Meet international guests and discover folk traditions from across Europe

The International Folklore Festival "Skamba skamba kankliai" offers a rich program of performances, featuring both local talent and international guests from across Europe.

Festival international guests: 

Poland – "Kapela Niwinskich". Practitioners and researchers of central Polish music traditions, "Kapela Niwinskich" bring the melodies of Radom and Opočno regions to life, accompanied by the expressive voice of Maria Siwiec, one of Poland’s most authentic traditional singers. 

Estonia – Maarja Nuut. Maarja Nuut blends contemporary music with Estonian folklore in her concert “Spirits and Connections”, exploring family histories and ancestral legacies through evocative, soul-stirring songs. 

Serbia – "Oplenac". Founded in Topola, "Oplenac" preserves the rich vocal traditions of Serbia’s Šumadija region, performing songs collected with ethnomusicologist Jelena Jovanović and passing these traditions to younger generations through workshops. 

Ukraine – "Kalynova Rodyna". The ethnographic ensemble from Drabivschyna showcases Central and Eastern Ukrainian singing traditions through authentic performances, active community involvement, and a strong commitment to passing folk heritage on to younger generations. 

Poland/Belarus – "Kapela Tryhradzka". Based in Gdansk, "Kapela Tryhradzka" performs Belarusian dances and folk music from neighboring countries, combining skilled musicianship with dance that draws the audience into the performance. 

Ireland – Noel Hill. A master of the Irish concertina, Noel Hill brings the Clare County music tradition to life through intricate ornamentation and heartfelt performances shaped by decades of family and community music-making. 

Latvia – "Daba San". Group from Riga Technical University, interprets Latvian folk songs through post-folklore arrangements, blending accordion, guitar, violin, flute, percussion, and rich vocal harmonies to connect past and present. 

Catch the international guests performing at the festival events:  „Tradicijų akiračiai: pažinti, suprasti“, „Svetukai mano, Rygaillio!“, „Nakties muzika“, „Naktinės dūzgės“, „Naktišokiai“