Pol'and'Rock Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pol'and'Rock Festival |
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| Genre | Rock, punk rock, reggae, rapcore, folk music, heavy metal, electronic music . |
| Dates | The end of July/beginning of August |
| Location(s) | Czaplinek, Poland |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Founded by | Jerzy Owsiak |
| Attendance | 750,000 (2019) |
| Website | https://en.polandrockfestival.pl |
The Pol'and'Rock Festival is a huge, free music festival held every year in Poland. It used to be known as the Woodstock Festival Poland. This festival is inspired by the famous Woodstock festival.
It has been happening since 1995. Many people attend this event. For example, in 2019, about 750,000 people came. This makes it one of the biggest music festivals in the world!
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About the Pol'and'Rock Festival
The festival was started in 1994 by Jerzy Owsiak. He got the idea after visiting the Woodstock Festival in the United States. The main idea of the festival is Love, Friendship, Music.
The event is put on by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. It's a way to thank all their volunteers. The festival usually lasts a whole weekend. There are two main stages where bands play music from afternoon until morning. About 30 bands perform each year.
Many Polish bands have played at the festival. These include IRA, Myslovitz, and Dżem. International bands also come every year. Some famous international groups include Skunk Anansie, Sabaton, and Judas Priest.
The festival also helps new bands get noticed. There's a competition before the festival. The winners get to perform on stage. The music is mostly rock, but you can hear many styles. These include folk, metal, reggae, electronic music, and even classical music.
Why the Name Changed
The festival was first called Przystanek Woodstock. This means "Woodstock Station" in Polish. It was named after the idea of peace and friendship from the original Woodstock Festival. It also linked to a popular TV show in Poland called Przystanek Alaska.
The name changed to Pol'and'Rock Festival on March 8, 2018. The new name shows the festival's rock music roots. It also connects to Poland's history of fighting for freedom. The people who organize the festival say that even though the name changed, the spirit of the event is still the same.
More Than Just Music
Besides the concerts, there are many other activities. The Akademia Sztuk Przepięknych (which means "Academy of Finest Arts") is a special place. Here, young people can talk with famous people. These include politicians, artists, journalists, and musicians.
Some well-known guests have included Lech Wałęsa, Bronisław Komorowski, and Olga Tokarczuk. The festival also features many non-profit organizations. Groups like Greenpeace and Polish Humanitarian Action share their work. They show how people can help others and the environment.
History of the Festival
The very first Woodstock Festival Poland happened on July 15–16, 1995. It was held in a town called Czymanowo. Bands like Ira and Myslovitz performed there.
The second festival was in Szczecin-Dąbie, Szczecin in 1996. This time, beer was sold, which was a change from the first festival.
The third festival took place in 1997 in Żary. This town became the home of the festival until 2003. It was supposed to be in July, but a big flood in Poland caused it to be moved to August.
In 1998, nearly 50 bands played at the festival. About 150,000 people came to enjoy the music. The audience grew even bigger in 1999, reaching almost 200,000 people.
In 2000, the festival was planned for Lębork. But it had to be canceled because of local protests. Still, over 1000 people showed up. They had an unofficial "rock'n'roll picnic" without any professional bands. This event was called "The Wild Station."
The festival returned to Żary in 2001. The 2002 Woodstock was special because it was filmed. This footage was used to make a concert movie. The movie was shown in cinemas and at international film festivals.
The 2003 Woodstock was the last one held in Żary. After this, the festival moved to a new location.
From 2004 to 2019, the festival was held in Kostrzyn nad Odrą. In 2011, bands like The Prodigy performed. In 2012, the band Sabaton played and recorded a live album there.
In 2020, the festival was held online because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was streamed live from a studio near Warsaw. The 2021 festival was held at an airfield in Western Pomerania with fewer people attending.
Since 2022, the festival has been held at the Broczyno airfield in Czaplinek, Western Pomerania.
See also
In Spanish: Festival Woodstock Polonia para niños
- List of historic rock festivals
- List of jam band music festivals
