Pol’and’Rock Festival

IDEA

Pol’and’Rock Festival is a huge and free music event that takes place at the beginning of August in Kostrzyn nad Odrą in western Poland. There are four stages, which host a variety of different music genres: Main Stage, Second Stage, Viva Kultura Tent Stage, and Night AFA Stage. The massive event is firmly rooted in the ideals of peace, friendship, and love, and it might be the last vestige of the world, where people of all creeds and beliefs can co-exist peacefully. The festival, which attracts thousands of guests each year, not only boasts a diverse line-up of performers, catering to people with very different music tastes, but also creates a vibrant, diverse community, where everyone can feel welcome and appreciated. The festival campsites, which, just like the main event itself, are free, remain open to everyone. Young and old representatives of different subcultures, which are usually pitted against each other, come together for the duration of the festival and form one community.

MUSIC 

Each year the line-up of the festival showcases a few dozen Polish and international bands: both well-known artists and up-and-coming bands. We take care to make sure that the line-up is very diverse, but the festival is well-known for its heavier, rock-infused sets.

So far, we have had the pleasure of hosting amazing artists, such as Within Temptation, Afro Celt Sound System, Black Label Society, Dream Theater, Shaka Ponk, Illusion, (Hed)p.e, Congo Natty, VOO VOO, Decapitated, Furyon, Eluveitie, Molotov, Shaggy, Modestep, Protoje, Hatebreed, Skid Row, Volbeat, Ky-Mani Marley, SKA-P, Accept, Manu Chao La Ventura, The BossHoss, The Prodigy, Guano Apes, Die Toten Hosen, Killing Joke, The Stranglers, Clawfinger, Kreator, Machine Head, Anthrax, Ugly Kid Joe, Soja, Enter Shikari, Emir Kusturica, Kaiser Chiefs, Sabaton, Beatsteaks, Zion Train, Twinkle Brothers, Juliette Lewis, Caliban, Volbeat, The Futureheads, Type O Negative, Subways, Life of Agony, Papa Roach, Nigel Kennedy, Airbourne, Helloween, Gentleman, Dog Eat Dog, Leszek Możdżer, Dżem, Coma, Hey, T.Love, Vavamuffin, Farben Lehre, Sweet Noise, Pidżama Porno, just to name a few!

ACADEMY OF THE FINEST ARTS 

Another interesting element of the festival is the Academy of the Finest of Arts, meant as an open meeting space for well-loved and respected representatives of the arts, sciences, politics, and social activists. The Foundation aims to educate young people and introduce them to ideas of tolerance and peaceful dialogue. The meetings between the young audience of the festival and authorities in their given fields are based on the exchange of opinions, questions, and honest and open discussion about matters such as religion, tolerance, war, and arts. So far, the stage at the Academy of the Finest Arts has welcomed religious authorities and social workers, political leaders, travelers, journalists, artists, and other experts.

Useful information

Price: The festival is free for all participants.

Location and how to get there: You can get to Czaplinek via train and there will be additional connections from bigger cities such as; Warsaw, Cracow and Poznań. It is possible to get to Czaplinek via car, unfortunately the lack of highway nearby makes it harder.

Accommodation: There are few camping sites on the festiwal’s premises; one is free, the others are premium- with additional showers or access to electricity. Private camping sites are also popular- with a small fee you get access to showers and electricity. Unfortunately in Czaplinek there’s no hotels nor motels.

Alimentation: On the Czaplinek’s premises there is a food court, where all kinds of food is served. There is a big supermarket, too.