Tallinn Music Week, the music and urban culture festival taking place from 27th March to 2nd April has confirmed 237 artists from 33 countries in its music programme, among them 114 Estonian acts. From today single concert tickets are on sale next to festival passes and priority passes.
TMW in its ninth edition has become an important meeting point for the music and creative communities of West, East and Central Europe and a festival magnet for culture fans of the whole Nordic Baltic region. TMW has received a record breaking 1470 artist applications from all around the world and confirmed 237 artists from 33 countries to the line-up. Next to the 114 Estonian acts Finland is presenting 23, Russia 19, UK and Poland 7, Denmark 6 and Canada, Sweden and Germany 5 acts. Among the more exotic countries represented are Cape Verde and Japan. Artists from Syria will also take to the stage.
TMW hosts a dedicated programme for virtually every music genre, from outsider acts to chart-pop, including an extensive line-up of classical composers and interpreters. For the first time the festival includes a special youth and kids programme organized by youngsters themselves. The festival is also putting a strong emphasis on accessibility for people with special needs.
“It is a very important time for Estonia – from July Estonia will hold the EU Council presidency and next year we celebrate Estonia’s 100-year anniversary. These topics will be part of the festival programme. In addition to the all-encompassing music programme we are looking in depth into sustainability, equal opportunities and the impact of creativity for the society. Our festival is an opportunity to enjoy diversity, openness and being together,” says the founder and main organizer of TMW Helen Sildna.
The music programme of the weeklong festival peaks from Thursday 30th March to Saturday 1st April including various music styles from folk to electronica and from classic to metal.
Among the international highlights are the Scottish master of elegiac sound, C Duncan, the tandem of Einstürzende Neubauten’s Alexander Hacke and musician and film-maker Danielle de Picciotto, the piano experimenter Hauschka from Germany, pop producer Draper – pointed out as one of the most remarkable newcomers by BBC Music –, and the Monty-Python-crazy punk jazz band WorldService Project from UK, as well as the Swedish electro-pop star Jennie Abrahamson, and the Norwegian singer-songwriter and activist Moddi.
Finland will be represented by the “music’s best-kept secret”, house and avant-garde techno producer Jori Hulkkonen, the shamanist leader of the space rock band K-X-P Timo Kaukolampi, the meta rock group PH, formerly known as Mr Peter Hayden, also a favourite rapper of the international festival circuit View and the electro-metal outfit Khroma who has roamed the stages from Helsinki to Tokyo.
Among the “young and furious” squad from Russia are Glintshake that mixes Russian avant-garde with soviet new wave and the neo R’n’B poet BCH, hailed as the new artist of the year by the influential culture website Afisha.
The 114 Estonian artists include several internationally recognized names as well as future hopes. The line-up includes world class EDM stars Syn Cole and Mord Fustang, electropop act NOËP, folk innovator Maarja Nuut whose acoustic loops will meet with edgier electronic sounds by Hendrik Kaljujärv, best Estonian female artist and best jazz album awarded Kadri Voorand, multi-instrumentalist Erki Pärnoja with his ethereal “Efterglow” project, the Hammond Trio of Estonian jazz classic Tõnu Naissoo, acclaimed youth choir Ellerhein and the multi-talented composer Ardo Ran Varres. Among the innovators of the local music scene are the critically adored post pop producer and vocalist Mart Avi, surreal ghost-pop act Florian Wahl, and singer-songwriter Mick Pedaja.
The world class conductor Kristjan Järvi will open the festival with a concert of Steve Reich and own compositions “Radio Head Rewritten” with the beatbox master BellaTrix from London and the contemporary composer and rapper Di. J. NoizePunk, as well as string quartet Prezioso, pianist Kristjan Randalu and many other Estonain musicians. Järvi’s other performance presents an electronic programme “Rip Up the Stage”. Fallen Flags will perform their stage debut at TMW – a new cooperation between members of Danish bands Get Your Gun and Narcosatanicos along with several Estonian musicians. Estonian turbo-folk superstar Trad.Attack! will perform with Ukrainian ethno-folk group Onuka at a special event in the Russian Cultural Centre.
The biggest border-crossing cooperation at this year’s TMW is the showcase curated by Estonia’s Üle Heli festival, the British indie label Nonclassical, and Japan Sound Postcard project by BBC 3 DJ Nick Luscombe and film director Neil Cantwell in the House of Blackheads. TMW 2017 is also happy to introduce a special Canada programme, and celebrate the 100th anniversary of Finland.
The festival presents a few new showcases and venues. The joint effort of the party series AUX, Mürk and Isola will turn the pavilion of the Balti Jaam railway station into a three-day non-stop dance marathon. Kuku Art Club hosts a colourful selection of art pop and experimental music. For the first time the Russian theatre, Venus Club, Russian Cultural Centre, Hopner House and the Renard Coffee Shop will be among the festival venues.
Traditional showcase organizers on board are Rada7, Radio 2, Jazzkaar and Estonian Jazz Association, Viljandi Folk Festival, Fenno-Ugria and Seto Folk, Manka Boutique Pop Festival, World Clinic, Weekend Festival Baltic, Intsikurmu Festival, Estonian Funk Embassy, the Latvian Positivus Festival with the I Love You Records label, the biggest Finnish metal festival Tuska and Urban Culture Entertainment.
During February other acts at the TMW festival will be published as well as special stages and concerts, among them a Canadian music event, and a special programme dedicated to Finland’s centenary by Fullsteam Agency and Sideways festival.
Confirmed artists of TMW 2017
Schedule
Tallinn Music Week (TMW) is a weeklong celebration of talent, curiosity, creativity, freedom and equality. This year’s edition from 27th March to 2nd April will present the music festival line-up and two-day industry conference, a series of free City Stage concerts, a selection of eateries within TMW Tastes; TMW Arts programme, curated by the Estonian Contemporary Arts Development Centre, Design Market showcasing the most exciting Baltic and Scandinavian brands and designs, TMW Talks series with topics from music to science and societal issues, City Space activities in cooperation with the interior designers of Estonian Academy of Arts and a special kids and youth programme. TMW 2017 is presented by Nordea bank, the partners are Telia and Spotify, Estonian Ministry of Culture, Estonian Enterprise, Eesti Meedia and Nordic Hotel Forum.
Tallinn Music Week’s international activities introducing Tallinn and Estonia as an attractive tourism destination of music and culture are supported by The European Regional Development Fund.
TMW 2017 festival passes are available for €60 at TMW web store
Festival pass grants access to all concerts, provided the venue is not sold out, and offers discounts at the TMW Tastes restaurant festival. (In case the venue is sold out entry will be granted on first-come-first-served basis.)
Special discounts apply for clients of Nordea and Telia.
TMW 2017 delegate passes are available for €250 until 19th March (from 20th March €295) at TMW web store. Sign up as a delegate and buy your pass
TMW delegate pass grants access to the conference seminars and priority access to the music festival as well as the data-base of registered contacts.
A limited number of TMW 2017 priority passes are on sale in the TMW web store for €150
Comments by TMW’s partners:
“We are proud to witness that over the years Tallinn Music Week has become so much more than an exceptional music festival – it introduces new talent in various culture spheres, speaks up in issues that matter and brings together creative people from all over the world. There seem to be no real limits to the energy and ambition they are able to discover and expand. The values and high standards of the festival team make it a pure delight to be their partner on this incredible journey.”
– Gerd Müller, Head of Nordea Bank Estonia
“Telia has been a proud partner of Tallinn Music Week for several years. The festival and the team behind it are completely unique and a great source of inspiration – as they present us with a truly transformed city and many exceptional experiences over the festival week in spring. This year´s special focus on sustainable development is a shared passion with Telia across Nordics. United Nations has introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals to the world that are relevant for all of us to ensure sustainable future. We´ll bring those into a spotlight during TMW hoping that everyone will find his or her own to think about and contribute to!”
– Katrin Isotamm, Head of Communications Telia Estonia
“Tallinn Music Week represents all the values that are dear to Estonia and is the perfect opportunity to get to know what Estonia and it’s culture is all about. Although it’s not the best time of the year climate wise, the emotions and experiences you’re about to experience are of the tropical temperature. Music, design, food, inspiring people, inspiring places, adventures – I’ll guarantee – it will be the world class!!!! Estonia is the place where new ideas grow fast and travel the world. Visit Estonia. Enjoy Estonia. Share Estonia.”
– Piret Reinson, Head of Marketing at Enterprise Estonia
“It is a great pleasure to open one of the best and most exciting multi-disciplinary arts festivals I know in the world. I support its idea and I fully believe in the incredible value it adds in this continuously growing Nordic Region. It enables the society to locally connect their ideas, visions and possibilities on a worldwide platform, bringing their creative potential to fruition. The festival is a personification of the Estonian Spirit, its entrepreneurism, culture and drive. TMW invites the world to Tallinn to create!”
– Kristjan Järvi, conductor and composer