Madison street party took place on May 25

By Kati Kiilaspea

Toronto, as an incredibly multicultural city, hosts so many cool, inspiring festivals throughout the year; it’s what makes the city really come alive. What better way is there to express cultural identity and pride, or learn about cultural diversity, than through live music? Estonian Music Week (EMW), based in the Annex, ran from May 22 to 25 and celebrated its fifth anniversary this year. The festival was bigger and better than ever and brought the best Estonian musicians to the Annex and nearby venues.

Performances venues included Division 88, Revival Event Venue, DROM Taberna, Innis Town Hall, St. Anne’s Parish Hall, and Trinity St. Paul’s United Church. The village party took place on Madison Avenue. 

The festival kicked off with an exclusive launch party at the beautiful Gardiner Museum, right across from the ROM, on May 22. Patrons seized the chance to celebrate the festival in style and met some of this year’s artists while enjoying food and drinks.

On Sunday, May 25, we really brought the music to the heart of the Annex with a miniature street festival on Madison Avenue at Bloor Street. Our Külasimman/Village Party included a free, all-ages block party that celebrated Estonian culture with live music, singing, dancing, crafts, food, and drink. The Külasimman transported guests to the countryside, but it also celebrated the Estonian village forming in the heart of Toronto, with so many community organizations moving to this area. The event was also part of Doors Open, which celebrated the theme of “play” this year. 

Following the street party, there were two great performances by celebrated Estonian musical groups. At Innis Town Hall there was a groundbreaking concert by Ensemble U: featuring an augmented reality cosmic journey set to the music of Canadian-Estonian composer Udo Kasemets. The group has been working with the music faculty at the University of Toronto and the Canadian Music Centre to develop historically informed performances of Kasemets’ works. 

Some might say we saved the best for last. Grammy-winning vocal ensemble, Vox Clamantis, performed at Trinity-St. Paul’s. The audience witnessed their mastery of Gregorian chant and contemporary compositions. This special program featured works by famed Estonian composer Arvo Pärt in celebration of his 90th birthday, as well as works by Lembit Avesson and Veljo Tormis. It was perfect for those interested in Estonian classical-contemporary innovation.

The May 23 and 24 concerts were not far from the Annex. On May 23, EMW hosted a countryside dance party in the heart of the city at Revival Event Venue (783 College St.) The Estonian folk group, Curly Strings, headlined this event. They returned to Toronto for this festival because the Estonian-Canadian community voted to bring them back. What (or who) the audience wants, they get! Nordic bluegrass met Franco-Ontarian folklore, met Irish-inspired folk rock for one unforgettable night, with The Crosslegs, while Ontario’s Les Rats d’Swompe performed traditional music.

On May 24, Estonia’s leading a cappella jazz innovators, Estonian Voices, blended folk, pop, and jazz into ethereal vocal harmonies at Innis Town Hall. What better pairing for this vocal sextet from Estonia than the powerful voices and beautiful harmonies of Canada’s own Countermeasure. This event was presented in partnership with SING! The Toronto International Vocal Arts Festival. 

The performance by Tuulikki Bartosik X Sander Mölder and Caracol, sculptors of folktronica soundscapes, was both minimalist and rich, emotionally resonant and sophisticated. It invited listeners to a space where folk meets electronica and new ideas emerge. 

For those who felt the night was still young and wanted to keep the energy and vibes flowing, there was the twilight samurai of alternative pop, Estonia’s Mart Avi paired with Canada’s own award-winning singer, composer, producer, and builder of worlds, Katie McBride; it was a night to remember. Both concerts took place at St. Anne’s Parish Hall and were presented by Wavelength Music.

Estonian Music Week is presented by the Annex-based organizations Estonian Museum Canada and Tartu College.

READ MORE:

• CHATTER: Harbord Fair a success; Estonian future on Madison; Bloor Annex BIA stage (Sept. 2024)
• FOCUS: Construction begins on Estonian Centre (May 2022)
• NEWS: Estonian Centre gets green light (Jan. 2021)
• NEWS: Estonian Centre gets green light (Summer 2019)
• ARTS: Openings and anniversaries (October 2018)