The Estonian “zombie folk” duo Puuluup, as they call themselves, is set to return to the United States with a countrywide tour in September and October 2025.
“What do you get when you mix a pinch of surrealism, a bit of modern folklore, a heaping helping of talharpa – a centuries old four-stringed bowed lyre from northern Europe – and blend it together through effects and loopers? The answer is the neo-zombie-post-folk duo Puuluup,” the band says of itself. Puuluup means “wooden magnifying glass” in Estonian and is pronounced “poo loop”.
The Estonian duo returns to North America in September and October with a coast-to-coast US tour that stops in New York, NY; Chicago, IL; Washington, DC; Seattle, WA; and more.
Puuluup was founded in 2014 by talharpa enthusiasts Ramo Teder and Marko Veisson. Teder, a multi-instrumentalist, was already recognised for his solo project Pastacas, while Veisson’s background in anthropology – including fieldwork in northern Ghana and a passion for West African music – has left a clear imprint on the duo’s sound.
Five albums and many awards
Both musicians were captivated by the talharpa – an ancient Nordic bowed lyre played in Northern Europe since the early Middle Ages. Drawn to its raw, overtone-rich sound, they set out to push the instrument beyond tradition and explore new musical possibilities.
In its ten years together, Puuluup has released five albums and collected numerous awards in Estonia, spearheading a talharpa revival that has lifted the once-obscure instrument from near extinction and turned it into a symbol of national pride.
“Today, Puuluup is a beloved fixture on the global music circuit as well as the European indie, rock and pop world. The group even represented Estonia in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest.”
Puuluup tour dates:
23 September – the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN
24 September – Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen, Crystal Lake, IL
25 September – Constellation, Chicago, IL
26 September – Lotus World Music & Arts Festival, Bloomington, IN
27 September – Lotus World Music & Arts Festival, Bloomington, IN
3 October – Chandler Music Hall, Randolph, VT
4 October – CitySpace, Easthampton, MA
5 October – Club Passim, Cambridge, MA
7 October – Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, Washington, DC
8 October – DROM, New York, NY
9 October – Manny’s, State College, PA
12 October – Hidden Hall, Seattle, WA
