From Kannel to Metalcore: ESTonishing Night Returns to Reeperbahn Festival to Showcase Diverse Estonian Talent

Estonia’s second consecutive showcase at Reeperbahn Festival promises a compelling deep dive into the ESTonishing talent pool as four diverse acts—Duo Ruut, Alonette, mariin k. and Pridian—take the stage at Hamburg’s influential annual industry gathering on Wednesday 17 September.

The ESTonishing Kickoff at Hamburg’s Baalsaal features the ancestral zither minimalism of Duo Ruut, who share a single kannel to create globally acclaimed crossover beauty; Alonette’s tender, glistening folk-pop confessions; the tremolo-washed reveries of mariin k.; and the shadowy, crushing metalcore of Pridian. This diverse lineup offers a comprehensive showcase of Estonia’s current musical wealth and adventurous spirit that aligns with the Reeperbahn 2025’s “Imagine Togetherness” motto—reflecting how musical variety creates unity, from shared traditions to binding solidarity. 

The ESTonishing Night, curated by Music Estonia in cooperation with Tallinn Music Week and Estonian Public Broadcasting, will be preceded by a reception at Baalsaal for international music industry representatives and media, hosted in partnership with e-Residency of Estonia and Tallinn UNESCO City of Music. Additionally, an Estonian music industry delegation networking event will take place at Alte Liebe St. Pauli on Thursday 18 September in collaboration with Hamburg Music and Music Export Ukraine.

Now in its 20th year, the Reeperbahn Festival is Europe’s largest club festival and international platform for pop culture, offering talent and conference programmes, meetings with leading figures from around the world, and in-depth insights into the German music market. Estonians who have previously graced Reeperbahn stages include last year’s ESTonishing artists Night Tapes, Ajukaja & Mart Avi, manna and Rita Ray, as well as previous performers like Tommy Cash and Holy Motors. The success of last year’s ESTonishing debut is further evidenced by dream pop outfit Night Tapes’ return to this year’s festival as part of the main programme, demonstrating the platform’s effectiveness in launching Estonian talent to international recognition.

The ESTonishing Kickoff showcase and industry networking events are hosted by Music Estonia in partnership with e-Residency and Tallinn UNESCO City of Music, and in cooperation with Tallinn Music Week and Estonian Public Broadcasting. The project is supported by the Ministry of Culture of Estonia. 

About ESTonishing artists:

Alonette charms with tender folk-pop confessions that flow with childlike ease, her voice carrying echoes of Karen Carpenter’s crystalline demeanour. Her music is full of unexpected twists and bittersweet sentimentality, blending acoustic guitar, strings, and soft electronic sounds. Her March 2025 debut album Compass was praised for its maturity, rich sonority, and ability to balance vulnerability with wit.

Duo Ruut represents the harmonious collision of two friends who share a single kannel, transforming this traditional Estonian zither into their canvas for pioneering new techniques. Their glistening minimalism maintains crossover appeal, with voices that shift from sweet to sharp within deceptively simple arrangements. This approach has earned them spots at Glastonbury and Roskilde, while their June 2025 album Ilmateade reached BBC airwaves and earned recognition as The Guardian‘s folk album of the month.

mariin k. carve out distinctive space in the shoegaze revival, led by Mariin Kallikorm’s vision of yearning soundscapes wrapped in cascading reverb. Kallikorm brings serious credentials from touring with Tricky and London indie project Wyldest. Their May 2025 debut rose skin earned spots on Seattle’s KEXP, blending tremolo-drenched shoegaze with jangle pop’s melodic clarity to explore love, self-discovery, and vulnerability.

Pridian, Estonia’s most promising metalcore export, have rapidly evolved into a cinematic metal project that prioritizes storytelling alongside sonic brutality. The band weaves futuristic industrial soundscapes with atmospheric textures and narrative concepts. After their 2023 EP Cybergnosis caught international attention, Century Media Records signed them in 2024. Their May 2025 full-length debut Venetian Dark showcases wide-ranging influences while carving out distinctive modern metalcore territory.

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