"Malvy" at the "Vyshyvanka Unites – Rahvustikand ühendab" festival!

Heartfelt thanks to the vocal ensemble Malvy for the songs, warmth and sincerity you gave the festival! You are a true jewel of our stage and our hearts.

It was a Sunday we will never forget.

18 May, Tallinn, the Estonian Open Air Museum – this is where the "Vyshyvanka Unites" festival took place, and we, the vocal ensemble "Malvy", were part of it. We came as participants and went home as happy "stars" – with new impressions, songs in our heads and gifts in our hands. And most importantly, with joy in our hearts.

We performed three pieces: "Oi chornaia ia, chy chorna", "Ta kosyv batko" and a spring song with a ritual wreath we made with our own hands. The wreath came to life and the song rang out! The stage was small but cosy. The atmosphere was like a big family celebration:

• everyone in vyshyvankas,
• smiles,
• our native language,
• photo zones,
• handmade crafts,
• children's areas,
• delicious food.

Everything around was Ukrainian, familiar and our own.

There were activities and workshops for children, and for adults – delicious food, interesting meetings, new acquaintances and… a concert in which we too became part of a great Ukrainian celebration.

Many groups performed at the festival – both dance and vocal ensembles. The programme was vibrant and full. But we did not feel like just part of a general concert – we felt part of a large community, part of Ukraine. Our performance was in the second half, so we had got a little used to the stage and the people by then. And still – we were nervous! And it started raining just as we went on. It was cold. But the biggest "test" was the drums – nearby, in another area, drums were playing so loudly that it felt like we were competing in volume. But we did not give up. On the contrary – we sang even more powerfully!

The audience welcomed us warmly, sang along and danced – and we sang from the heart. As best we could. As we wanted. As we felt.

After the performance people photographed us, stopped us and thanked us. It felt so good to be part of the festival's big heart. We really felt like stars. Support like that makes you want to sing even more.

And then – the lottery! Six of the 21 prizes went to us! We won a pie, T-shirts, a shawl, a gnome and a bottle of Ukrainian wine – and it was fun. We performed and we won – and everyone remembered: here come the "Malvy"!

The festival's star and headliner was ALIKA – the singer who has become the voice of modern Estonia and represented it at Eurovision in 2023! We loved her performance: professional, with an acoustic guitar, heartfelt. Her "thank you" in Ukrainian was touching. And the Okean Elzy songs in Ukrainian and Estonian were thrilling. Her strong voice, her charisma. We are delighted. And of course we asked for a photo as a souvenir.

Thank you, Alika, for such an emotional performance!

On the way there and back we sang on the bus. As always. Because when your team is with you, the song flows by itself.

Thank you to our driver – for patience, comfort and waiting.

A huge thank you to all the organisers – Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia, drUzi.ee, the coordinators, volunteers and participants. Especially to Inna Hordiienko – for the invitation and for her attention to everyone.

See you on stage!

See you at the next festival!

We are already looking forward to it.