK is to support the Viljandi Museum.

• Vahur-Paul Põldma: +372 555 88 462, vahurpaul@uusvanateater.ee

Shetland
http://www.filska.co.uk/

^{Moving and listenable}

Violin energy bomb from Shetland. Shetland Islands can be proud of having one of the strongest violin playing traditions in the world, and that is what the members of Filska represent. The name of the group comes from an old Shetland word meaning ‘high spirited’ – very precise to describe their approach to music.

“The freshness and vitality of their playing combines drive and vigour. The band’s most recent release ’A Thousand Miles Away’ is a collection of music that includes many of their own compositions. This dynamic approach to Shetland traditional music is what gives Filska their highly unique and innovative sound”.

• Bethany Reid – fiddle, piano, vocal
• Jenna Reid – fiddle, accordion, vocal
• Gemma Wilson – fiddle, vocal
• Andrew Tulloch – guitar, vocal

Basque
http://www.ikergoenaga.com/

^{Moving and listenable}

The music of one of the best Basque diatonic accordion players Iker Goenaga joins folk and pop music into one. His music is best described by the word triki-pop (trikitixa – Basque diatonic accordion). The tunes, however, are still based on folk music that he utilizes with great respect. Iker Goenaga music is a performance with trikitixa sound colors and its traditional playing technique. He adds some contemporary and slightly eclectic elements in order to produce universal and fresh music.

Estonia

^{For gourmands}
Solo concert. Juhan is a young diatonic accordion player whose musicality and skilled fingering could also be heard a couple of years ago at a concert together with Aivar Teppo. The concert this year is based on traditional diatonic accordion tunes, however, performed in a slightly different key. In addition to this Juhan is trying to extend the possibilities available for Estonian diatonic accordion playing tunes from other traditions, interpreting them proceeding from his own viewpoint. At the concert he will also play on the button accordion and karmoshka. It could be said that it is an author’s concert where the author is creating live performances of the instrumental tunes.

• Juhan Uppin – Estonian diatonic accordion, karmoshka, button accordion

• Juhan Uppin: + 372 506 13 36; juhannnn@ut.ee

Estonia/Sweden

Tuulikki Bartosik and Bengan Jonasson have played together for six years.

From the very beginning it seemed extremely tempting for them to play on instruments unusual for folk music such as a fretless bass guitar and free bass accordion.

Interesting sounds and different ways to vary melody and accompaniment between accordion and bass guitar enable them to come up with endless musical combinations. Bengan was inspired by the duo so much that he ended up a tune Timmerdalen, composed especially for their duo. Inspiration has stayed with them and Jullundur has kept on playing tunes specifically written or arranged for the duo. Their compositions have not only been influenced by folk and world music, it is possible to recognize elements from tango, jazz and various other music styles. Furthermore, their spontaneous approach to the music they perform adds to the wonderful flavor.

At Viljandi Folk Music Festival Jullundur performs together with young Estonian folk musicians from Lääne-Virumaa area in their project Jullundur feat. Viru Men

• Tuulikki Bartosik – free bass accordion
• Bengt Jonasson – bass guitar, banjo
• Henri Veidenbaum – violin
• Taavet Niller – double bass, saxophone
• Villu Talsi – mandolin

• Tuulikki Bartosik: www.urakaru.com; tuulikki@urakaru.com

Finland
http://www.kiharakolmio.com

^{Moving and listenable}

Kiharakolmio was set up in 1996. The band was chosen for the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival’s Band of the year 2002 and is celebrating its 10th year anniversary this year. Kiharakolmio has published two CDs: their first CD ’K3’ was released in 2001 and second CD ‘Epiteetti’ in 2004.

The musical roots of Kiharakolmio base strongly on the traditional Finnish 2-row diatonic accordion music of the South Eastern Bothnia. Apart from their own compositions, the band uses material from Irish and Canadian-French folk music in an advanced way, and thus forms an original ’curly’ sound. Their performance is a pleasure for everyone – masterful, but still based on folk music – a joy that makes you tap your foot to the rhythm of the music.

Antti Paalanen, the manifold Finnish Folk Music Champion on the 1 and 2-row diatonic accordions, and the silver medalist in the World Championships in 1999, with his virtuoso-like playing combined with the acoustic color of the mandolin, harmonium and double string bass, opens a comfortable and fresh music world. The band has found its personal touch in a sophisticated way in the modern mess of different genres. When making the arrangements the band has not pursued for different artificial tricks but has made untricky crystal-clear folk music for you, performed by strong craftsmanship and humor.

• Antti Paalanen – 1 and 2-row diatonic accordions
• Heikki Korkeakoski – mandolin
• Juhani Lautamaja – double bass
• Timo Saukko – harmonium

Russia
http://www.uralconcert.ru/ural.htm

^{For gourmands}

From their very first performances the ensemble was extremely successful in its native city of Yekaterinburg, Russia. The group’s international reputation was established in 1995 when it was awarded the First Prize at the International Music Competition in Klingenthal, Germany. The “Ural” Quartette performed in the category of contemporary and classical chamber music and the jury commended the ensemble’s high artistic quality, excellent musical taste, their purity of sound and the originality of arrangements.

Today this ensemble offers a wonderful unity of splendid performance, artistic brilliance and irreproachable taste, based on high professional standards and an “obsession” with good music. The most characteristic features of the group are their outstanding quality as instrumentalists and technical innovations that always go hand in hand with elegant and highly artistic virtuoso performances.

• Yuri Gavrilov – prima balalaika
• Mikhail Ulyashkin – domra
• Larisa Ulyashkina – bass balalaika
• Alexandre Undilski – bayan

Estonia

The style of the ensemble is an exciting combination of old traditional and new self-composed runosongs. Laudaukse Kääksutajad (Barndoor sqeakers) – this is four powerful singers who make you genuinely feel how the lyrics of the singers who lived long before us talk to us and teach us. At the concert they sing songs that have become dear through the years, and everyone is welcome to join in with their singing.

• Kairi Leivo – bagpipes, whistles, Jew’s harp, vocal
• Katrin Laidre – whistles, drum, bowed harp, vocal
• Maria Laatspera – bagpipe, drum, vocal
• Evelyn Rosenberg – rainstick, vocal

• Evelin Rosenberg: +372 520 06 14; laudauks@yahoo.com

Estonia

^{Listenable and moving}

Best Estonian teppo-type diatonic accordion players are performing, on instruments made by legendary August Teppo. Come and enjoy the bright sound and different playing styles of this gorgeous instrument!

• Sulev Mägi
• Ants Taul
• Martin Teppo
• Aivar Teppo

Mari

Energetic, dance-provoking and merry Mari traditional music from its best performers.

• Aleksandr Ivanov – karmoshka, vocal
• Anatoli Ermakov – karmoshka
• Evgenii Sergeev – bayan, Mari bagpipe, vocal
• Sergei Karpov – tumyr (dohol – a double-headed cylindrical drum)

• Mikhail Juzykain mari_records@mail.ru

Estonia

Working language is Estonian.

We sing together nursery rhymes known in the country people runo song tradition and try to play baby-games together. We speak about the good that children and mother-father get from one or the other song and being together, how the songs and games contribute to the development of the child and to the communication between parents and children. We exchange experiences on how the runo song and our culture could be put into use at different parents’ gatherings and babies’ circles. We explain how to structure a baby circle meeting considering the receptive abilities of the child. We also teach you how to make a simple baby carrying cloth. All mothers-fathers with their babies and toddlers as well as everyone else interested are welcome.

Estonia
http://www.oort.ee/

“The ensemble has arranged older Estonian runo songs and tunes to make them sound more contemporary since 1996. According to our conception you can find archaic folk music in pop, jazz and metal dressing. We have been searching for our own style as well as for different sounds and listeners. Many of this has already been found. During this time we have released two CDs, however, the search continues and goes ever deeper because the sources are inexhaustible.”

• Aleksander Sünter – acoustic guitar, Estonian diatonic accordion, vocal
• Raivo Sildoja – bowed harp, fiddle, vocal
• Toomas Jõks – keyboards, vocal
• Rainer Helgand – bass guitar, vocal
• Mait Sarap – percussion
• Sulev Salm – solo guitar, vocal
• Alar Sünter – French horn, vocal
• Priit Moppel – bagpipes, Jew’s harp, tin whistle, vocal

• Aleksander Sünter: +372 569 122 91; sass@haldjas.folklore.ee

Estonia

“A musician must be so that he plays always so that there is something in his music, not so that I take the instrument and just plain play the piece.”
/Estonian diatonic accordion player Karl Kikas/

“Well, they say that a musician is a wedding party clown. Indeed, he isn’t anything else. He has to run all the time. The others are nicely sitting at the table, eating, but the musician has to push’n’pull all the time, can’t, mustn’t drink vodka, you’ll be drunk then, can’t eat any more either and so it is that you play your instrument all the time.”
/ Estonian diatonic accordion player Alfred Teemo/

Võrumaa people say about the instruments made by the legendary August Teppo that their sound “got blood boiling and foot frolicking”. Festival opening commemorates old Estonian diatonic accordion players and instrument makers.

“I’d say, you can’t be at this work for a long time really. Especially when they come with tuning and suchlike. I’d say that then it sometimes drives you up the wall, you escape and do something else and then go back and then it begins to work out again.”
/Instrument maker Johannes Keder on making diatonic accordions/

Opening directed by Siim Pede

Welcomers

• Festival Head Ando Kiviberg

Performers

Päev	Kell	Koht	Hind
Thursday	13:00	Kaevumägi	tasuta

Estonia
http://www.rannap.ee, http://www.tiitkikas.com

^{For gourmands}

The duo had a powerful debut concert in March 2006 in Tartu during the festival WORLD’n’WIDE which was commented on by Liina Fjuk from Estonian Classics Radio as follows:

/—/The joint improvisational concert of Tiit Kikas and Rein Rannap was full of elaborate details, a whole filled with many contrasts, which by its format and pursuit was rather reminding of a programming album. It was not an accidental improvisation of two musicians; it was a combination of thoroughly thought over compositions.

There were unbelievably many references to Estonian music, however, naturally the striking moments of unexpectedness had their roles to play as well. Estonian runo tunes constituted fascinating ostinatos at the same time genuinely melting in with cosmic sounds in their improvisations and reiterating themselves in various forms that change according to the era. I liked it when Rein Rannap played on the piano strings just like on the kannel and when Tiit Kikas was spinning a Seto tune in the e-world to echo around.

The most moving moment was when an improvisation á la Mart Saar found its ancient format and a sample “kaske” started its line of repetitions at the end of each phrase joining forever the improvisation fading into ever-growing freedom. (Magazine MUUSIKA, May 2006)

• Rein Rannap – piano
• Tiit Kikas – violin, samplers, teremin

Estonia

Seljanka is a folk instrument ensemble. We come from Tori and have been active for two years already.
Our reprtoire includes folk music and folk music arrangements, but we also play our versions of contemporary music on folk instruments. We are a good band for open-air dance parties. That is what we have mostly been doing in addition to our concert performances. 2004 spring we released our first CD, in autumn we were appointed the best dance band at Pärnu County Bands’ Days.

• Merike Teppan – fiddle
• Aivo Leesaar – double bass
• Lea Andrekson – kannel
• Oskar Tominga – guitar, vocal
• Andrus Kolk – jauram (folk-style rhythm instrument), rhythm instruments, vocal
• Margus Siilak – accordion

• Merike Teppan: +372 560 57 33; merike.teppan@mail.ee

Estonia / Russia
http://www.narvamuuseum.ee/ru_pages/suprjadki.htm

^{Listenable and moving}

The Narva Museum ensemble Suprjadki was established in 1985 consisting mainly of Narva Music School teachers. Their repertoir contains old Russian songs of customs and traditions which are presented unarranged maintaining the local dialect they are in. The leader of the ensemble is Marina Kuvaitseva.

The ensemble is actively educating people giving lecture-concerts at schools. Traditions are often made more illustrative by performing plays. In 1993 «Vene pulm» (Russian wedding) and «Jõuluõhtud» (Christmas nights) were staged together with M. Zverjeva theater troup. In addition to Russian traditions Suprjadki is also studying Estonian and Isuri traditions. The ensemble has participated in many international folklore festivals in Russia and elsewhere and has won several contests. In 1997 Suprjadki organized an International Folklore Festival in Narva.

Suprjadki program this year offers holiday and wedding songs of the peoples from the border area between Russia and Estonia. However, they also sing lyrical songs from different places all over Russia. Characteristic to Suprjadki the songs are in their local dialects. At Green Stage Suprjadki will perform in the framework of Rahva Tants (Folk Dance) program, performing and teaching different folk games (rounds) and dances (quadrilles).

• Marina Kuvaitseva, Jana Kuvaitseva, Galina Bõstrova, Jevgeni Bõstrov, Irina Vorobjova, Annika Vorobjova, Eva Vorobjova, Tatjana Klimina, Ilja Klimin, Jelena Jurkevitš, Olga Sergejeva, Tatjana Zubkova, Sirje Sirnask, Nadežda Moskaljova, Natalja Atonen, Valeri Atonen, Jelena Sabinina, Maria Izjumova, Oksana Avarjaskina

• Marina Kuvaitseva: +372 564 747 22; suprjadki@hot.ee

Sweden
http://www.svartkaffe.com/

^Harken

Mix French accordion moustaches and West-Swedish fiddle tradition with song, harmonica and mandola to get Svart Kaffe – Swedish folk music in a traditional and modern style.

After several concert tours in Canada, France, Sweden and Wales, Svart Kaffe are now releasing their new CD ‘Tretår’ (Nomis Musik). On this album you will find traditional and modern songs, polskas, waltzes and incantations.

• Simon Stålspets – guitar, mandola, harmonica, vocal
• Jean-Pierre Yvert – accordion, willow flutes, sanza (lamellaphone)
• Louise Schultz – violin, vocal

Estonia

^{Familiar musicians, new format}

Ruslan Trochynskyi, a musician from Ukraine began to play together with Viljandi Culture Academy students in 2005. Originally they called themselves Ruslan and friends. On January 14, 2006 the group renamed themselves as Svjata Vatra – Sacred Fire. Svjata Vatra has four members joined together by their passion towards folk music from different countries. Energetic Ukrainian tunes and romantic songs are intertwined with Estonian runo songs and bagpipe tunes. All members emit these special fascinating sparks that make their music and performance lively – full of joy and energy.

Svjata Vatra is an ensemble where Ukrainian and Estonian roots meet – musicians of two different cultural backgrounds, people of so diverse temperaments. The group is simple, dynamic, interesting and mobile. The harmony of their instruments is exciting, reminding of contemporary chamber music, and the energy released by the ensemble can fill a larger stage as well.

Ruslan has brought energy and charm to the group with his passionate trombone playing and enchanting as well as encouraging dance that affects no only the band members but also listeners. Silver makes the hearts of the band members beat as one. Kulno pulls everything a proper band needs out of his accordion – bass, harmony, passionate melodies. In addition to Estonian bagpipes Sandra adds some Armenian and Irish color to their music.

• Ruslan Trochynskyi – trombone, scythe, vocal
• Kulno Malva – accordion, bagpipes, vocal
• Sandra Sillamaa – bagpipes, whistle
• Silver Sepp – percussion, vocal

• Ruslan Trochynskyi: +372 566 805 75; trochynskyi@kultuur.edu.ee

Estonia/Ivory Coast/Norway
http://www.fordefestival.no/

^{Liigutav ja kuulatav}

Talent 2006 is a joint project between Forde Folk Music Festival, Norwegian Concert Institute, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Estonian Traditional Music Center. There are 3 musicians and a group leader from Estonia, Norway and Ivory Coast participating in the project. The first project of the kind was carried out in 1995 already.

The aim of the project is to introduce talented young folk musicians. The project also covers preparations for the program as well as rehearsals before Forde Festival, and performances at the Festival from July 6 to 9, 2006. Likewise their performances at Viljandi Folk Music Festivals. The task of the group members is to introduce the folk music of their country and learn that of the others, at same time trying to find common ground amongst them and jam together.

• Maarja Nuut – violin
• Sandra Sillamaa – bagpipes, whistles
• Tarmo Noormaa – diatonic accordion
• Kim André Rysstad – vocal
• Trond Sporsheim Berg – guitar
• Sara Fjågesund – Hardanger fiddle
• Marie-Lyne Guiraud – percussion, vocal, dance
• Leatitica Tiemoko – percussion, vocal, dance
• Tenaho Oulé Alain – percussion, vocal, dance

Estonia

^{For gourmands}

The Festival diatonic accordion year special – the members of the trio are among the best Estonian folk musicians and they were invited by the Festival to join their forces in order to play dance music inspired by diatonic accordion repertoire. Their united energy will hopefully serve as an example and provide inspiration for the others as well.

• Toomas Torop – violin
• Juhan Uppin – diatonic accordions
• Ott Kaasik – violin

Estonia
http://www.utlib.ee/~andres_d/triskele/eesti.html

^{Listen and meditate}
At the beginning of the 18th century a movement of a congregation of brethren spread in different regions all over Estonia. Its traditional forms emphasized sincere and ecstatic “faith of heart”. Singing lessons were an important part of the religious practice of the brethren. People liked those lessons so much that offences, for example, were punished by forbidding participation to the guilty ones. It is known that singing was accompanied by instrumental music (flute, kannel) in those lessons. First the lyrics and tunes spread by word of mouth, then in the middle of the century first song and tune collections in Estonian for the congregation of brethren were compiled. Ensemble Triskele is trying to settle in in those sensitive tunes of the brethren at the Festival this year. They have picked, as their foundation, one of the oldest song compilations for the brethren that was used in Estonia “Mönne illusa vaimolikko laulo” (Some Beautiful Spiritual Songs) printed in 1759, and manuscripts based on Christian Gregor’s collection of chorals (1784) in the holdings of Estonian Literary Museum.

• Janno Mäe – drums, vocal
• Jaanus Roosileht – fiddle, bowed harp, rebec, vocal
• Toivo Sõmer – kannel, ud, vocal
• Tarmo Tabas – vocal
• Heikki-Rein Veromann – flutes, vocal
• Ergo-Hart Västrik – vocal

• Toivo Sõmer: +372 556 711 34; triskele2@hotmail.com

Sweden
http://www.tummel.nu/pages/information.shtml

^{Moving and listenable}

Tummel is a klezmer and Balkan band based in Malmö, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark. From the start in 1997 they won the hearts of the Malmö audience, and have since then won a growing number of fans across Sweden, Denmark, the UK, Italy, Slovenia and Estonia.

Tummel plays traditional klezmer and Balkan music, but arranged in their own, often untraditional way, and also write their own material. Although all band members are strong instrumentalists, what makes the crowd go wild at a Tummel concert is their extraordinary capability as a live band. The Tumlers spare no effort to give the audience a once in a lifetime experience, leaving the audience gasping for breath with sweat flowing from their armpits. As a reflection of the history this music has floated through, their music involves elements of both extreme pleasure and extreme pain. But in Tummel´s case, the pleasure and joy is the first and foremost ingredient.

“Tummel” is, in Yiddish, the sound that arises from a totally unrestrained party. “Ein Tumler“ is a guy hired by the host of the party to keep the partying frenzy up, whatever the cost.

• Tobias Allvin – guitar, bouzouki
• Edin Bahtijaragic – accordion
• Annika Jessen – clarinet
• Pär Moberg – saxophone
• Jonatan Aisen – drums
• Øivind Slaatto – tuba, trombone
• Andreas Rudenå – fiddle, guitar

Estonia
http://www.tuulelootsutajad.com

^Moving

Tuulelõõtsutajad (Windswingers) have a responsible role to fill at the Festival of diatonic accordion this year – this ensemble is unique in Estonia for it is founded on two Estonian diatonic accordions!

• Juhan Uppin – Estonian diatonic accordion, karmoshka, tin whistle, vocal
• Enrik Visla – fiddle, vocal
• Mait Alanurm – guitar, mandolin, vocal
• Priit Rikker – bass
• Siim Rikker – Estonian diatonic accordion, karmoshka, vocal

• Juhan Uppin: +372 506 13 36; juhannnn@ut.ee

Estonia
http://www.untsakad.ee

The Festival tower of folk – Untsakad – play for your pleasure in the Nightclub and at Kirsimägi this year. It is the only ensemble that has performed at every single festival since the year of 1993.

• Jaanus Jantson – acoustic guitar, vocal
• Ilmar Kald – violin, vocal
• Jaanus Põlder – mandolin, vocal
• Margus Põldsepp – different diatonic accordions, vocal
• Marek Rätsep – bass guitar, vocal
• Tauno Uibo – sound

• Jaanus Jantson: +372 502 16 49; untsakad@untsakad.ee

Estonia

^Moving

The ensemble was established in 2000 as a course-based ensemble at Viljandi Culture Academy. It is since then that Vägilased (the Mighty) have been one of the great favorites of the audience at Viljandi Folk Music Festivals. Vägilased translate Estonian folk music into contemporary and danceable language of music – runo songs, singing games and older instrumental music. They have performed both in Estonia and elsewhere, e.g. Finland, Sweden, Portugal, Udmurt Autonomous Republic, Scotland and Ukraine.

Come sing and dance with Vägilased!

NB! The concert is also the presentation of their brand new album “Ema õpetus”!

• Meelika Hainsoo – fiddle, vocal
• Cätlin Jaago – bagpipe, flutes, whistles, Jew’s harp, vocal
• Toomas Valk – karmoshkas (Russian diatonic accordion)
• Jan Viileberg – acoustic guitar
• Marti Tärn – bass guitar
• Reigo Ahven – percussion

• Cätlin Jaago: +372 534 337 56; catlin@kultuur.edu.ee

Estonia

Estonian oldest early music ensemble performs “Dances by Michael Praetorius at the Festival”. Viljandi Linnakapell chose into their program those dances by Praetorius that were believed to have been sung and danced by common people. Arrangements by Praetorius were made according to the customs at that time. Viljandi Linnakapell performs this music in their own arrangement and using improvisation characteristic to that era which is, however, intertwined with the musical taste of the music our contemporary people have got used to hearing. Their performance is distinctive for their colorful instruments and exciting timbre combinations. Diatonic accordion has a special place in the wide range of instruments they use.

• Nele Aunap – percussion
• Kai-Riin Kont – recorders, bagpipe
• Siiri Kärt – violin
• Kadri Lepasson – diatonic accordion
• Stella Sõmer – harpsichord
• Helena Valpeteris – violin
• Arno Anton – trombone, recorders
• Anti Einpaul – recorders, pommer (shawm), dulcian
• Margus Kubo – double bass, guitar, mandolin
• Ruslan Trochynskyi – trombone
• Tõnu Tubli – percussion

• Anti Einpaul: +372 510 61 76; anti@pidulik.ee

Estonia
http://www.virre.ee

^{Listenable and moving}

Better a bow in the palm than a fiddler on the roof.

One of the best groups in Estonian folk music field is ready to enchant the audiences this year, too. Energetic, powerful, surprising! Has Virre (Wort) turned into beer this year, or into wine or maybe into good old vinegar, this is all up to you to decide.

• Sandra Nurmsalu – vocal
• Ürjo Jaama – fiddle
• Toomas Torop – viola
• Ott Kaasik – octave mandolin, vocal
• Kaarel Liiv – bass
• Kristjan Priks – percussion, vocal

• Toomas Torop: +372 564 732 62; toomas@virre.ee

Estonia
http://www.zone.ee/zetod/

Zetos is a folk music ensemble of four schoolboys in Värska, Estonia. The Ensemble arranges Seto folk tunes into more contemporary settings. Zetos have introduced Seto folk costumes and songs at some 40 different folklore and public events. From the very first days it is Artur Linnus who deals with the diatonic accordion, the bass is played by Jaanus Viskar, Jalmar Vabarna handles the guitar, and Heimar Puurmaa hammers on the drum.
The instructor of the boys is Kristjan Priks who has graduated from Viljandi Culture Academy as a popmusician and is now studying folk music.

• Artur Linnus – karmoshka (Russian diatonic accordion), vocal
• Jaanus Viskar – bass guitar, vocal
• Jalmar Vabarna – guitar, vocal
• Heimar Puurmaa – percussion, vocal

Estonia
http://www.zorbas.ee

Greek music ensemble “Zorbas” comes with their new album “Rebetiko” and changes in their band members.

Rebetiko (Greek blues) is a very peculiar phenomenon in world music. This urbanized folk music began to develop at the end of the 19th century; mainly in Greek colonies in Anatolia (present day Turkey). After the 1922 catastrophe it moved with immigrants to the United States, Australia, the UK and Greece, where it became widely known only after World War II when records with original recordings, many of the performers unknown until today, began to spread. A special place belongs to a dance in 9/4 time – zeimbekiko (improvised solo dance for men).

Baglamas (a mini-bouzouki) became a popular instrument. They were made in prisons by manges (petty criminals) who held rebetikos in high respect.
The lyrics contained slang understandable for the “underworld” and the main themes were love, drugs and street life. The common group of rebetiko musicians performing on the streets and taverns of the slums in harbor towns had two trihordo bouzoukis, a guitar, a baglamas and someone singing. Modern Greece values rebetiko very highly although there are few musicians left!

Ensemble Zorbas is thankful in advance to all the friends and announces that obligatory dance instruction on the spot is part and parcel of the program at the Festival – because, a wonderful Greek bunchdance is about to happen.

• Toomas Penuakis (aka Toomas Penu) – bouzouki, baglamas, percussion
• Aldo Morakis (aka Aldo Järve) – guitar, laoyto (lute)
• Imre Kalamatianos (aka Imre Valmis) – baglamas, clarinet, flutes
• Tarmo Normatakis (alias Tarmo Noormaa)– button accordion, karmoshka
• Anou Ntaoyli (alias Anu Taul) – bagpipe, percussion, vocal
• Olavi Zorbas (aka Olavi Kõrre) – trihordo bouzouki, panflute, lyre, karmoshka, bagpipe, vocal

• Olavi Kõrre: +372 517 7169; olavikorre@hot.ee