Przystanek Woodstock

infobox music festival
music_festival_name = Przystanek Woodstock


location = Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Poland. Previously: Czymanowo, Szczecin-Dąbie, Żary, Lębork
years_active= 1995 - present
dates = The end of July/ Beginning of August (Friday/Sunday)
genre = Rock, Alternative rock, Indie rock, Punk rock, Reggae, Folk music, Heavy metal.
website = [http://www.wosp.org.pl/przystanek]

Przystanek Woodstock (Polish for "Woodstock Halt"; English-language materials often refer simply to the "Woodstock Festival") is an annual free rock music festival in Poland, inspired by and named for the Woodstock Festival, that has taken place since 1995. Since the 11th festival, its organizers have called Przystanek Woodstock "the biggest open-air festival in Europe".

The festival's motto is "Love, Friendship, and Peace." It is organized by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity foundation, as a way of thanking its volunteers. Generally a weekend-long event, the main stage is in continuous use from early afternoon to early morning, featuring performances by around 30 bands. In 2003 there were approximately 400,000 people in attendance. Many Polish bands have made several appearances, including IRA, Myslovitz, Dżem, Hunter, Acid Drinkers, and 2TM2,3. A battle of the bands takes place prior to the festival, and the winners are given a chance to perform.

Alcohol, drugs, any kind of weapons, and lighting fires are prohibited, but not everyone abides by these rules. Mainly because of this, the Roman Catholic Church has criticized the festival.Fact|date=July 2007

History

The first Przystanek Woodstock festival took place on 15-16 July, 1995, in the town of Czymanowo, located near the Żarnowieckie Lake. The performers included Carrantouhill, Skankan, Żuki, Myslovitz, Ira, and Urszula. During the festival no alcohol was sold, which was similar to the Jarocin festivals.

The second festival was held in Szczecin-Dąbie in 1996. This time the first Woodstock's "prohibition law" was partially lifted, and beer was sold.

The third festival took place the next year, on 16-17 August in the town of Żary, which became the setting of the Przystanek Woodstock festivals till 2003. Initially the festival was planned to be held in July, but because of the 1997 flood, which affected much of Poland, the festival was postponed until August.

The 1998 Przystanek Woodstock featured the performances of nearly 50 bands. The band list included Closterkeller, Akurat, Oddział Zamknięty, Kobranocka, and Acid Drinkers. Almost 150,000 people attended the festival.

The 1999 Woodstock was held on August 6th, 7th, and 8th. This time the attendance record was broken, because the audience reached almost 200,000 people.

The 2000 festival was planned to be held in Lębork, but due to permission uncertainties, and protest of local committees (Komitet obrony Moralności - The Committee for the Defense of Morality) it had to be cancelled.

Nevertheless over 1000 people showed up, and organized an unauthorized "rock'n'roll picnic", without any professional music bands. This happening was later referred to as the "Dziki Przystanek" ("The Wild Gathering").

In 2001 Żary was again the setting for the festival.

The 2002 Woodstock was significant, because it was filmed, and the footage was used to produce "Przystanek Woodstock. Najgłośniejszy Film Polski" ("The Woodstock Gathering. The Loudest Film In Poland"), a concert film, which was screened in movie theatres across the country the following year, and also took part in a number of international film festivals.

The 2003 Woodstock was the last one held in the town of Żary. Because of controversy surrounding some incidents during the festival, that Jerzy Owsiak was part of, it was decided that Żary would no longer be a setting for the concerts.

Since 2004, the festival has taken place in the town of Kostrzyn nad Odrą near the German border.

ee also

Pages about the original Woodstock Festival in U.S.A.:

* Woodstock Festival (1969)
* Woodstock '79 (1979)
* Woodstock '89 (1989)
* Woodstock '94 (1994)
* Woodstock '99 (1999)

External links

* [http://www.en.wosp.org.pl/woodstock_festival/ Official Website]
* [http://muzyka.onet.pl/woodstock/ 2008 Przystanek Woodstock on-line (streaming server)]