Illusion and Lipali at Przystanek Woodstock: Tomasz Lipnicki’s bands in a single programme

Illusion and guests will open this year's Przystanek Woodstock! The band formed three years before the festival's first edition, yet, hard as it is to believe, have never played it. The opening concert is perhaps the most eagerly awaited event at every Przystanek, making Illusion's performance an unexpected gift for all their fans.

Few bands deserve the title of Polish rock legends as much as Illusion. In the 1990s, Tomasz “Lipa” Lipnicki and his colleagues delivered the finest, most unforgettable concerts. Every Illusion riff was an electric shock driving fans into a frenzy. Generations of Polish guitarists can play “Nóż”, “Vendetta” and “Wojtek” with their eyes closed. Over five years, the group recorded five albums, all achieving cult status, before suspending activity just before the new millennium.

Their grieving fans remembered them as the benchmark for hard-edged Polish rock. In 2008, Illusion briefly reappeared, rocking Wrocław’s Centennial Hall. Despite the fantastic atmosphere and warm reception — nine thousand fans attended! — the audience still had to wait a little longer for a full return. At last, it happened! The legend proved very much alive, and the band’s 2014 album “Opowieści” silenced all doubters.

Tomasz “Lipa” Lipnicki, the band's singer, has always used his lyrics to oppose violence, the humiliation of others and violations of human rights. These are also the festival's values, making us all the more pleased that Illusion will open this year's event.

“The greeting to the Woodstock audience and the first sounds from the stage at the opening concert mark the start of this celebration of music. Each year, the master of ceremonies is an iconic band whose presence at Przystanek is a major event for participants. This time it will be Illusion, and I can already imagine how many people this news will electrify. Such an energetic opening is an excellent sign for the whole festival,” announces Krzysztof Dobies, spokesperson for WOŚP and Przystanek Woodstock.

The Polish rock legends' appearance at an equally legendary festival will be recorded and released as a live DVD. On the festival's first day, we will also hear “Lipa”'s other band. Lipali, expanded to a four-piece, will perform late in the evening on the Small Stage. They will play songs from their new album planned for this year, and older tracks with a new sound, performed by four musicians.

Przystanek Woodstock is one of the world’s largest music festivals. Organised by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, the three-day event attracted 750 thousand fans last year. It is the finest possible thank-you to the Orchestra’s volunteers, whose work keeps faith in kindness and human solidarity alive. Alongside superb concerts, the festival offers accompanying events, including happenings and meetings with leading figures from Polish culture, media and politics. Most important, however, is the Woodstock audience, an exceptionally close-knit, colourful community opposed to drugs and violence. This entire army can gather before the Main Stage, making a performance before such a vast crowd an utterly unique experience for artists. See you on 30 July in Kostrzyn nad Odrą!

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