The 24th edition of the Blues nad Bobrem Festival is getting underway and will be held this time in Kruszyn, near Bolesławiec. This is also where Poland’s most popular music workshops will take place. The workshops and first jam session open on 5 August. There are still a few places available! More information on the Blues nad Bobrem Festival website, under Workshops and registration.
A tribute to Nalepa
On 9 August, the Blues Band Review will take place. Since 2007, it has been named after Tadeusz Nalepa, the father of Polish blues. It is the only competition in which performing a song from Tadeusz Nalepa’s repertoire is mandatory.
Past winners of the Review include J.J. Band, The Twisters, Tipsy Drivers, Ścigani, Cheap Tobacco and Niebieska Sowa, as well as Roman Puchowski and Jacek Siciarek—today stars and workshop instructors.
The following bands qualified for the Review from among 28 groups:
- Cold Shot
- Day After Day
- Forsal
- Levi
- Manfredi & Johnson
- Po Godzinach
- Side Road
- SKL Blues.
It begins at 5:00 p.m.. The bands will compete, among other things, for cash prizes:
- Grand Prize—PLN 4,000
- Prize for the most interesting performance of a Tadeusz Nalepa song—PLN 2,000
- Audience Award—PLN 1,000.
A blues mass
The blues service has already become a BnB tradition. The musical accompaniment will be provided by young people attending the Blues nad Bobrem workshops, supported by the instructors. After the mass, the workshop participants will give a short concert together with the instructors. The programme will include Polish and American gospel and spirituals.
The mass is being prepared by Aleksandra Sozańska-Kut, a vocal-class instructor. The service will take place on 10 August at the Parish of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Kwiatowe housing estate in Bolesławiec. It will be celebrated by the parish priest, Fr Józef Hupa. It begins at 6:00 p.m.. Admission is free.
Concerts
After the Blues Band Review on 9 August, a concert by Boogie Boys and Kasa Chorych will be held in Kruszyn, on the school sports field. It begins at 7:00 p.m.. Admission to both events costs PLN 25.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, 14 August, the following will perform:
- Festival Orchestra made up of the instructors
- Niebieska Sowa
- Magda Piskorczyk Masterclass.
The event starts at 6:00 p.m.. A ticket for this day also costs PLN 25, while a two-day pass can be purchased for PLN 40. Tickets are available at the “Perfekt” Travel Agency on Sierpnia '80 Street in Bolesławiec; they can also be ordered online: kupbilecik.pl.
Importantly, the concerts will be hosted by legendary Trójka radio journalist Jan Chojnacki.
| Two-day concert pass—PLN 40 | ||
| Event | date, time and venue | tickets |
|---|---|---|
| Blues Band Review | 9 August, Saturday, 5:00 p.m. | PLN 25 |
| Concert by Boogie Boys and Kasa Chorych | 9 August, Saturday, 7:00 p.m. | |
| Blues mass | 10 August, Sunday, 6:00 p.m. | free admission |
| Concert by the Festival Orchestra made up of instructors, presentations by individual classes, concert by Niebieska Sowa, concert by Magda Piskorczyk Masterclass | 14 August, Thursday, 6:00 p.m. | PLN 25 |
Exhibitions and meetings
| Event | date, time and venue |
|---|---|
| Meeting with Marek Karewicz combined with the promotion of his new book “Big Beat” and the opening of the “Czesław Niemen” exhibition | 6 August, Wednesday, 7:00 p.m., GOKiS Library in Kruszyn |
| Meeting with Jerzy Sosnowski (Trójka Time Machine) combined with the promotion of his book “We’ll Meet in Honolulu” | 8 August, Friday, 7:00 p.m., GOKiS Library in Kruszyn |
The exhibitions and meetings are co-organised by: the Municipal Library in Kruszyn, “Agora” Bookshop and Bolesławiec City Center Gallery.
Sponsors of this year’s edition:
- Związek Artystów Wykonawców Stoart
- Bolesławiec County
- Bolesławiec Municipality
- Cultura KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.
- Gerresheimer.
Co-organisers:
- Ośrodek Kultury i Sztuki we Wrocławiu
- Marshal’s Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship
- Municipal Culture and Sports Centre in Bolesławiec, based in Kruszyn
- Primary School in Kruszyn.
(information: www.bluesnadbobrem.pl/ii)