Bio & Press
Curly Strings / Eeva / Villu / Peeter / Taavet
Photo: Greten Lehtmaa
Curly Strings is an acoustic four-piece band that draws its inspiration from their own personal heritage in the current Estonian cultural space. Intense and playful ensemble work paired with a sincere presentation of their original music forms the main basis of Curly Strings’ soundscape. The band’s rise in the Estonian music scene in 2013 was a phenomenon unlike any other: a folk music artist became mainstream by collecting national music awards and being the top seller in music stores for more than a year. They bring their unique Baltic take to the acoustic music world in combining the familiar with the unfamiliar, having catchy heartfelt songwriting side-by-side with folk music aesthetics, making them an exciting act to look out for.
Eeva Talsi – fiddle, lead vocals
Taavet Niller – upright bass, vocals
Peeter Hirtentreu – guitar, vocals
Villu Talsi – mandolin, vocals
AWARDS
Album “Pidu meis eneses”
Album of the year 2021 (Estonian Folk Music Awards, Etnokulp)
Album Curly Strings ja sõbrad – Lastele
Best new Folk Artist 2020 (Estonian Folk Music Awards, Etnokulp)
Album “Hoolima”
Best New Folk Artist 2017 – (Estonian Folk Music Awards, Etnokulp)
European World Of Bluegrass (EWOB) 2016 festival:
#1 European Bluegrass Award
Liz Meyer Award
For EP “Elumäng”
Best New Folk Artist (Estonian Ethno Music Awards 2015)
For album “Üle ilma”
Album of the year (Estonian Music Awards 2015)
Band of the year (Estonian Music Awards 2015)
Newcomer of the year (Estonian Music Awards 2015)
Newcomer of the year (Estonian Golden Record 2015)
Band of the year (Estonian Golden Record 2015)
Album of the year (Estonian Golden Record 2015)
For song “Kauges külas”
Song of the year (Estonian Music Awards 2015)
Radio 2 hit of the year 2014
“Estonian lyrics and tradition meld with American string band influences to create a sound at once familiar, yet unlike anything you’ve heard before.” Casey Driessen
“These musicians are inspired by music from far away places but are deeply connected and informed by their own cultural heritage. I LOVE THAT!” Mike Marshall
“Superb bluegrass-based music from Estonia” Jeremy Searle from Americana UK
Great Review from RNR Magazine! (2018)
Album Review From Songlines Magazine (2018)
“Estonian band Curly Strings have chops to match many an American and have fused the upbeat Southern sound with their own ethnic styles to create a newgrass that speaks on the Baltic sensibility and beyond.” Tom Newell
Great Review from Americana UK! (2018)
Jeremy Searle reviewed our album Hoolima: “Superb bluegrass-based music from Estonia”. Read more here:
http://americana-uk.com/curly-
Review by Eugene O’Brien for “Hoolima” (Caring) (2017)
Eugene O’Brien from European Bluegrass Music Association reviewed our new record “Hoolima” (Caring)!
“This is an excellent album from an award winning band who play with originality and understanding of what they are trying to achieve …and are very successful at doing it.”
Read more from here:
http://ebma.org/2017/curly-strings-new-cd-hoolima/
Two reviews of our concert in Bühl Bluegrass festival (2017)
“Powerful, but also tender. Standing ovations are a reward of this impressive performance.”
Review from Alterock (2017)
Folkworld review Ep “Elumäng” (2017)
Die lockigen Streicher (der Bandname erklärt sich bei den Musikern auf den ersten Blick) sind ein Quartett aus Estland,[41] das zwar in ihrer Heimatsprache singt, sich aber musikalisch an nordamerikanischer String Band Music orientiert. Das klingt musikalisch vertraut, und erst beim zweiten Hören tun sich unbekanntere Welten auf, in die man gerne eintaucht, um sie zu erkunden. Die baltische Musikszene haben die Curly Strings innerhalb kürzester Zeit im Sturm erobert; in 2015 haben sie insgesamt vier Estonian Music Awards abgeräumt. Aber auch Westeuropa horcht auf und die Esten belegten 2016 den ersten Platz beim European Bluegrass Award des European World Of Bluegrass (EWOB) Festivals. Die EP “Elumäng” (dt. Spiel des Lebens) enthält sechs abwechslungsreiche Titel. Zum einen laden Geigerin Eeva Talsi und Mandolinist Villu Talsi mit Spielfreude und Ausgelassenheit zum Tanz ein, zusammengehalten durch Kontrabass und Gitarre. Zum Durchatmen und Träumen verführt dann die gefällige und empfindsame Stimme von Eeva Talsi, wobei Kontrabassist Taavet Niller bei einem Lied mit seinem erdigeren Gesang noch einen reizvollen Kontrast bietet.
© Walkin’ T:-)