Building on small but strong beginnings, Kraków Music started off during the pandemic with live streaming concerts and putting together playlists, soon seizing opportunities to provide further services within the Kraków music scene. Thanks to our creative team and dynamic community, the first year of Kraków Music generated many cooperative projects, enlightening experiences and memorable occasions. Let’s take a look at our top ten highlights:
1. Joining forces
In order to realise quality audiovisual projects, Kraków Music teamed up with Humanstories.studio. Local venue Klub Buda provided the space, where we organised a series of five live & online concerts, during which we started working closely with Konrad Mosoń for audio and Adelina Krupski Photography for gig photos.
2. Spreading the Word
As the audience grew, so did the need to communicate. Launching the Kraków Music Blog allowed us to invite guest writers to share stories and opinions. It also led to the creation of three blog series!
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Against the Frets (interviews with local guitarists)
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The (Recent) Archeology of the Kraków Music Scene
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Women in Music
3. Opening doors to the neighbourhood
During the months of August and September, Kraków Music collaborated with Ethan Smith in hosting the Moving Out concert series; two concerts every week, inviting some of the most exciting musicians and artists based in Kraków to perform in a home setting.
4. Hearing it first
Bringing people together through a shared love for music, the Moving Out concert series led to the formation of a new quartet now active under the name Neon Faces. Excited about the band’s future, Kraków Music reviewed its second live performance. Since then, more concert, song and album reviews have appeared on the blog.
5. Stepping out of our comfort zone
The post-lockdown cultural agenda in Kraków was in the making when Kraków Music first approached the National Museum in Kraków. What ensued was a series of World Music concerts that took place throughout September on the outdoor stage of ArtSfera MNK.
6. Blurring the boundaries
Summer was even more vibrant after an introduction to the Art Color Ballet, which initiated an impromptu concert by Ethan Smith & Grzegorz Kosowski at the Body Art Gallery.
7. Combining art and music
An idea carried out by Kraków Music and Artful PL, Soundscapes pairs a musician playing a single instrument with one artwork by an artist. The pilot episode captures a unique performance in Galeria Sztuki RAVEN art gallery, during which the large format charcoal drawing by Katarzyna Adamek-Chase moves to a melodica tune played live by Thymn Chase.
8. Showing support
In December, Kraków Music was invited by Rethinking Refugees to help with the live streaming and coverage of their online charity concert Rhythm for Refugees at Klub Alchemia.
9. Taking the music online
In addition to live streaming, Kraków Music recorded live sessions by Paula Wolski and Ablaye Badji, making both concerts available to watch in full directly on the website. You just need to sign up to Kraków Music.
10. Connecting through stories
Together with Shaun O’Neill, Kraków Music launched the Music Matters podcast series, interviewing local musicians and exploring themes related to their formative years and their unique relationship with music.
