Almost half a million people attended this year’s Przystanek Woodstock, one of Europe’s largest open-air music festivals, held in Kostrzyn-nad-Odra, on the German-Polish border.
The festival, organized by Jerzy Owsiak, founder of the festival and famed Polish philanthropist, ended its fifteenth year in great success and Owsiak himself was particularly pleased.
Owsiak stage-dived for the first time, landing in the open arms of fans during a Dzem concert. “I’ve waited for that moment for a long time. It was fun and safe” said the icon of Poland’s most successful charity annual charity drive, The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity.
On the 3rd day of Woodstock, German Guano Apes, Swedish Clawfinger and the legendary Polish rock band Dżem ruled the stage. Guano Apes returned to the festival after long 11 years.
“We were here 11 years ago. Now I see that we waited too long with our comeback. You waited too long for us” said Henning Ruemenapp, the group’s guitar player. Sandra Nasic sung the group’s hits, i.e. Open Your Eyes, Break the Line or Alphaville’s cover, Big in Japan.
Dżem was rewarded two platinum records for their DVD coverage of their concerts during Woodstock 2003 and 2004. The DVD contains the group’s greatest hits played by them during the Woodstock Festival.
What is more, Juliette Lewis, the American singer and actress, played a concert to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original Woodstock held in upstate New York. Lewis, known for playing in movies like Natural Born Killers and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, played her brand new singles from the LP Terra Incognita. Lewis was joined by Polish pop star Kasia Kowalska on stage for a duet.
The festival was ended with the protest song Biko by Peter Gabriel. Ewelina Flinta, Artur Gadowski, Piotr and Wojtek Cugowscy, and Wojciech Waglewski sung that song. Moreover, Jerzy Owsiak said that he was listening to that song when he was taking part in the 30th anniversary of the original Woodstock.
What is more, this year’s festival was an opportunity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the end of communism in Poland. Lech Walesa and Tadeusz Mazowiecki were the guest during the festival. The audience thanked Walesa for his fight against communism and its leaders.
Przystanek Woodstock is organized as a form of thanks for those who collect and give their money during the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity drive held annually in January. (ps/mmj)