As early as the beginning of August, we reported on the unclear circumstances surrounding the organization of the blues concert. Much of the information reaching our editorial office indicated that Gmina Miejska Bolesławiec and Rogers Agency were improperly preparing the next edition of the long-running nationwide event.
On the program “Na światło dzienne,” one of the organizers, Dariusz Gruszecki, assured listeners that everything would be fine. Asked repeatedly by Krzysztof Gwizdała whether there would really be people and whether the concert would take place, he answered yes. When asked whether the president of Bolesławiec, Piotr Roman, would be ridiculed, Gruszecki replied that he would not. He also assured listeners that he had sold more than 2,000 tickets.
Approximately 250 people attended Friday’s part of the concert. Many of them were wearing credentials, meaning they did not have to buy tickets. It is not yet known how many passes were sold. The costs incurred by the organizers are also unknown. Gmina Miejska will certainly have to disclose the amounts allocated for organizing the concert, and Piotr Roman will have to answer why he did not hire professionals to organize it.
It should be added that the concert was patronized, among others, by the local television station „Azart-Sat”, which did not report on the controversy surrounding the event and only announced that Chuck Berry would not appear. Thursday’s news even stated that everything was “buttoned up” and that “the concert would launch with double the force.”
Ticket refunds
People who bought tickets at Biuro Perfekt at 12/13 Sierpnia ’80 Street can return them only today, Monday. People who bought tickets at Biuro Piramida at 40 Zgorzelecka Street can also get their money back, but only for tickets for the second day.
Statement concerning the Final Concert
In connection with the cancellation of part of the Final Concert of the Blues nad Bobrem Festival on 15 August 2008 by Dariusz Gruszecki, owner of Rogers Agency, I would like to inform you that Bolesławiec president Piotr Roman, who recommended this year’s organizer of the Festival’s Final Concert, apologizes to all disappointed music fans who came to the concert but were unable to hear the three bands announced for that day.
Due to Rogers Agency’s failure to fulfill the subject of the agreement to organize the Final Concert of the Blues nad Bobrem Festival, including the cancellation of the Final Concert on 16 August 2008, Gmina Miejska Bolesławiec withdrew from the agreement and consequently from paying the fee for organizing the Final Concert of the Blues nad Bobrem Festival.
We regret to inform you that the selected organizer of the Final Concert of the Blues nad Bobrem Festival failed, even though Mr. Dariusz Gruszecki had previously become known as the organizer of many music events, such as the concert by Mick Russell and Leszek Cichoński in Kliczków. In 2007, he was the organizational director of the Blues nad Bobrem Festival. Also in 2007, the Development and Promotion Department of Bolesławiec City Hall and Mr. Dariusz Gruszecki, who at the time represented the Blues nad Bobrem Association, prepared a four-day event called “Bolesławiec on Śnieżka.” This year, our city, in cooperation with Dariusz Gruszecki’s Rogers Agency, presented itself in Międzyzdroje at the “Bolesławiec by the Sea” event.
The next undertaking was to be a two-day Final Concert of Blues nad Bobrem. Mr. Dariusz Gruszecki was the only person to submit a proposal to organize the concert, taking responsibility for all organizational and financial matters, including any potential claims. Therefore, Rogers Agency, owned by Dariusz Gruszecki, is responsible for all financial obligations concerning the Final Concert of the Blues nad Bobrem Festival.
Agnieszka Gergont – press spokesperson for City Hall
(information ii)