If you are a music fan, and loved going to concerts back home, you’ll probably want to continue your lifestyle here in Estonia. Outside of just discovering and listening to new music, hanging out with like-minded locals is the best way to make new friends in a new town.
In this third installment, we'll be taking a closer look at the fancier live music venues in
Tallinn
Tallinn, the largest city and capital of Estonia (population 440 000).
. We're going to map out some more varied hotspots within different scenes and subcultures, and make it easy to "join your tribe" in Estonia.
Philly Joe's Jazz Club
Not a huge rock or pop fan? Well, that doesn't mean you have to worry about missing out on live music in
Tallinn
Tallinn, the largest city and capital of Estonia (population 440 000).
. A world-class jazz venue, Philly Joe's Jazz Club, opened in
Tallinn
Tallinn, the largest city and capital of Estonia (population 440 000).
in 2014, right next to the Freedom Square, and offers the best selection of jazz that there is to offer. As the name suggests, it is purely a jazz club: Philly Joe's offers an intimate atmosphere befitting a true jazz club. It's almost like stepping into a proper American "gangster" movie!
Philly Joe's offers a regular schedule of music events from Tuesday to Saturday, consisting of mostly live music, and some music from vinyl, as well. There are occasional nights of jamming and trivia, but rest assured that music is always playing at Philly Joe's Jazz Club.
Check out their website.
Like them on Facebook.
Fotografiska
In addition to the lively nightlife in Telliskivi Loomelinnak, there is also an international photography museum, Fotografiska, which is primarily known for its excellent museum program. There's more, though! Fotografiska has a fairly regular music program, as well, where guests will be able to see many atmospheric and exciting concerts, including artists from different countries, diverse genres, and exclusive record presentations, as well. Fotografiska offers a diverse cultural experience, offering visual stimulation, good food, and live music. As mentioned, Fotografiska is located right in the heart of the Telliskivi Creative City, which makes it a popular place for both culture lovers and music fans alike.
Fotografiska has excellent acoustics, especially when it comes to unplugged concerts. Audiences at an unplugged Fotografiska concert will be able to appreciate every nuance of sound. Fotografiska's music program isn't only oriented to acoustic music, though. Fotografiska offers a selection of events covering a variety of different genres: from heavy to soul, pop to folk, electronic to acoustic guitar, and more. With Fotografiska, there is something for everybody to enjoy.
Check out their website.
Like them on Facebook.
Vaba Lava
The Vaba Lava theatre center, which is located in the immediate vicinity of Fotografiska, is, as the name suggests, more of a performing-arts theatre than a concert hall. This does not mean that Vaba Lava does not offer an excellent music program, as well, though. The music events at Vaba Lava are considerably less frequent than events at the aforementioned venues, but Vaba Lava's concerts are of high production value, it's an opportunity to see big names and well-known faces perform. Vaba Lava's stage is incredible, and opens a door for visiting artists to take advantage of its stage design, lightning, and atmospheric capabilities.
Check out their website.
Like them on Facebook.
Kinomaja
Kinomaja, located in
Tallinn
Tallinn, the largest city and capital of Estonia (population 440 000).
's old town, is not a traditional concert venue, if only because the Estonian Cinema Association operates at this location during the day. Because of this, concert activity is less frequent at this spot. There are periods where you'll find many concerts at Kinomaja, but there are also quiet times of the year when there are fewer concerts. This does not mean that the other programs are boring or lacking in spirit, though!
On the contrary: Kinomaja's sparse scheduling is excellent, and very diverse. In addition to traditional concerts, their program also includes record presentations, unplugged concerts, music-related meet ups, and even competitions, which gives visitors the opportunity to test their skills. Keep your eye on Kinomaja's calendar of events!
Check out their website.
Like them on Facebook.
About the author:
Tuuli Põhjakas is the culture editor for the daily paper,
Postimees
Postimees is an Estonian daily newspaper.
.
Tuuli has always dreamed of calling herself a writer, but until that day comes, she writes in
Postimees
Postimees is an Estonian daily newspaper.
about her musical passions, ventures to a variety of concerts, and tries to find her way in this world. Tuuli has studied philosophy and religious studies at the
University of Tartu
University of Tartu - Tartu Ülikool is an Estonian higher education institute.
, and has written two bachelor’s theses on Friedrich Nietzsche. Additionally, she hates talking about herself in the third person.