LMIC radio
LMIC radio

Alum Alu

Band

Genre: Folk rock

Location: Riga, Latvia

Active since: 2020–present

Key achievements:

  • Two #1 singles on Radio Naba’s alternative music chart in Latvia

  • Two showcase performances at Tallinn Music Week 2026

  • Finalists in Latvia’s alternative music competition Nemiera Blice 2026

  • Confirmed to perform at two of Latvia’s major festivals, Laba Daba and Saldus Saule (2026)

  • Opened for legendary Latvian bands Oranžās Brīvdienas and Hospitāļu iela

  • Closed the main stage at the Valmiermuiža Ethnomusic Festival in 2024

Combining the unstoppable energy of rock ’n’ roll with traditional musical influences, Alum Alu deliver an explosive, boundary-pushing folk-rock sound that gets audiences dancing and smiling from ear to ear.

The band was born in 2020 during the pandemic, when Aleksis Uss and Saimons Čisums met at an improvisation session in the bar where they both worked. There, they began developing the idea of an energetic fusion of rock ’n’ roll and folk music. Starting out as a four-piece project, the band soon evolved into a full-fledged ensemble, welcoming second vocalist Eli Ellere, as well as violin and accordion.

In 2023, Alum Alu released their debut album in collaboration with Hodila Records. The album’s single “Ļeņingradas Pagrabā” debuted at No. 2 on Radio Naba’s alternative music chart before climbing to No. 1, where it remained for six weeks. A successful summer tour across Latvia and neighbouring countries further cemented the band’s reputation as one of the region’s most exciting live acts.

In 2024, Alum Alu continued to build momentum with a series of standout performances, including a show alongside turbo-folk legends Oranžās Brīvdienas. The band closed the main stage at the Valmiermuiža Ethnomusic Festival and performed in Estonia. In 2025, the band began working with a new rhythm section and recording new material while also performing at Rīga Music Week, celebrating their fifth anniversary with a sold-out concert, and opening for Hospitāļu iela’s reunion show at Hanzas Perons in Riga, a venue with a capacity of 2,000.

Alum Alu kicked off their busy 2026 with the release of the double single “Ederlezi/Neizturami”. Just three weeks after its release, “Neizturami” reached No. 1 on Radio Naba’s alternative music chart. The band plans to release several more singles this year, but first they will embark on a spring tour, taking the stage at some of the biggest venues of their career to date. The tour begins in April with two showcase performances at Tallinn Music Week.

Alum Alu lineup:

  • Aleksis Uss – vocals, acoustic guitar

  • Saimons Čisums – mandolin, vocals

  • Eli Ellere – vocals, tambourine

  • Jānis Jātnieks – accordion, vocals

  • Egija Laura Preise – violin, vocals

  • Rihards Rikmanis – bass

  • Jachin Pousson – drums, percussion

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Photo: Laura Ellere-Pousson