ESTONIA-PUNK FESTIVAL Punk for the people in Estonia at large-scale alternative choral festival

Record ID: 142908

  • Title: ESTONIA-PUNK FESTIVAL Punk for the people in Estonia at large-scale alternative choral festival
  • Date: 24th August 2015
  • Summary: GIRL WEARING SHIRT WITH SIGN "PUNK IS NOT DEAD" (SOUNDBITE) (Estonian) SINGER AND CONDUCTOR, MERLE SOONBERG, SAYING: "These songs give us freedom and emotions that can be let out of ourselves."
  • Embargoed: 8th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Estonia
  • Country: Estonia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7OL5V8L4JJOD07LN9OUJV92HV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS ITEM RAN ALSO ON OUR CEEF FEED
    Mezzosopranos with mohawks and anarchic altos assembled in the Estonian town of Rakvere on Saturday (August 22) for a punk festival with a twist -- all the songs are divided for choral performance.
    Over 2000 people pogoed on at the Rakvere Vallimaegi hill and joined in mass sing-alongs of Estonian and international punk hits under the title 'Touched by Brain'.
    Oraganisers said the event was not intended to be political or anti-government in message, but to be a mass celebration of freedom drawing on punk culture and the Estonian tradition of large-scale choral singing.
    "'Touched by Brain' invites people to think clearly, simply, by their own beliefs. Not to wait for people 'upstairs' or 'downstairs' to give them directives. It is for common sense. Freedom and common sense that people need more of. And a song festival in general is a symbol of freedom. Punk, in another way, is also a symbol of freedom. When put together, they form a pretty weird thing that can also be called a theme party, but one that is for freedom and freedom of speech and thought," organiser Ullar Saaremae said.
    Academic and semi-professional choirs taking part were there mainly for the quality of their singing as opposed to their punk credentials -- but joined in the spirit of the day by dying their hair and decking themselves out in leather.
    "Actually, all the songs have been arranged into decent choir parts and of course they might be a bit more simple than more sophisticated choir music, but these are still completely proper polyphonic choir arrangements that we are singing. So the songs are a bit more exhausting for the voice, because there is a lot of text, chanting and singing with power, but the emotions are stronger because of that," conductor Keijo Soome said at the accompanying parade through the streets of Rakvere.
    "It is extremely nice to come out of my everyday role and feel like a completely different person. It is a lot of fun. We are here for the third time," one singer, Maret Meriste, said.
    Since beginning in 2008, the lineup has mainly focussed on international hits, but this year the emphasis was on local Estonian punk music, with tracks by the country's Singer Vinger featuring alongside the Sex Pistols and Pussy Riot.
    Choirs have a good stretch of time to learn how to unleash their anarchic spirit before the next punk song festival, set to take place in four year's time.
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