Fellowship of the Riff: Instrumental Doom Drum & Bass Edition
Bogdan Markiewicz plunges into the heave music scene in Kraków and shares his account of what went down in PAON as part of the concert series Fellowship of the Riff organised by label and booking agency Galactic SmokeHouse.
The Thrill is Back. Incendiary debut from blues trio at Indalo Space
On Saturday night in Indalo Space, Luiz de Oliveira (guitar, vocals), Wojtas “Śwital” Świtalski (percussion) and Ethan Smith (bass) tore into energetic and bombastic blues covers of BB King, Muddy Waters and John Mayall to name but a few. This is blues for the 21st century, it’s musical medicine administered in the depths of a snowy mid-winter’s night. Fu•k it – this is a blues revival – and it’s here and now.
African Duo Enchant and Enthral All at Villa Decius: A dark midwinter’s evening is the setting for a slice of summer sunshine
On 12 December 2021 the Villa Decius Cultural Institute hosted a unique performance which brought together for the first time two sons of Africa: Ablaye Badji (Senegal) and Ethan Smith (South Africa). Their first collaboration in Kraków, it captivated an audience eager for live world music.
Not Just Doom & Gloom: A Review of Grajdół Festiwal in Kraków
Born atop the Beskid Sądecki mountains, the Grajdół Festival made its way to the urbanscape of Kraków for a one-off show at PAON. Bogdan Markiewicz reviews the eclectic lineup headlining stoner doom four-piece Moonstone and featuring Ignu, Makiwara (both from Warsaw) and DJ Szoszana XD (Katowice).
A Zoo Unlike Any Other – The Green Zoo Music Festival concludes with a mighty roar at Klub Re
An eclectic, blistering three-band finale with Trupa Trupa, The Band of Endless Noise and Why Bother? kicked off the last night of the Green Zoo Festival at a packed Klub Re on Saturday Nov 20th.
Transcending the Enlightenment – One Oneiric Performance at a Time
In this review of the Oneiric Dunes concert at the Sukiennice, Bogdan Markiewicz tells us about his overall experience at the Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art housed in the Cloth Hall on the Main Market Square in Kraków. A fine description of the performance including his general impressions.
A million RPM – The Slow-cook Groove of 2 Cardigans & Bowtie’s New Single, Umkhathi
Listen to the new single by 2 Cardigans & Bowtie, a South African-based five piece blending hip-hop and jazz. Read the review and the commentary by compatriot, alto-sax Ethan Smith.
Holding on to hope: A Review of FIRE by Non-Essential Workers (n.e.w.)
The music video of “FIRE” by non-essential workers (n.e.w.) gives you the impression that you’re in for a dark synth-pop ride into an unnamed dystopia in the not-too-distant future. The band has more social commentary to make. Listen and watch the video.
The Fake’s Real Thing. New live EP from Wrocław-based four-piece, a tour-de-force of brooding psych-rock energy
The new Live EP from Wrocław-based The Fake is a tour-de-force of brooding psych-rock energy. Recorded in the late Summer of 2020 just before lockdown in Klub Buda, Kraków, it doesn’t actually sound like a typical live recording.
Vodjanoi by Hot Heros: The Nordic Sound Tale of a Slavic God
An overview of the Nordic Jazz album “Vodjanoi” by Finnish improvisational jazz trio Hot Heros and EMC pianist Iro Haarla.