On-Stage Drama in Finland: Band Respect Claims Shanon Barred Them From Returning

Band Respect performed at an Estonian Midsummer celebration in Finland on Saturday, but the band's leader Kerdo Mölder apologized to the audience for not performing an encore. According to Mölder, Shanon's crew prevented them from returning to the stage. Shanon frontman Taavi Immato denies these claims.

Band Respect caused an unusual on-stage drama on Saturday, 14 June 2026, at an Estonian Midsummer event in Finland, which quickly spread across social media.

Mölder's Explanation

The band's frontman Kerdo Mölder posted on social media after the concert, apologizing to the audience for not performing an encore despite the crowd's strong demand for one. "When we had gone a few minutes over the scheduled time, Shanon's crew made it very clear to us backstage that we were not allowed to return to the stage," Mölder wrote.

Mölder emphasized that the decision not to perform an encore did not come from the band itself, but rather they were given a clear prohibition by the organizers. He said the audience was enthusiastically calling for an encore, and he felt obligated to publicly explain the situation.

Shanon Disputes the Claims

Shanon frontman Taavi Immato, however, has a different view. He stated that the claims made by band Respect do not correspond to the facts, thus refuting accusations that Shanon's crew had kept the other band off stage.

The public exchange between the two bands has sparked considerable discussion among Estonians, as both ensembles are respected performers among Estonian-language music fans. Who exactly managed the stage and under what circumstances remains unclear based on the two sides' accounts.