5’nizza at 3-Majówka: the Ukrainian duo combines reggae, jazz, hip-hop and beatboxing in Wrocław
Legendary Ukrainian 5'NIZZA join 3-Majówka, Wrocław’s finest festival, taking place from 1–3 May! This unique event features international stars, Poland’s finest performers and emerging talents. Since last year, it has combined with the Guitar Guinness World Record, rapidly making Wrocław Europe’s Guitar Capital. Twenty years ago, 17 guitarists played Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe” on stage; last year, 7,356 did!
During 3-Majówka, stars play two stages: outdoors at the Pergola, surrounded by water and greenery overlooking Poland’s largest and most beautiful fountain, and inside famous Centennial Hall. Confirmed for 3-Majówka 2017 are LADY PANK, KRZYSZTOF ZALEWSKI, CZESŁAW ŚPIEWA, ŁĄKI ŁAN, KULT, LUXTORPEDA, ACID DRINKERS with “Tribute to Lemmy”, XXANAXX and L.U.C. & Rebel Babel Ensemble. This is only the beginning of the long list visiting Wrocław on May’s first weekend.
5'nizza (“пятницa”, meaning “Friday” in Russian) is a fitting name for a band that likes to have fun, and everyone knows the best fun is on Friday night. The group’s beginnings and rise to popularity date back to 2000, when two Russian-speaking Ukrainians from Kharkiv, Andriej “San” Zaporożec and Siergiej Babkin, recorded a DIY album for just 30 dollars. It quickly circulated in huge numbers through pirate distribution networks. Shortly afterwards, the musicians released a second, this time official, album featuring the same compositions alongside several bonus tracks. 5'nizza became extraordinarily popular on both sides of the Ukrainian-Russian border and in Poland, even though the band’s releases were never officially available here and spread entirely by word of mouth.
Zaporożec and Babkin combined poetic, abstract lyrics with reggae, Latin music, jazz and hip-hop, added fantastic beatboxing, and did it all with extraordinary ease and a sense of humour.
The group were active for seven years. When it became clear that Zaporożec and Babkin could no longer create anything new together, they took an amicable break, without accusations or mutual resentment. Unfinished recordings were used in Andriej Zaporożec’s solo project, SunSay, including some of Babkin’s guitar parts and backing vocals. The artists returned for good two years ago and recorded several new songs. They filmed the video for “Вперед” (“Forward”) in San Francisco. They announced their comeback at a time when the border between Ukraine and Russia had become something far more ominous than an administrative concept.
Last year, their excellent Wrocław concert sold out in the blink of an eye. Many fans could not see the brilliant Ukrainians live then. At 3-Majówka, their dreams will finally come true!
Event details
5'NIZZA
2 May 2017
Pergola
Wrocław