Puuluup’s Latest Canadian Tour Indicates a Deeper Fandom Than Ever
Originally published in Eesti Elu Nr. 28 2026, Author: Vincent Teetsov
It’s been four years since Puuluup came to Canada last, and to say a lot has happened since then would be an understatement. The “neo-zombie-post-folk” duo have continued to tour intensively, played live on KEXP, were part of a documentary (Kaablid autos veel, or Cables in the Car), and experienced a rock star (pop star? folk star? You can decide.) surge of enthusiasm during the Eurovision Song Contest with 5miinust with the song (“Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi.”
It was a question, then, whether their audience would now be able to fit inside the new summer speakeasy named Institut, located at 620 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, within St. Volodymyr Institute. And furthermore, has their audience now expanded beyond Estonians here in North America?
Turning the corner and heading for the back door of the institute, going down a set of stairs, and stepping into a mid-century nightclub atmosphere, it became apparent that the answer to both questions is yes.
Prior to the start of Puuluup’s set, one could grab a drink and Ukrainian snacks while trumpeter Rudy Ray Kwaku breezed through songs by Miles Davis, accompanied by Louis Malle’s 1958 crime thriller Elevator to the Gallows on-screen. The tone of his playing, with a Harmon mute, was transportive and soothed one’s nerves.
This was quite different from what was to follow. Tables and chairs were cleared to the left and right. The steadily growing crowd shifted up to the front with the encouragement of MC Mark Marczyk (of Lemon Bucket Orkestra). And after an introduction by musician and Estonian Music Week representative Erik Laar, Ramo Teder and Marko Veisson appeared, talharpas and bows in hand.
The duo has won the affection of audiences, because it didn’t take long for the seated, educational performances of past visits to vaporize into a raging party. The audience understood and appreciated all of the deadpan references to songs about cross-country skiing, loneliness, and agriculture (as humorously obligatory for folk as mentions of cold beer and trucks are for contemporary pop-country tracks). When the percussive stomping bass drum pedal and bow clacks started up, fans in the front started to dance. Freestyle at first, and then in pairs, then all hands joined in a circle. At certain points, it was necessary for the duo to stand up if the audience were to see them throughout the room. And a great number of the audience did move ahead once Puuluup provided choreographic instructions, particularly once they introduced their song “Kaerata jaan” (“Oatless John”), a play on the famous Estonian folk song “Kaerajaan.”
Puuluup’s song “Üksindus” (“Loneliness”) was adapted to address the theme of drinking alone, something advised against by the duo. And with wellness in mind—performing in an institute, Veisson argued that critical thinking was quite relevant—we were also reminded of Estonian health experts’ advice to move from a sedentary position every forty-five minutes. Good thing Jurgita Žvinklytė from Honeypaw was around to show the audience the Labajalavalss, with participants stepping in a line that wound around the whole room.
There was also movement on the part of the artists with Marko Veisson making his way through the crowd, singing and rapping with abandon. Seeing the distinct personalities of Puuluup emerge in a state of flow is always a highlight of their concerts.
Familiar tracks from Puuluup’s two LPs Süüta mu lumi (Light My Snow) and Viimane suusataja (The Last Skiier) were brought back, along with a few new pieces and their Eurovision song as a set closer, before they tumbled back out for an encore, jamming on the riff from Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water,” concluding with an explosive storm of distortion.
Add to this the fact that all of the above was depicted in a live painting at the side of the stage by artist Ivanna Lunazul and that the night continued with Colombian electronic trio KILLABEATMAKER and with a polyphonic Ukrainian birthday song (“Mnohaya Lita” (Многая літа), or “Many Years”) for the venue’s team members and it’s evident that Puuluup is part of a rising force that is filling our communities with authentic, energetic culture without compromise.
The concert was co-presented by INSTITUT, Estonian Music Week and VEMU Estonian Museum Canada.