In 1984, after several local concerts, the band, led by charismatic vocalist Cichy, made its debut at the Jarocin Festival. At the time, the group was still inspired by punk classics, but two years later it presented completely new cold-wave material, influenced by the work of the Bydgoszcz band Variété.

Fort BS also played at Jarocin '85, and a year later finally became a festival laureate. Their song “Rozhulantyna” appeared on the compilation album “Jeszcze młodsza generacja”, presenting the leading punk and new-wave acts of that period. With the support of Maken, a friend of the band, Fort BS also released a demo cassette as a split, which also included recordings by the group Stress, whose members included Fort BS musicians Mario, Arturro and Zdzich. In 1987, the band played in Jarocin again—even though, as a festival laureate, it did not receive another invitation. The group was forced to perform under a different name—RAYA.

In 1992, after several years away, Fort BS returned to the stage and released the professional cassette “Punk'N'Roll”, followed a year later by the live recording “Tutaj jest wszystko inaczej”. During this period, the group played concerts across the country, including at the Odjazdy Festival, as well as in Germany.

In 1994, Fort BS released its third cassette, “Hooligans”, and once again played at, among other events, the Jarocin Festival.

After a long break, caused in part by Tomek “Cichy” Cichocki’s departure for England, the band returned in 2006, when it was invited to take part in a new edition of the Jarocin festival. Their performance was very well received by the audience. Soon afterwards, Fort BS played a short tour of south-western Poland, including with the band Farben Lehre.

The band FORT BS began 2015 by promoting a new album—an acoustic one, as the musicians themselves put it:

As a consequence of the release of the long-awaited vinyl record featuring already archaic demo versions, we could not leave the work we had begun unfinished... So we are returning with a completely different, new sound. We have noticed that our songs, played today, have their own meaning and reflection in contemporary life. Played years later, using different electronic tools, they have come alive again, and you can hear it clearly. We are nearing completion of the material for an album that will bring things recalled from the dark oblivion of communist-era Poland back to life forever. We hope that this time these sounds will stay with you forever. We greet all our old friends from that other world and warmly welcome all the newcomers!

The current defenders of the Fort are:

  • Tomasz “Cichy Tom” Cichocki – vocals
  • Sławek “Mozes” Mozolewski – vocals, bass
  • Mariusz “Maniek” Raźny – rhythm, African drums
  • Ivo Hajdam – guitar
  • Ryszard “Ryś” Jaworski – guitar.

Acoustic concert by FORT BS + guests, including Paihivo and Tiriba
14 March, 7:00 p.m.
JCK Auditorium, 28/30 Bankowa Street

Tickets – PLN 30 – available at the JCK box office at 28/30 Bankowa Street and at www.bilety.jck.pl. The box office is open Tuesday to Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and for two hours before the event.

JCK/ii