News

Rock’n’Roll, R&B, Folk and Fury: ESTonishing Marks Third Year at Reeperbahn
Estonia’s third consecutive showcase at Reeperbahn Festival promises its widest range yet, as five acts — The Boondocks, YASMYN, PUULUUP, boipepperoni and Intrepid — take the stage at Hamburg’s influential annual industry gathering on Wednesday 16 September.
The ESTonishing Night at Hamburg’s Baalsaal brings together the ‘zombie folk’ of a resurrected bowed lyre from Puuluup, guitar-pop rock’n’roll steeped in pop-art swagger from The Boondocks, sleek trap-and-neo-soul confidence from YASMYN, melancholy-inflected dance-pop from boipepperoni, and bludgeoning death metal from Intrepid. It’s Estonia’s current musical output at its broadest — centuries-old tradition alongside rebellion — and a fitting entry into Reeperbahn Festival’s 2026 theme, ‘Forever Legit’.
The showcase, curated by Music Estonia in cooperation with Tallinn Music Week, opens with a reception at Baalsaal for international music industry representatives and media from 19:00–19:45, followed by back-to-back live sets. The reception is co-hosted by kurvad uudised records, one of Estonia’s fastest-rising labels.
- 19:45–20:15 The Boondocks
- 20:45–21:15 YASMYN
- 21:45–22:15 Puuluup
- 22:45–23:15 boipepperoni
- 23:45–00:15 Intrepid
An Estonian music industry networking event will also take place during the festival.
The ESTonishing showcase is presented by Music Estonia, in partnership with Tallinn Music Week, Tallinn UNESCO City of Music and the Estonian Embassy in Berlin, and supported by the Estonian Ministry of Culture. The industry reception is co-hosted with kurvad uudised records. Media partners are Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) and German popup-records.
Now in its 21st year, Reeperbahn Festival is Europe’s largest club festival and international platform for pop culture, offering talent and conference programmes, meetings with leading figures from around the world, and in-depth insights into the German music market. The 2026 edition follows last year’s 20th-anniversary landmark, and runs 16–19 September. Estonians who have previously performed at Reeperbahn include ESTonishing alumni Duo Ruut, Alonette, mariin k. and Pridian (2025) and Night Tapes, Ajukaja & Mart Avi, manna and Rita Ray (2024), as well as earlier performers Tommy Cash, Holy Motors, Maarja Nuut and NOËP.