Gęsty Kożuch Kurzu / Poland
Winner of the New Tradition Grand Prix in 2016. The band’s music combines their fascination in folk repertoire and wisdom of the countryside masters of the genre with youthful sensitivity and spontaneity, the result of which is emotional music, full of passion, encouraging to dance and grounded in tradition.
The band was founded in 2011. They play traditional music from the Łódź area, which is filled with regions filled with folk traditions - Łęczyce, Łowicz, Opoczno, Rawa and Sieradz. The band draws their inspiration from archive recordings and meetings with outstanding musicians, such as Tadeusz Kubiak, a violinist from Łęczyce, Sławomir Czekalski - a harmonist from Łowicz the Dobrzeliniacy band or Stanisław Klejnas - a violinist from Rawa. The band makes an effort to reflect the characteristics of the regions, as well as all musicians, noticing a great diversity of musical temperaments around Łódź.
For several years, the band members organised the Pograjka Łódzka cycle, which comprises dance and music workshops, film screenings, lectures and dance parties, which become a meeting place for musicians, workshop organisers and lovers of traditional Polish music. The band also conducts classes for children, based on dance and traditional activities with elements of music therapy.
Recently, GKK has expanded their old line-up (violin, bass and drum) with a trumpet, an instrument which has been increasingly present in the traditional bands and ensembles. The band has won several prestigious awards, including Baszta for reconstructed folklore during the 46th Festival of Folk Bands and Singers in Kazimierz and the 2nd place in the Old Tradition 2012 competition. This May, the band has won the Grand Prix of the New Tradition Festival.
Members of the group:
Joanna Gancarczyk – bass, vocals
Maria Stępień – violin
Marcin Lorenc – violin
Featuring: Kazimierz Nitkiewicz – trumpet
Jakub Korona – baraban
The concert took place in 2016.