Artists and programme
Lõõtsavägilased
Performances
The group Lõõtsavägilased started in the December of 2013. The band consists of three young Estonian accprdion players Andres Eelmaa (18), Rasmus Kadaja (17), Tobias Tae (14) and their tutor Margus Põldsepp. All the boys are studying at Karksi-Nuia Music School.
Lõõtsavägilased play mainly folk and traditional music but they do not discriminate against any other styles either. During the last four years, the band has given more than 420 concerts and they have taken the stage at several important traditional music events and large festivals. Lõõtsavägilased have performed at Viljandi Folk Music Festival, Hiiu Folk, Viru Folk and at the Viljandi Hanseatic Days together with Unstakad. One of the members, Rasmus received the 1st prize at the national traditional music competition for instrument players in the accordion category and was also awarded the 1st prize at Võru accordion competition in his age group in 2015.
The band also performs in schools around Estonia as part of the School Concerts series organised by Eesti Kontsert where they introduce accordions and tell stories of instrument players. All of this is accompanied by songs and tunes from the band’s repertoire. They learn through listening. For example, Rasmus has learnt two accordion tunes from the national traditional music competition which was recorded by Eesti Raadio in 1972.
The band’s repertoire is mainly chosen by their tutor Margus but other members of the band have also suggested songs. Almost everyone has written a song of their own and two of them are featured in their album which was released in 2015. The first six months was spent on learning only instrumental tunes but now they concentrating on songs. The greatest role models for the band are Tuulelõõtsutajad, Untsakad and especially Väikeste Lõõtspillide Ühing with their sound from their formative years.
Andres Eelmaa
Rasmus Kadaja
Tobias Tae
Margus Põldsepp
