Artists and programme
Zetod
The musical phenomenon called Zetod was born in 2003 as a youth band founded by Kristjan Priks, an alumnus of the Viljandi Culture Academy, in Värska, deep in the heart of Setomaa in Southeastern Estonia. The idea to have young Seto boys rendering their native culture in the key of pop rock seemed novel at the time and has led to a success never before experienced by arrangers of traditional music in Estonia. Zetod are a bunch of strapping lads with an exotic flair of rich cultural heritage, which the blandness of the surrounding mainstream pop only serves to accentuate. This, complemented by charming stage presence, instrumental finesse and tastefully witty yet powerful electric string arrangements of folk songs and tunes, sparks excitement and recognition even in listeners less familiar with heritage music. The example of Zetod is definitely inspiring, which is crucial for raising folk music awareness in general.
— Ando Kiviberg, director of Estonian Traditional Music Centre
Zetod have performed in all major folk music festivals in Estonia (Viljandi, Võru, Hiiu, Märjamaa, Viru), also at rock festivals (Rabarock, Kapa Rock), in USA, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Finland, France, Belgium, Poland and Russia.
Jalmar Vabarna – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 2-row diatonic button accordion
Jaanus Viskar – vocals, bass guitar
Martin Kütt – drums
Artur Linnus – vocals, accordion
Matis Leima – vocals, violin, 2-row diatonic button accordion
Rainer Koik – sound engineer
