Swept away by Kraków Creek into the heart of Americana at the Underground Music Festival
Far away from the hills of Appalachia, stumbling down the stairs into a cavernous Kraków cellar bar is the last place you’d expect to uncover the southern musical harmonies and black hill banjo finger-picking joys of a bluegrass band belting out exceptional covers with a Pole, an Irishman and an Italian among the members. Kraków Creek, minus the mandolin skills of Michał Górka, were playing as part of the Underground Music Festival organised by Ivan Reut. Their barnstorming set included a phenomenal rendition of the 19 th century traditional folk tune, Waterbound, with some delicious fiddle work by Weronika Plutecka and the plaintive croon of vocalist Aidan McMahon – wistful and melancholic as only good country can be. The majority of songs were the get-up-and-dance variety, with banjo- and guitar-playing Federico Palmucci striking an unforgettable pose with moves more reminiscent of the lead singer of Slayer than someone playing folk. Just what the genre needs. The set was completed by The Tennessee Waltz and the classic gospel of I am a Pilgrim, rounded off by the gorgeous, honeycomb harmonies of Kraków duo Miód.
