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From 16th to the 19th of September, the new Estonian music showcase evening “ESTonishing” took place for the third time at Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, Germany. On the 16th of September, The Boondocks, YASMYN, Puuluup, boipepperoni, and Intrepid took the stage at the Baalsaal club. Nearly 40 members of the Estonian music industry delegation also attended one of Europe’s leading showcase festivals.

The showcase evening was organised by Music Estonia in collaboration with Tallinn Music Week, UNESCO City of Music Tallinn and the Estonian Embassy in Berlin. The programme was launched with a reception for international music industry delegates and media, hosted together with the record label kurvad uudised.

This marked the largest and most diverse representation of Estonian music at Reeperbahn Festival to date. The night kicked off with The Boondocks‘ expanding soundscape and cinematic indie rock, followed by YASMYN‘s blend of neo-soul and R&B and Puuluup‘s global stage-tested “zombie-folk.” Next, boipepperoni filled Baalsaal with his melancholic, glossy dance pop, before Intrepid closed the lineup with brutal death metal.

boipepperoni proved that his chart-topping domestic beats also captivate demanding international audiences and industry professionals – and did so during his very first international performance. “Everything I had rehearsed went smoothly and the audience really seemed to connect with my set. The overall impression of the festival was great and gave me plenty of motivation to keep pushing toward a wider international reach,” he shared.

Intrepid risked almost everything on the Reeperbahn stage, performing for the first time with a new lineup and a brand-new setlist. “We had about a month to practice our 30-minute set – much less than we usually allow ourselves for preparation. Changing absolutely everything and setting an unrealistic deadline for a show watched by key industry figures is, to an extent, completely crazy. In the end, everything turned out great,” said Intrepid member Simo Atso.

These two performances also caught the eye of Daniel Somlo, promoter for the Hungarian showcase festival BUSH and representative of Catharsis Booking agency: “Yet another proof of the high standard of Estonian music! boipepperoni demonstrated how a DJ set can fit seamlessly into a live-music-centric lineup. Great stage presence, professional skills, and fantastic taste. He could easily be the next international hit! Intrepid’s music, on the other hand, is dark and ominous – unreal throat vocals and immense power. Could this be the next big name in death metal?”

Lori Ethier, representative for Montreal’s showcase festival M for Montreal, reflected on the broader picture: “I’ve always admired Estonian culture ever since I first attended Tallinn Music Week. Estonian showcases are always strong, proud, and remarkably creative, and Hamburg was no exception. In a way, Estonia reminds me of Québec, sharing a similar sense of cultural pride, identity, and creativity.”

Ave Sophia Demelemester, Director of Music Estonia, highlighted: “It is precisely this versatility and independence that make up our strength. “ESTonishing” showed just how many different worlds can emerge from one small country, reflecting Estonian music in all its diversity.” However, she noted that what happened on stage was only half the effort: “Our nearly 40 Estonian delegation members were on the ground in Hamburg to meet with international professionals, build new connections and open the next doors for our musicians.”

According to YASMYN’s manager, Mihkel Sirelpuu, these meetings were among the most valuable parts of the programme. “In just two hours, we held eight meaningful meetings with booking agents, record labels, distributors, and publishers from Germany, the UK, France, Central Europe, Canada and Australia. Doors like these are very difficult to open on your own at this stage of an artist’s career. Huge thanks to Music Estonia for ensuring the Estonian delegation was so well prepared and visible in Hamburg.”

Taking place for the 21st time this year, Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg is one of the most established and influential showcases for new music, as well as the largest club festival and music industry conference of its kind in Europe. In previous years, the “ESTonishing” stage has featured Duo Ruut, Alonette, mariin k., and Pridian in 2025, and Night Tapes, Ajukaja & Mart Avi, manna, and Rita Ray during its inaugural edition in 2024. Other Estonian acts that have previously performed at Reeperbahn include Tommy Cash, Holy Motors, and Maarja Nuut.

The Estonian music showcase “ESTonishing” was spearheaded by Music Estonia in collaboration with Tallinn Music Week, UNESCO City of Music Tallinn, and the Estonian Embassy in Berlin, with support from the Estonian Ministry of Culture. The reception was held in partnership with the record label kurvad uudised. Media partners were the Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) and popup-records.