Folklore group “Zeiļa” releases debut album for 25th anniversary

The folklore group “Zeiļa” from Ūzulainieši parish in the Rēzekne district has released its debut album “Dzīdit, meitys, skaistys dzīsmis” this spring, marking the group’s 25th anniversary. The album contains 12 folk songs in the Latgalian language, selected as the members’ favorites and most frequently performed. Among them are “Malni muni kumeleni”, “Tymseņš guoja, tymseņš guoja”, “Dzīdit, meitys, vokorā”, “Muns mīlais dzeivoj tuoli”, “Treis gadeni audzynuoju”, and Bronislava Martuževa’s song “Zemli zvaigzneite puorguoja”.

The group was founded in 2001 under the leadership of Irēna Rampāne. In 2008, leadership passed to Ināra Blinova, who strengthened the group’s sound and composition. At one point, four generations sang together in “Zeiļa”; now there are three – grandmothers, mothers, and granddaughters.

The album was recorded at Einārs Lipskis’s sound studio. It is initially available only on CD, not digitally. The portal lakuga.lv offers listeners a chance to hear one song from the album – “Kuplys auga ūzuleņš”. Group leader Ināra Blinova explained that this song was chosen because it is cheerful and mentions an oak tree and a goldfinch.

The album presentation took place on April 10, 2026, at the Ūzulainieši Folk House, coinciding with the group’s anniversary celebration. Several other ensembles attended the event: the folklore group “Andeļneicys” from Malta, “Vuorpa” from Veremi, a group from Iļžukolns Folk House, “Rateņš” from Ratnīki, the ethnographic ensemble from Rogovka, the ethnographic ensemble from Rikovci, the folklore group “Rūta” from Rēzekne, as well as the senior club “Uguntiņa” and the senior vocal ensemble “Nadzežda” from Ūzulainieši Folk House.

“Zeiļa” has performed at all local celebrations in Ūzulainieši parish and various events in the parish and district. The group has participated five times in the international folklore festival “Baltica”, performed at the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, the General Latvian Song and Dance Festival, and elsewhere. The album release was supported by the Rēzekne district Malta administrative unit and the State Culture Capital Fund.