Aigu Om barn concert / Mari Kalkun & Laima Jansone (LV) "Flying kannel"

This year’s cozy and free-spirited barn concert offers a rare opportunity to experience the "zither magic" and joint creation of Estonian singer and composer Mari Kalkun and Latvian virtuoso Laima Jansone. The doors of the Aigu Om barn in Viitina will open for the 2026 festival for this one special evening only.

At the sixth Aigu Om! festival, we turn our gaze toward our neighbors and join forces with the Latvians. During a residency leading up to the festival, musicians from both countries will explore the unique characteristics of Estonian and Latvian zither (kannel/kokle) playing, drawing inspiration from each other’s traditions, techniques, and sounds. This unique program and the soundscapes born from their collaboration can be heard at the Aigu Om barn on the evening of July 17th.

Laima Jansone (Latvia) 

Laima Jansone is a Latvian kokle player and composer working at the intersection of tradition and contemporary music. Her artistic practice centres on expanding the sonic and expressive possibilities of the kokle through extended techniques, improvisation, and original composition. As a solo artist, she creates immersive performances that move between meditative soundscapes

and dynamic, rhythm-driven structures, bridging ancient musical heritage with a contemporary aesthetic. 

On the international music arena, Laima is also known for the electronic duo ZeMe.

Mari Kalkun (Estonia) 

Mari Kalkun is a charismatic singer and a creator with a highly distinctive style. Her voice, zithers, piano, and electronics exist in an organic symbiosis, creating narrative soundscapes that transport the listener into a "magical-realist" space-time. Although this internationally acclaimed musician has spent a decade touring the world—from Europe to Japan, Canada, and New Zealand—she deeply honors her roots; a significant part of her songs is written in the indigenous Võro language. She has released nine albums, the most recent being Stoonia lood (Stories of Stonia), released under the prestigious British label Real World Records. Mari Kalkun is also the hostess of the Aigu Om barn.

The Team

• Visuals: Piret Parrest

• Live Sound: Taavo Teras

• Atmosphere/lights/stage: Joosep Kurm & Co (ensuring the "pumpkin" barn transforms into a "golden carriage" for the night)

• Organizers: Mari Kalkun, Marili Jõgi and Jaana Kõvatu

Note for allergy sufferers: Please be aware that hay bales will be used for seating during the event in the Aigu Om barn.

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AIGU OM! FESTIVAL

The barn concert is part of the Aigu Om! festival program (July 15–17), taking place across various locations in Rõuge Parish: Pähni, Rõuge, and Viitina. This year, Latvian musicians, artisans, and artists will visit the festival, and we are collaborating closely with the community and organizers of the Valmiermuiža Ethnomusic Festival.

But that’s not all! Latvia is just a stone’s throw away. This year, after Aigu Om, you can spend July 18, 2026, immersed in an excellent international music program in Valmiera. You can purchase a combo ticket right here, which provides entry to both the barn concert and the Valmiermuiža Ethnomusic Festival in Latvia.

This year’s collaboration with our neighbors is made possible by the Estonia-Latvia program and the project "Same, same but different" with the Valmiermuiža Cultural Society.

www.aiguom.ee