3-Majówka 2016: Kult, Pidżama Porno and Artur Rojek at Pergola and in Centennial Hall

1–3 MAY 2016

Festival stars will play two stages, at the Pergola and inside Centennial Hall, where we can party until late at night. Visitors from outside Wrocław will also have access to a Festival Campsite right beside the concerts.

We will begin 3-Majówka’s first day with metal-symphonic rhythms presented by Jelonek. Their interpretation of music and combination of these two seemingly different genres will certainly attract attention. The second day of May offers an excellent opportunity to see and hear one of the Polish scene’s biggest personalities. Mela Koteluk will perform for the 3-Majówka audience once again. Next comes Brodka. Her new album, Clashes, is scheduled for release a few days after the festival, so she will surely offer a preview, alongside familiar tracks such as “Granda” and “W pięciu smakach”.

After Brodka, the stage will be taken over by Polish rock mainstays and long-standing rebels Kult, led by Kazik Staszewski. They are one of the most interesting bands on the Polish music scene. Their distinctive sound and lyrics critical of political reality made them stand out from the very beginning. Another classic act, this time with a female vocalist, will close the first day’s open-air concerts. Hey always draw crowds of fans, and this time will surely be no different!

Centennial Hall matches this diversity and quality. We begin with Kortez, who broke down Polish music’s doors with his debut “Bumerang” last September, winning a Fryderyk for Debut of the Year. His incredible concerts remain memorable. His voice, charisma and the truth radiating from his songs are his strength, leaving audiences listening as if hypnotised. After these gentle sounds comes a band needing no introduction.

Lao Che have ruled Poland’s scene for years. Last year’s “Dzieciom” won a Fryderyk for Rock Album of the Year and genre fans’ affection. Their performances are unmissable visual and musical spectacles. Next comes a newcomer to Polish hip-hop. Although he has no studio albums yet, his smaller productions delight. A different worldview and approach to the genre demonstrate that young rappers can create something extraordinary.

Artur Rojek takes over afterwards. Since leaving Myslovitz in 2012, he has developed his solo career. His first solo album, Składam się z ciągłych powtórzeń, was hailed as a masterpiece. He is one of Polish rock’s most important artists, one of the country’s most active festival organisers and among the few show-business figures who feel no need to bask constantly in television spotlights.

His performance is worth seeing! Shortly before 22, Krzysztof Zalewski will take the stage. Fourteen years after winning a television talent show, he is an entirely different artist. The once-popular “Zalef” has lost none of his stage energy or vocal talent, while maturing musically into a gifted multi-instrumentalist. Next on the 3-Majówka stage is Belgium’s Selah Sue, a rising soul star described as Europe’s answer to Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill. Her top-quality mixture of soul, funk, reggae, rock, hip-hop and pop delighted Prince himself, and we are sure it will delight you too!

The penultimate concert on the Centennial Hall stage will be Fisz Emade. The Waglewski brothers will captivate with hypnotic vocals, delicate sounds and symbolic lyrics. To finish, we will feel electronic rhythms combined with the atmosphere of the Podhale region. Gooral will close the first day of 3-Majówka.

On 3 May at the Pergola, we begin with festival regulars, always warmly welcomed. Cult rock band Luxtorpeda, led by Robert “Litza” Friedrich, play latest album MYWASWYNAS alongside favourites including Gimli and Wilki Dwa. Heavier sounds follow with Acid Drinkers, whose concerts are paralysing, expansive, energetic displays of force!

Titus, Ślimak, Popcorn and Jankiel have perfected the art of live performance. Next on the 3-MAJÓWKA stage is Piotr Rogucki’s Coma. At the Wrocław concert, we can expect material spanning their career, certainly including old favourites familiar to the audience. Immediately afterwards, punk classics arrive, bringing the finest Polish punk rhythms. Pidżama Porno, performing as a trio since 2014, will play their best-known songs, letting us jump to their energetic music and Krzysztof “Grabarz” Grabowski’s distinctive voice.

Happysad will play the final concert at the Pergola. They need no introduction to any self-respecting fan of Polish alternative rock. Their latest album, “Jakby jutra miało nie być”, went Gold, and their previous releases were every bit as strong. Their concerts draw crowds, burst with energy and stay in the memory for a long time. This is simply not to be missed.

The second day at the Centennial Hall will feature outstanding artists. First up are Domowe Melodie, three musical enthusiasts who have won listeners’ hearts across Poland and are gradually spreading their music abroad. They turned a flat into a recording studio and released their debut album in June 2012 without support from a label or any promoters. Many describe the band as a phenomenon and a revelation on the Polish music scene. Next, we will see Tomasz Organek’s band, Ørganek.

Their performances are partly improvised spectacles rather than straightforward presentations of recorded material, which makes them especially worth seeing. Next on the programme is the eccentric Maria Peszek, a rebellious singer and actress. She will present material from her latest album, “Karabin”: eleven songs about freedom, hatred and the right to be different. Eleven songs for troubled times, their radically pacifist content provocatively juxtaposed with the title.

They will certainly delight the audience gathered before the stage. Next comes an enormous rush of endorphins, a concentrated dose of good energy: Łąki Łan will perform for you. Their concerts are unique spectacles in which joyful sounds and eccentric costumes are joined by lyrics full of wordplay and riddles. You have to see it! At exactly 22, a young artist who has undoubtedly conquered Poland’s music scene takes the stage. Dawid Podsiadło is a true phenomenon, yet remains modest and down to earth, as well as extraordinarily talented.

He presented his second solo album last November and is one of Poland’s biggest popular-music stars: adored by fans, valued by critics, awarded and invited. After this spectacle, we turn to electronics. The Łódź trio will be 3-Majówka 2016’s penultimate act. Kamp! are among Poland’s finest electronic groups working around synth-pop. Founded in 2007, the trio comprises Radosław Krzyżanowski on keyboards and drums, Michał Słodowy on electronic drums and Tomasz Szpaderski on vocals and keyboards.

Skalpel will close this year's festival. The ambassadors of Polish music will perform in their home city of Wrocław, giving a special Centennial Hall concert featuring a cross-section of material from each of their three albums

3-majówka is more than incredible concerts by the best artists. Above all, it is an atmosphere and the official opening of the festival season. The grounds offer plenty of attractions, an extensive, fully equipped food area and the beautiful multimedia fountain, enhancing Pergola performances every day. Be there with us. Let us meet in Wrocław.

2 May 2016 – admission from 14.00

Pergola:

15.30 Jelonek
16.50 Mela Koteluk
18.15 Brodka
19.30 Kult
21.10 Hey

Centennial Hall:

16.00 Kortez
17.30 Lao Che
19.00 Taco Hemingway
20.30 Rojek
21.50 Zalewski
23.20 Selah Sue
01.00 Fisz Emade
02.15 Gooral

3 May 2016 – admission from 14.00

Pergola:

15.00 Luxtorpeda
16.30 Acid Drinkers
18.00 Coma
19.35 Pidżama Porno
21.00 Happysad

Centennial Hall:

16.00 Domowe Melodie
17.20 Organek
19.00 Maria Peszek
20.30 Łąki Łan
22.00 Dawid Podsiadło
23.30 Kamp!
00.45 Skalpel