Matisyahu at Centennial Hall: a first Polish indoor arena concert and the “Spark Seeker” tour

Join us on 28 February 2013 for Matisyahu’s first indoor concert in Poland, at Wrocław’s Centennial Hall. The show will open his European tour promoting the latest album, ‘Spark Seeker’.

On 28 February 2013, Wrocław's Centennial Hall will host the only Polish concert by the extraordinary Matisyahu. He has performed in Poland just twice, at Heineken Opener Festival in 2010 and Life Festival in Oświęcim in 2011, each time drawing audiences numbering in the tens of thousands. The Centennial Hall show will be his first indoor concert here.

Matisyahu's concert is an exceptionally attractive proposition for his several hundred thousand Polish fans. Friendly reggae and the songs' peaceful message make it ideal for families. Wider audiences may know him from “One Day”, the anthem of the Vancouver Olympic Games.

Matisyahu’s extraordinary music is his own combination of reggae, hip-hop and alternative rock. Vocally, he draws on jazz scat and Jewish cantorial styles. His most important inspiration, however, remains Judaism. His work expresses profound spirituality, with songs considering relationships between God and people immersed in material reality. This risky mixture won enormous acclaim: “Youth” went Gold and received a Grammy nomination, while he was hailed as the world’s most intriguing reggae musician.

Combining traditional religious devotion, a loving message and worldwide success, Matisyahu is the ideal artist to underline Wrocław's openness and multicultural character. “We are the same,” the Dalai Lama said in Centennial Hall. Matisyahu will appear there with a similar message, bearing witness to Wrocław's ambitions connected with becoming European Capital of Culture.

Matisyahu’s previous image also stirred strong emotions. An Orthodox Jew would appear on stage in a black suit and hat, with sidelocks, then begin rapping with incredible energy, mixing fierce hip-hop with sensual dancehall. With his latest record, “Spark seeker”, Matisyahu changed his image, cutting his hair and shaving his moustache and beard. Yet nothing changed his artistic boldness in juggling genres or the virtuosity of the singer and accompanying instrumentalists. The new album also marks a new chapter in his work, including experiments with pop and indie rock.

The artist’s concert will also launch a series of musical events celebrating the centenary of Centennial Hall. Tickets go on sale soon; visit the dedicated concert page: www.halastulecia.pl/matisyahu.

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