The 22nd WOŚP Grand Finale at Łykend: Splendid Sound on vinyl, reggae, dub and Wrocław sound systems

As tradition has it, the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity will play on the second Sunday in January. Two days earlier, on Friday 10 January, concerts for the WOŚP Grand Finale will begin at the Łykend music club.

Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity collection tins will await you at the entrance. Give whatever you can!

Splendid Sound ina vinyl style

Founded in 2004, Splendid Sound is an energetic and ever-growing Wrocław collective of musical obsessives. The crew comprises Matys, Szczepan, Kotune and Don Himol: four selectors brought together to spread the light of Jamaican musical knowledge to the furthest corners of Poland and Europe. As befits an authentic Jamaican sound, they do not give the audience a moment’s rest. Expect artists ruling the Caribbean charts, the latest releases straight from the island, a hefty arsenal of dubplates, and a DJ and hype man presenting it all, enthusiastically shouting over every single track without exception. For discerning listeners hungry for Jamaican roots, they have also prepared a special segment in the early hours of the morning… At all other times, the finest DANCEHALL reigns supreme!

Beyond their regular parties, Splendid Sound are best known for sound clashes: musical battles between sound systems. Their clash debut came at Run di Riddim Selekta Clash 2009 in Częstochowa, where they won their first trophy by defeating 27 Pablo, EastWest Sound and Antikings! In 2011, they won Poland’s first 100% dubplates clash, against Ready 4 War. Splendid were the first to represent Poland internationally. Euro Cup Clash 2012, organised by Supersonic and City Lock, brought another success: the trophy went to Wrocław, with defeated crews including B.I.D, G-Spot and Big Bamboo. Their trophy collection currently ends with the South Clash 2012 cup, won in November 2012 after defeating Sweden’s Million Vibes.

Over the years, they have played countless Polish events, received invitations to the Czech Republic, Norway, Austria, Germany and Bulgaria, and organised events featuring leading European crews, including Supersonic [DE], Heavy Hammer [IT], Herbalize It [NL], Warrior Sound [DE] and Kalibandulu [IT]. They have played alongside top singers including Chuck Fender [JA], Jah Mason [JA], Perfect [JA], Etana [JA], YT [GB], Deadly Hunta [GB], Joey Fever [SWE] and Zoro [RSA]. Nothing suggests they will slow down.

Rasta Rastamta Digital Sound

Rasta Rastamta is a selector collective in love with black vinyl, spinning mainly music from the digital reggae era at their events. Alongside bouncy raggamuffin rhythms and deep digital sounds, their selections draw on every earlier strand of Jamaican music, from ska and rocksteady through roots reggae to rub-a-dub. The collective began in Bielsko-Biała in 2007 and won Poznań’s Young Blood 45 Shooter Clash in 2013.

Meanwhile, he played numerous events in various Polish locations, above all Wrocław, where he has lived on and off for several years. Local audiences know him mainly through regular Reggae Night events at Alive and Dancehall Power at K12.

Positive Thursdays in DUB

Positive Thursdays in DUB grew from Pozytywne Czwartki, broadcast on Wrocław’s Akademickie Radio LUZ, and comprises broadcaster Rafał Konert, trumpeter Sebastian Pachecki and trombonist Tomek Kasiukiewicz. The trio takes listeners back to reggae and dub’s golden age, accompanied by live trumpet and trombone filling dub’s spaces. Specially prepared visuals complement the music during their sets.

Together, they have played numerous events, including Thursday Bass Addicts, Island Bass Addicts, True Bass Addicts and 71Hz Unity, and supported legendary reggae band Steel Pulse and Dutch reggae/dub producer Twilight Circus. They are also active individually: Sebastian plays in numerous reggae and jazz bands. Tomek Kasiukiewicz is one of Wrocław’s best trombonists, and can be seen and heard in many local line-ups.

He has performed or continues to perform with groups including Miloopa, Fat Burning Step, Lion Vibrations, Marelene Johnson, The Whiff and Chromosomos. Rafał continually presents a radio programme and plays parties as a selector, having supported artists including Turbulence (Jamaica), Black Prophet (Ghana), Bristol Sound (Prince Jamo, Robbo Dread, Joseph Lalibella, Andy Scholes), Solano Jacob (Brazil), Dubiterian (Brazil), Hornsman Coyote (Serbia) and Abradab. He also played on a stage at the 19th Rototom Sunsplash, Europe’s largest reggae festival. He created 71hz Unity, a project bringing together Wrocław DJs presenting bass music in its broadest sense.