Viljandi Kitarrifestival

True to its name, AVARA (spacious in English, umfangreich auf Deutsch) has a spacious approach to music. With a unique instrumentation, the trio blends the themes and solos together, while transforming powerful narratives into delightful stories. In their music, classic beauty ideals are present, but the direction is more towards the future than the past.

Although AVARA’s music is driven by an inherent melancholy, it offers its listeners unreserved hope at the same time. Their goal is to meet the listener with an expression that rises from the deep. The trio consists of Jukka Perko (saxophone), Teemu Viinikainen (guitar), and Jarmo Saari (guitar).

Saxophonist Jukka Perko was already a remarkable instrumentalist in jazz circles at a young age, and in 1987, he was invited to join the orchestra of legendary trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie’s 70th anniversary tour. After two years in Gillespie’s band, Perko is known for his numerous successful bands and his extensive repertoire as a guest soloist for big bands and symphony orchestras. Music ois Jukka Perko’s way of existing. He has learned to play as well as to speak, by listening and imitating.

In Teemu Viinikainen’s playing, expressiveness, swing and virtuosity are central elements. These qualities, as well as Viinikainen’s unique ability to make different ensembles flourish musically, have made him the most sought-after jazz guitarist in Finland. Viinikainen has studied guitar with renowned teachers such as Pat Metheny and Wayne Krantz.

Jarmo Saari is one of the most distinctive guitarists of his generation. He has realized his musical visions e.g. performing in numerous ensembles, working as an artistic producer on the studio albums of several Finnish artists, and composing music or films, theater, contemporary works and television. His career includes around 100 recordings and performances in 30 countries.

Andre Maaker and Jaana Kena will perform at this year’s family concert on October 22!

At a traditional family concert on Sunday morning, all age limits disappear again. Music made from an immediate presence offers the joy of recognition, singing together, parables, interludes and new friends. 

A musician and an actor meet on stage, resulting in one of the most wonderful concert performances, and of course, the always great audience has to play their part as well. There will be surprises either!

For Living Lovers, founded in 2002, developed while Ross and Takeishi were band members in Henry Threadgrill’s quintet, “Make A Move”. Realizing a shared musical sensibility, they premiered their collaboration at a music center named Tonic on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Ross featured the duo in his compositions on two of his solo records, Costume (2004) and Puppet (2006), both released under the Japanese label Intoxicate. Those recordings led to unique collaborations in Japan and also in other countries.

In 2014, the duo released their debut full length document “Revealing Essence” on Sunnyside Records, USA to superlative reviews. “Revealing Essence” consists of slow musical reflections and is a blend of folk music and improvisation.

At the Viljandi concert, Brandon Ross & Stomu Takeishi’s usual all-acoustic format will be adapted to an amplified format, giving the opportunity to explore new ways of playing the music and incorporating electronic effects into their ensemble language. They will be performing compositions that will be included on their upcoming release on Sunnyside Records in 2024.

Jan Akkerman, recognized as the world’s best rock guitarist and who last performed at Viljandi Guitar Festival in 2016, had his international breakthrough with the progressive rock band Focus in the early 70s. As a solo artist, he has released 30 albums and still tours extensively with his own band.

Focus were one of the great progressive rock bands of the 1970s. Their mix of classical music, rock and jazz entered the charts on both sides of the Atlantic with songs like “Hocus Pocus” and “Sylvia” from the album called “Moving Waves”. For the Viljandi concert Jan Akkerman brings his regular band consisting of Marijn van den Berg (drums), David de Marez Oyens (bass) and Will Mass (keyboards).

Jan Akkerman’s dazzling technique and unmistakable tone have made him named by the British rock magazine Melody Maker one of the best and most influential guitarists in the world. As a solo artist, he has released records within a wide musical spectrum and collaborated with musicians such as B. B. King, Alan Price, Peter Banks, Jack Bruce, Charlie Byrd, Phil Collins, Paco de Lucía and Ice-T.

Merje Kägu is a guitarist and composer residing in Gothenburg. Merje creates music that runs on the border between improvisation and composition. Previously, the albums When Silence Falls and Until I Find You have been released. Merje Kägu has received the Tiit Paulus Young Guitarist Award at the 2016 Viljandi Guitar Festival.

Prizes: 

• 2016 Tiit Pauluse young guitar player’s prize
• 2015 Gurmund-Neubergh’s prize
• 2008 Uno Naissoo Composition Contest, special prize for a piece “Eksperiment”
• 2006 Rainbow Jazz competition for best arrangement

The ensemble Laulvad Kitarrid (Singing Guitars) who first came together to perform at the 10th anniversary of the Viljandi Guitar Festival, will once again take the stage at the festival’s 16th edition, this time to pay tribute to Riho Sibul and honour his musical legacy. 

The ensemble includes well-known musicians like Mari Jürjens, Mari Kalkun, Kärt Johanson, Vaiko Eplik , Jaak Tuksam, Andre Maaker ja Ain Agan, who will be performing their own personal favourites from Riho Sibul’s repertoire. The musical performance will be accompanied by the spoken word of Riho’s creative partner and long-time friend Vladislav Koržets. The collaboration between Riho’s music and Vladislav’s poetry gave birth to the album Kahemehesaag as well as timeless classics like Aed (Garden) and Videvik (Twilight).

Guitarist and songwriter Jonas Kaarnamets has been active on the Estonian music scene for nearly 10 years. Being a founding member of the alternative band Frankie Animal, he has also collaborated both in the studio and live with a large number of famous domestic artists, including Erki Pärnoja, NOËP and Sander Mölder.

jonas.f.k’s stage persona is an amalgamation of several well-known rock and pop frontmen of all time, from David Bowie to Alex Turner, and flirts heavily between androgyny and masculinity. Jonas’s first short album buda.01 was very well received by Estonian music critics and was also nominated for the best debut album category at the Estonian Music Awards. In addition, Jonas has released several singles in collaboration with various artists, one EP called TLL.02, and at the beginning of the summer of 2022, together with drummer Kristjan Kallas, he released the SUVE project, which has also been widely accepted.