DAGADANA

BIOGRAPHY

It all began at a jazz workshop in Kraków, where a shared passion for music sparked a friendship and led to the formation of the band. Poland and Ukraine are neighboring Slavic countries – their languages are similar, and their customs and traditions offer many common reference points. By exploring these cultures, Dagadana discovered both similarities and distinctions that give their music its unique character. These differences form a bridge connecting the narratives of both nations and serve as a source of rich stage expression.

The artists draw inspiration from many sources: family stories, local folk music workshops, literature, and art. From the very beginning, their mission has been to meet and share music and art with artists from around the world, acting as ambassadors of Polish and Ukrainian culture. This has led to numerous recordings and performances with musicians from across the globe. One such encounter resulted in the creation of their latest album, Meridian 68.

Meridian 68 features traditional songs from various regions of Poland (including Kurpie and Greater Poland), Ukrainian and Lemko folk pieces, as well as a special track recorded in Chinese in collaboration with the Beijing-based group North Lab. The album’s core consists of Polish and Ukrainian folk songs interpreted in a contemporary and original way. It was nominated for a Fryderyk Award in the “Roots Music Album of the Year” category and ranked high on the international World Music Charts Europe and Transglobal World Music Charts.

Dagadana is also a project that continually seeks new sounds and partnerships. Meridian 68 is set to be released beyond Poland – in China and Germany – emphasizing the group’s international character. The band regularly performs on major festival and club stages worldwide – from intimate venues to large outdoor stages. Their music is a journey that takes listeners to places rich in stories and emotions.

In December 2008, the EP Wygadana was released, featuring five tracks. Their debut album Maleńka (2010), released by Offside Records, received critical acclaim, winning the Polish Radio “Trójka” patronage and the 2011 Fryderyk Award for Folk/World Music Album of the Year.

In the following years, Dagadana continued their musical exploration – with guest appearances on Raz Dwa Trzy’s 20 latalbum and the release of Dlaczego nie (2011), which earned a Fryderyk nomination in 2012 and was also praised in the UK.

Their third studio album, List do Ciebie, combines Dagadana’s distinctive sound with the poetry of Janusz Różewicz, a writer with a rich literary legacy and close ties to Poland’s artistic scene. Dagadana loves to travel – they have played around 1,000 concerts in 25 countries, from Argentina to the UK, including Austria, Algeria, Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, France, Canada, South Korea, Morocco, Moldova, Germany, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine, Hungary, and many more.

The band’s philosophy centers on meeting and sharing music and art with people from all over the world. Their concerts range from intimate and soulful to spectacular festival performances – at events such as Glastonbury, Open’er, Woodstock Festival Poland, Sound of the Xity, Festival of Desert Peoples, United Islands Festival, Virada Cultural, and many others.

VIDEO, MUSIC VIDEOS - DAGADANA