Wandering through Tallinn's Old Town, you'll encounter a variety of medieval churches, cobblestone alleys, and impressive cathedrals. The capital of Estonia is a mesmerizing destination, and there are few experiences as uplifting for the soul as climbing ancient fortifications to admire the sprawling tapestry of red rooftops basking in the springtime Baltic sun.
However, the charming, pastoral allure of the Old Town conceals the vibrancy of the rest of the city. Present-day Tallinn is a bustling, modern hub of activity – the city is alive, especially last week, when the 2025 edition of Tallinn Music Week brought an exhilarating lineup of global music spanning various genres to the Estonian capital.
Innovative reinterpretations of classical music, fresh takes on traditional folk styles, and sounds from the cutting edge of rock, pop, and experimental genres were the order of the weekend. From Thursday to Sunday, venues across the city celebrated a dynamic mix of local and international performances. This eclectic, forward-looking festival lineup was set in one of Europe's most promising cities. What could be better?
"Every day, every hour, we need the new sound," Maiko, the keyboard and woodwind talent from the fast-paced Tanzanian duo Sisso and Maiko, shared about their whirlwind Singeli compositions. His words echoed my overall experience at Tallinn Music Week.
Among a packed weekend, Sisso and Maiko's Saturday Singeli session at the art gallery Fotografiska might have stood out; their electrifying 200bpm dance music, created with glitchy old Macs, whimsical Yamaha keyboards, and a blend of Southern African flutes, was truly unique at Tallinn Music Week, or anywhere else globally. They captivated the audience with selections from their highly anticipated 2024 debut 'Singeli Ya Maajabu,' offering a playful, quirky, and bold style of dance music. For a short encore, they even blindfolded themselves with their headscarves, somehow elevating their performance even further.
The energy continued with OneDa, a fiery Mancunian emcee, before being mellowed by the ambient electronic artistry of Taroug. Later on, local star Mart Avi infused a sense of adventure into his performance at the K-hoone Black Hall. Many of the city's venues are located in the district of Telleskivi, which Avi described as he pointed out, “I've been on most of these roofs: this is where rehearsal spaces used to be, and there have been wild parties here.”
In front of a packed audience, Avi's blend of punishing, frosty new wave beats and theatrical vocals reminiscent of Billy Mackenzie captivated the crowd. Avi is a mesmerizing performer, with impossibly long limbs moving in perfect harmony with the gritty beats, demonstrating that it’s only a matter of time before he captures a broader international following.
Tallinn Music Week’s lineup proudly showcases its diversity, particularly noticeable at the Classical: Next showcase at the Roheline Saal auditorium on Friday night. Australian violinist Xani crafted a monumental genre-blurring tapestry with just her fiddle and a series of effect pedals, while Estonian pianist Hanakiv filled the space with beautiful minimalist lullabies that were both striking and emotional.
British ensemble Vulva Voce (“the name on everybody’s lips”, as reputed) was another weekend highlight. They disrupted traditional string quartet norms, blending compositions by 16th-century lutenist Maddalena Casulana (the first female composer to publish sheet music) with spirited originals that infused chamber music with a wild, riot grrrl energy. They were followed by the elegant Estonian M4GNET Quartet, whose moving performances of works by the esteemed Arvo Pärt on his 90th birthday brought many in the audience to tears.
Other performances included Icelandic shoegazers Oyama, who merged beautiful male-female vocal harmonies with rich, fuzzy, reverb-laden guitars, achieving a sound that is exquisite when done well; meanwhile, Welsh synth-pop trailblazer Ani Glass had the crowd dancing to vibrant Welsh language disco hits. Ines De Ferrari somehow conjured summer vibes as snow began to fall on the medieval castles, and Abdoulaye Kouyate’s fusion of soukous and funk provided the perfect remedy for the chillier nighttime moments.
I was deeply impressed by many performances, but ultimately it was the festival’s embrace by the local community that excited me most – the willingness to showcase such a wide array of styles alongside one another was refreshing. Few places in the world will blend classical music, jazz, punk, hyperpop, and African dance music so effortlessly, yet here you could swiftly move between these distinct art forms with ease.
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Words: Cal Cashin
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As you wander through Tallinn's Old Town, you'll encounter a variety of medieval churches, cobblestone alleys, and impressive cathedrals. The capital of Estonia is a