My sister was a big fan of Depeche Mode when we were younger so they’ve always been a soundtrack to my life, Whilst I may have been a bit nonchalant about them back then, I’ve definitely come to appreciate their music over the years.
The Other Half had been a fan when he was growing up, and like me, never seen them live. We’d often said we’d like to catch them on tour, it was just a question of time. Finally, we got the chance to experience seeing Depeche Mode live in Tallinn!
Who Even Are Depeche Mode?
They’re the boys from Basildon! An electronic band formed in the UK in the 1980s. It feels as if they’ve often been overlooked by Britain, maybe their music is not for the masses, but they have had much bigger success out of their home country.
They were a key pioneer in electronic and synthesiser music. I always remember seeing them on Top Of The Pops playing instruments alongside bicycle wheels and pipes, creating an almost industrial sound.
They usually wore all black outfits that were considered slightly racy in the 1980s. Lead singer, Dave Gahan, would more often than not spin around at some point in the song too.
Why The Heck Did We Go To See Depeche Mode In Tallinn?
Well first off, why not? I’d argue it’s the prettiest capital city in Europe!
The main reason though was that we’d first been to Tallinn 12 years earlier and spent some time in the Depeche Mode Bar. Yes, there really is a bar dedicated to them! You’ll find pictures and articles on the wall, and videos on repeat. It’s amazing for a visit but I’m guessing you’d have to be a super-fan to work there and hear them all day, every day.
Visiting the DM bar on our first visit and hearing their music again after so long rekindled our appreciation for the band. Blimey, they’ve crafted some ground-breaking, well-produced music. They’ve also clearly paved the way for many others to venture into a dark and brooding synthesiser world.
We’d often said it would be good to see them play live, so we kept an eye out for dates but nothing ever came up that worked for us.
And then there it was. A new tour. With a date in Tallinn! There were dates a bit nearer to home, but as we’d reignited our fondness for them in the Estonian capital, it felt like an adventure and a homecoming to see them there.
Also, with the popularity of the bar, we knew there would be a big fan base and figured it would be great to be part of the crowd.
Making A Plan
I bought the tickets for the Other Half for Christmas, and half jokingly planted the seed of an idea that we should make it into a road trip and drive our campervan there. This grew into the idea to travel around the entire Baltic coast, which then became the actual plan!
Camping In Tallinn
There aren’t many campsites in Tallinn itself. Whilst wild camping is allowed in Estonia it’s mostly tolerated in places which are not so built up.
Our site was at the marina, so is probably best described as a car park. It was pricey, but extremely central and had all the amenities we needed after a few days off grid.
It turned out to be a great place to park-up. Most of the other campers were also going to see Depeche Mode! Throughout the afternoon we got chatting to some really lovely people who had driven from Lithuania, Finland and Sweden to come and see the gig – all with their own stories about the band.
Amazing Venue
The Tallinn Song Festival Grounds was an ultra amazing outdoor venue. It’s got a lot of history having been built in 1959, and has hosted some hugely famous acts. The Estonian Song Festival is held there every five years too. The big arch of the stage sits at the base of the field which gently slopes upwards creating a fantastic amphitheatre effect. Perfect for a concert.
Warming Up For Depeche Mode In Tallinn
The gig was a-ma-zing! A fantastic support act called ‘Hope’ kicked things off with an energetic synth rock set. Mixing guitars, keyboards and a commanding vocal, they conveyed the edgier side of life and, dare I say it, sounded like they had been influenced by the main act?!
The Main Event
Depeche Mode came on as the sun was setting and they did not disappoint. Clad in their usual dark ensemble, Dave wearing one of his trademark waistcoats, they launched into a fantastic synth-goth set full of spirit.
It was a polished performance through an incredible back catalogue of crowd pleasing big hits, right up to the latest heartfelt releases. It included a poignant tribute to the late Andy Fletcher, the original bassist who had sadly died in 2022.
Whilst there wasn’t much chat from the band between tracks, a field full of fans loving every moment echoed back the lyrics. Twilight descended and phone torches lit up across the field for a more mellow moment. Judging by the encouraged crescendo of vocals from the crowd at the end of one song, they really couldn’t get enough!
Dave Gahan didn’t let me down. He did some spinning around! Perhaps not as energetically as he did when he was on top of the pops over thirty years ago, but still with enthusiasm!
What A Night
After a triumphant encore, (and once we knew Depeche Mode definitely weren’t coming back onto stage), the throng of people spilled out of the venue making their way home. It was such a brilliant atmosphere as people did their best to keep the gig alive belting out songs in the dark.
Ears ringing, heads buzzing and looking forward to enjoying the silence back at the campsite, we’d finally seen a band we’d always said we would see. It had been brilliant!
Want To Try It Yourself?
This is a tricker new thing to give advice on how to try the exact same experience!
If you’re a Depeche Mode fan, keep your eyes peeled for any tour dates.
It you’re a music fan and looking for a great outdoor venue, have a look at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds website to see what is coming up.
It’s worth a visit to the Depeche Mode Bar if you’re ever in Tallinn.
Perhaps you have a band you’ve always wanted to see, why not have a look to see if there are any places you can see them to make it into an adventure?
Cost Of Experience
I’m not factoring in the cost of getting there, as there are far too many variables depending on where you are travelling from and how you are going to get there.
- The cost of our gig tickets were £80 each.
- A beer at the bar cost 7 Euros.
- We also had to pay a 2 Euro deposit for the re-usable cups initiative they were using.
Recommendations
If you go to see a gig at Tallinn Song Festival Grounds, keep an eye on the forecast. It’s an outdoor venue so you’ll want to plan whether you need your waterproofs.
Don’t forget it usually gets cooler as it gets darker so you might want to take a layer.
Queues for the bar and the toilet can be quite big, so don’t leave going until the last moment.
It’s great to chat to people in the crowd before the band come on, to find out where people have travelled from and about their experiences of the act.
If there’s a band or an act you’ve always wanted to see play live, if you can afford it then don’t put it off. You never know if or when they’ll next be touring.
Who have you travelled to see play live? Let me know in the comments!
Don’t forget your camera!