The winner of this year's Blues Band Showcase, held on August 10 at Kliczków Castle, was the band “Niebieska Sowa” from Leszno. The band consists of Dariusz Kociołek (drums and vocals), Artur Konieczny (guitar), Mikołaj Sikorski (guitar) and Sławomir Pluta (bass). “Niebieska Sowa” was formed at the beginning of 2012. The band is young, but its members are musicians who have performed for many years in many different groups, not only blues bands.
Detailed Showcase Results
- The main prize of PLN 4,000, funded by Bolesławiec County Head Cezary Przybylski, went to the band “Niebieska Sowa”
- The prize for the most interesting performance of a song by T. Nalepa, worth PLN 2,000 and funded by Bolesławiec County Head Cezary Przybylski, went to the band “Jerry's Fingers”
- The audience prize of PLN 1,000, funded by Osiecznica Municipality Head Waldemar Nalazek, went to the band “Comin' to Town”
- The prize for the best vocalist—a professional shaker funded by Schlagwerk and a six-month premium subscription from the Muzyczny Portal Edukacyjny—went to Dariusz Kociołek of the band “Niebieska Sowa”
- The prize for the best guitarist—a set of guitar accessories funded by Music Dealer, a guitar cable funded by Laboga, and a six-month premium subscription from the Muzyczny Portal Edukacyjny—went to Jarosław Lisowski of the band “Comin' to Town”
- The prize for the best harmonica player—a Blues Begginer set containing a harmonica, funded by Seydel—went to Jakub Sikora of the band “Blue Band Blues”
- The prize for the best bass player—a set of guitar accessories funded by Music Dealer, a set of PYRAMID bass guitar strings funded by the manufacturer, and a six-month premium subscription from the Muzyczny Portal Edukacyjny—went to Jakub Dębski of the band “Jerry's Fingers”
- The prize for the best drummer—a set of EVANS drumheads and drumsticks funded by Music Dealer, and a Paiste cymbal funded by GEWA MUSIC POLAND—went to Dariusz Kociołek of the band “Niebieska Sowa”
The day after the Blues Band Showcase, a blues Mass was held in the Kwiatowe housing estate in Bolesławiec, during which Bartosz and Katarzyna were married. Bartosz has been associated with the “Blues nad Bobrem” festival for many years and is a member of its organizing office.
The blues Mass is a long-standing festival tradition. During the service, songs prepared earlier by the workshop participants and instructors of “Blues nad Bobrem” are performed.
This year, blues fans can still look forward to several concerts and events. A meeting with Radio Trójka journalist Jan Chojnacki will take place on August 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the conference room of Kliczków Castle. A free concert by the duo Przytuła & Kruk will be held on Tuesday, August 13, at 7:00 p.m. in the Castle courtyard. The same day at 8:30 p.m., Magda Piskorczyk's Author Class will be presented. On Wednesday, August 14, just before the holiday, as part of the “Transborder Musical Meetings” project, the Czech band Mothers Follow Chairs and Polish-Czech workshop combos will perform at 6:00 p.m. At 8:00 p.m., a ticketed concert dedicated to the memory of Tadeusz Nalepa on the 70th anniversary of his birth will begin. The performers will be: Cheap Tabacco, After Blues, Piotr Nalepa Breakout Tour.. On Wednesday, a bus will be available to take people to the concerts from the PKP station in Bolesławiec. Departure at 5:00 p.m., return at approximately 1:00 a.m. Details are available on the Blues nad Bobrem website.