Viljandi Guitar Festival brings together talented artists from around the world

Text Mark Taylor
Photo Frank Gambale

Frank Gambale

From October 9 to 13, the Viljandi Guitar Festival will take over the scenic town of Viljandi in South Estonia. The event, which has taken place since 2008, is becoming an increasingly popular music event. This year, visitors can expect to hear concerts from top Estonian acts and international performers, such as Marcus Tuul, Rainer Jancis and Frank Gambale.

The event kicks off on Wednesday with a concert by Marcus Tuul, from Tartu who won the prestigious Tiit Paulus Prize in 2023. The concert will feature original compositions by the guitarist, as well as pieces from his greatest idols, such as Barry Harris, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell and Tadd Dameron.  The other main concert of the day is by the Estonian experimental band Mandarones, whose music ranges from instrumental blues to psychedelic rock.

Rainer Jancis, an Estonian guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, known for his work with the rock band Metro Luminal and for composing ballet pieces, will perform on Thursday evening. Jancis will present his latest vinyl in a full solo performance. His unique setup includes a foot-operated drum kit and multiple guitars, allowing him to create a one-man band experience without pre-recorded tracks.

Over the weekend, from Friday to Sunday, visitors can enjoy a wide array of performances from various talented musicians, such as Maté Palasti from Hungary, Teemu Viinikainen from Finland, the Oz Noy Trio from the USA and many more. One of the highlights will be a concert by Grammy award-winning guitarist Frank Gambale from the USA. Known for his exceptional “sweep picking” technique, Gambale has composed over 300 songs spanning various genres, including rock, funk, jazz and RnB. 

For more detailed information about the full programme of concerts and tickets, visit Viljandi Guitar Festival (in Estonian only this year) official page

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