Aigu Om! barn concert: MARI KALKUN / JAAK TUKSAM & AIN AGAN "Life in the middle of Forest"

Saturday 12. July at 19:00 - 21:00

Viitina kõrtsi küün

Aigu Om! An evening filled with deeply touching music and songs imbued with forest thoughts, cozy and carried by a free spirit. The doors of the Aigu Om barn in Viitina will open for the Aigu Om! festival in 2025 on only three special evenings. Chefs from the Moon will be cooking to the rhythm of the music, so you won't go hungry!

The forest has been a provider, protector, and inspirer since the dawn of time, especially in Võrumaa, where the legendary songwriter JAAK TUKSAM has drawn strength for his creations over the years. He has etched himself into the hearts of Estonians with his songs "Meil on elu keset metsa" (We have a life in the middle of the forest) and "Meel unus mägede taha" (My mind forgot behind the mountains). This year's festival Saturday evening offers a rare opportunity to hear the troubadour perform material from his recently released album "Tassa tuulõkõnõ puhk" (The gentle breeze blows) alongside acclaimed guitarist Ain Agan. Also performing with her program on the concert evening is MARI KALKUN, a thoroughly local and Võro artist who is also an internationally touring singer and composer whose work is very closely linked to the forest and the landscapes of Võrumaa. Having just returned from the Song Celebration, Mari will also perform songs from the Song Celebration at the Aigu Om! concert.

"For me, Jaak Tuksam is one of the most powerful songwriters of our time, belonging to the same heavy-hitting category as Riho Sibul or Jaak Johanson. It's a great joy that we can host Jaak and Ain in the Aigu Om! barn! His concerts intertwine the deeply poignant with the cheerfully funny – exactly like life itself!" says Mari Kalkun.

MARI KALKUN (Võrumaa, Estonia)

"Stoonia lood" (Tales of Stonia) and songs inspired by the Song Celebration!
Mari Kalkun is a charismatic singer and a creator with a unique style, who has performed solo concerts in most European countries, Canada, Korea, and Japan, and has garnered extensive international media attention. Her latest album, "Stoonia lood," brings ancient Estonian myths and contemporary Võro poetry to the listener, propelling them directly into the focal point of today's world problems through Kalkun's personal sound language and storytelling skills. The musician, originally from Viitina, has almost circled the globe with this album; by spring, she had already presented it in 20 countries. The central theme of the album "Stoonia lood" is humanity's contradictory relationship with nature, bringing together ancient and living heritage in her program.

Mari Kalkun - vocals, kannel, piano, and other instruments

Taavo Teras - sound artist

JAAK TUKSAM and AIN AGAN (Tuhalaane-Võrumaa/Estonia)

Songs from the new album "Tassa tuulõkõnõ puhk"
Each of Jaak Tuksam's individual songs is a complete entity – a contemplation, a meditation – which, when performed and listened to one after another at a concert or on a record, leads to a state that could be described as becoming one with the music, a journey to where the mind forgets behind the mountains... To paraphrase Jaan Kaplinski, Tuksam's song is in a beautiful language, and if you listen to it in the rustle of leaves, it will vanish from your mind in one night. But the feeling remains. A feeling of honesty and heartbreak. Something stays in your memory, as if the bell of the home church had gently chimed in the soft Christmas night snow.

Jaak Tuksam has been composing and singing songs for over 30 years. In the university town of Tartu, one could attend his songwriter-style performances as early as the 80s, but the wider public became acquainted with Jaak Tuksam's music through the album "Meelega" (With Purpose) released in 1999 and its recording and presentation concerts. The album's release and distribution were made possible then, as now, thanks to Jaak's many musician friends who helped bring the work of this rather reclusive home musician to a wider audience. Jaak's circle of musician friends includes or has included Riho Sibul, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Jaan Sööt, Tõnu Timm, the Johanson brothers, to name just a few, whose mutual musical influence can be sensed in many shared performances that the wider public has been able to hear, for example, at the Viljandi Folk Music Festival.

Folk Album broadcast with Jaak Tuksam (2006): https://arhiiv.err.ee/audio/vaata/folgialbum-folgialbum-tuksam

"Elu keset metsa / Life in the Middle of the Forest" song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0duVNvrdB18

Guitarist AIN AGAN is one of Estonia's most active and creative jazz musicians, an excellent band partner for many acclaimed musicians, and the founder of several ensembles. Ain Agan's agile and soulful playing can be heard on more than 150 albums, including his latest author albums: "Now I Know" (2016), "AganagA" (2019), "New Moon" (2024). Ain Agan is a very versatile musician – he is a highly regarded guitarist in jazz, pop, and folk ensembles. The patterns of Tiit Paulus and Arvo Pilliroog, who served as role models for the self-taught guitarist's creative journey, are also fundamental to his distinctive style. Ain Agan's music prioritizes thoughtful and lyrical tones, along with a nostalgic Estonian character. Ain Agan is also the founder and artistic director of the Viljandi Guitar Festival.

Jaak Tuksam - vocals, guitar

Ain Agan - narration, electric guitar


The total duration of the concert evening, including the intermission, is approximately 3 hours.

Schedule:
7:00 PM - 8:15 PM: Mari Kalkun
/ Intermission, café is open /
8:45 PM - 10:00 PM: Jaak Tuksam and Ain Agan

The CAFÉ will be open before and after the concert, with catering by Kokad Kuu Pealt (Cooks from the Moon)

NB! For allergy sufferers! Fresh hay will be used for seating during the event.

This concert is part of the Aigu Om! festival program from July 10th-16th in Viitina, Rõuge, and Pähni.

See the full program at www.aiguom.ee

Viitina kõrtsi küün • Töökoja, 66711 Viitina, Võru maakond, Estonia

Google Map of Töökoja, 66711 Viitina, Võru maakond, Estonia

Mari Kalkun / Aigu Om!

aiguom@aiguom.ee