Viru Folk will bring exciting performers from the British Isles – Nathan Evans will headline the festival

Text Timo Huttunen
Photo Visit Estonia / Kaur Orgusaar

From August 11 to 13, the traditional Viru Folk Festival will be held in the idyllic coastal village of Käsmu, in Harjumaa. The family festival, organised for the sixteenth time, has now published its full programme for this year.

This year the festival’s country of focus is the British Isles. There will be performers from Scotland, Ireland, England, the Isle of Man and Australia. In addition, you will see and hear musicians with Celtic roots and, of course, good Estonian folk.

On Friday, the Estonian band Untsakad will start the festival on the main stage, paying tribute to the legendary Irish band “The Dubliners” in their concert.

After this, there will be a concert by the Scotsman Nathan Evans, known the world over for his song “Soon will the Wellerman come”.

Elizabeth Davidson-Blythe and Daniel Quayle from the Isle of Man will perform on the Vinter stage. The Scottish band Rohallion will give a concert in “Rahvamaja”. Australian Prita Grealy will perform at the swing square at night. Estonian-Irish Cú Duo will end the first day of the festival with a church concert.

On Saturday night, Cú & Co, with an expanded line-up, will give a concert in “Rahvamaja”. The guests, among others, will include Benjamin Burns from Ireland.

The Finicky from Ireland and Dave Arcari from Scotland will perform on the Vinter stage and Eabhal from Scotland will play on the main stage. Helsinki’s Cèilidh Band brings the northern Celtic spirit to the festival. Fantuzzi from Puerto Rico, already familiar to Viru Folk fans, will get the party going with their southern rhythms.

British royal splendor will be brought to the festival by Rasmus Kadaja, Richard Ott Leitham, Toomas Ojasaar and Juhan Uppin, who will perform on the swing square. Together, they perform the festival’s royal closing concert on the main stage.

This year there are also young artists involved. A youth stage will be built in Lainela, where Estonia’s best young folk musicians will perform: Bert Laak, Lämmu Üü, Nova Lyre, Päriffect, Folkista, Tapa Music School Orchestra and Virumaa Youth Orchestra.

On Friday, Rohallion band member Eibhlin will teach Celtic dances in “Rahvamaja”. On Saturday, there is a workshop for Scottish group dances, led by Ingrid Velbaum-Staub and members of the Tallinn Scottish dance group.

On Sunday, the workshop at the swing square will be led by dance teacher Britta Kaukver, who already captured the hearts of all dance enthusiasts during the Irish year.

At the Viru Folk Festival, you will also hear a lot of good Estonian folk. All the performers have promised to add a bit of British flair to their shows. Among the performers are Duo Ruut, Mandoterror, Rubundi, Maili Metssalu, Silver Sepp & Kristiina Ehin, Mari Kalkun, Karolin Kõrre, Naised Köögis and Jäääär.

A presentation concert of Villu Talsi’s new album will be organised at the festival. Eva Väljaots & Robbi Sherratt (UK) will also present their album. The Dagö group is celebrating its 25th anniversary together with the Tuljaku mixed choir and the Saku Mandoliinid orchestra.

The complete festival program can be found on Viru Folk’s official website here (in Estonian only). 

To learn more about this and similar topics
British Folk Celtic Music Folk Music Käsmu music Music Festival Viru Folk Viru Folk Festival