There are fewer workshop participants than during the heyday of the Bolesławiec festival. “But we are very happy that there are more than seventy of them,” says Zbigniew Lewandowski, president of the Blues nad Bobrem Association and artistic director of the Wojtek Seweryn Music Workshops.

This year’s workshops received financial support from the Marshal’s Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Zbigniew Lewandowski announces that this year the association will already seek funding for the next edition from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

Workshop participants can hone their skills under the guidance of outstanding blues and jazz musicians: Krystyna Prońko, Aleksandra Sozańska-Kut, Maciej Balcar, Kasia Maliszewska, Krzysztof “Puma” Piasecki, Leszek Cichoński, Jacek Jaguś, Bohdan Lizoń, Bartek Łęczycki, Roman Badeński, Zbigniew Lewandowski and Tomasz Grabowy. On 14 August, the world-famous drummer Virgil Donati will lead a workshop in the Music School auditorium. What is more, jam sessions will be held every day at the Pegaz club.

“I come here every year. I spend a lovely time here,” Mr Włodek from Lwówek Śląski tells the IstotneInformacje.pl website. The resident of Lwówek is already retired. He began playing the harmonica six years ago. Previously, he had not played any instrument. Since then, music has become his passion. He now plays concerts in various places. This is not his first time attending the Bolesławiec workshops. “I’m polishing my form,” he laughs.

“These are the biggest workshops of their kind. Many of my friends come here—really great harmonica players. And there are excellent instructors,” admits Ola Latowska from Gdynia, a workshop participant in the harmonica class. “Jam sessions are a fantastic thing. That alone makes it worth coming here,” she adds.

Guitarist Łukasz Gołąbek from Kłodzko has come to Bolesławiec for the second time. “This event has a great atmosphere,” says the musician. He has been playing guitar for 10 years. He is a member of the rock band Shout, but he also plans to form a blues-jazz band.

Jacek Rachwał from the Tricity, like the man from Kłodzko, has already taken part in the Bolesławiec workshops. He began playing guitar in fifth grade of primary school, first on classical guitar and then on electric guitar. His band creates music on the border between blues and funk. The musician appreciates the work of guitarists such as Gary Moore and Tommy Emmanuel. “The latter has a great technique—finger-picking. It allows you to play a solo concert on one guitar. But it sounds as if two guitars were playing at once,” the workshop participant explains. Jacek listens to various genres of music, but, as he admits, he prefers inventing his own material. Why did he decide to return to Bolesławiec? “I was delighted last year. Absolutely all the instructors really delivered,” he emphasizes.

Festival programme

  • 7–14 August – Jam sessions at the festival club
  • 10 August – Holy Mass with blues music
  • 14 August – T. Nalepa Blues Band Review
  • 15 and 16 August – Final Concert

(information GA/KG)