The most talented alternative pop performers, the great hopes of domestic rap, electronic artists appreciated abroad and new, intriguing projects on the scene – 12 Polish artists join the programme of this year’s TNMK.
Just like every year, this year’s festival programme emphasizes the local, national character of Tauron Nowa Muzyka Katowice. The organizers from More Music Agency aim to present the achievements of the domestic musical culture. Therefore, on the penultimate weekend of July we will hear a plethora of great artists from Poland.
The most popular performer on the bill is Ralph Kaminski. He is a charismatic singer, songwriter, composer, music producer and video director. He creates music which is difficult to classify, but which thrills hundreds of thousands of listeners all over the country. Ralph Kaminski triumphed at this year’s FRYDERYK awards, when he was recognised as the Artist of the Year 2022, and received a statuette for the Album of the Year in the Poetic Music category. The laurels brought him the album “KORA” with a new performance of songs by Kora Jackowska and the band Maanam. In the summer in Katowice, we will probably hear recordings from this album, the greatest hits of the artist, such as “Kosmiczne Energie” and “Tata”, as well as completely new material.
Dirtier sounds will be presented by the Gdańsk band Trupa Trupa, which in recent years has been winning the hearts of listeners and critics around the world. The UK’s Guardian newspaper wrote that “the band’s music is a mixture of twisted melodies, dense instrumentation and lyrical explorations of the darkest side of the human condition”. The Times compared them to Sonic Youth, Radiohead and the 1980s Manchester scene, KEXP highlighted their “ominous guitars, raw rhythms and haunting melodies” and Pitchfork wrote “Trupa Trupa is the rare dystopian post-punk band that treats optimism and seriousness as essential survival mechanisms. They may not have a perfect recipe for a better world, but they invite you to imagine it together.” In Katowice they will perform material from their latest album “B FLAT A”.
Tauron Nowa Muzyka Katowice could not miss a strong representation of Polish rap. The festival organisers invited the new great hopes of the microphone, who intrigue hundreds of thousands of listeners with their unique style and colourful image. Among the headliners of the young Polish rap scene who will perform at TNMK2022 are Szczyl, Zdechły Osa CatchUp, Hodak, BartoKatt and Jerzyk Krzyżyk
Szczyl is a 20-year-old representative of Gdynia, whose recordings have reached millions of views, and last year’s album “Polska Floryda” was considered one of the most interesting debuts. At the festival, he will perform in a new live formula. It is not without reason that the breathless Wasp is regarded as an honest, uncompromising voice of his generation. His songs are created at the junction of punk and rap, combining energetic and dirty background music with memorable lyrics. Jerzyk Krzyżyk represents a similar sound, inspired by both Polish New Wave and American rap. Hodak, on the other hand, is a young rapper who has definitely entered the Polish mainstream, achieving massive views. The finalist of Popkiller Young Wolves vol.8 has three full-length collaborations to his credit, the latest of which is “Moody Tapes, Volume One” created in partnership with producer 2K. CatchUp stands out for his great vocal potential and original rapping style. The newonce website called him one of the most interesting newcomers, and a confirmation of his strong position was the cooperation with Taco Hemingway and tens of millions of views in streaming services. The rap line-up of TNMK2022 is closed by Barto Katt, a colourful and original rapper and producer, who has collaborated with such artists as JWP, Hades, Jan-rap, Guzior and many others.
Apart from rap, there will also be hit synth pop, played in Katowice by Wczasy and Shyness. Strong, emotional Polish lyrics, original music videos and lively concerts have made Wczasy famous among fans of Polish alternative music. In Katowice, we will hear not only the hit “Dzisiaj jeszcze tańczę”, but also unreleased recordings of the group. Shyness also follow a similar artistic path. These are hypnotic vocals of four talented women, who willingly reach for spacious guitars, expressive synthesisers and atmospheric pianos. Iwona Skwarek charmed with her voice in the Rebeka project, to return to the stage as the leader of a new Polish girl band.
Definitely more electronic sounds will be presented by Lutto Lento, a producer respected abroad, who will perform at the festival in a live formula expanded with “live” drums, and the Krakow duo Sarapata, with a taste for melodic electronica.
This is not the end of the unveiling of the upcoming Tauron Nowa Muzyka Katowice programme. One of the most appreciated music festivals in Europe confirms this status every year thanks to its fascinating artistic programme and remarkable location. It is worth visiting again.
Three-day passes, including the opening concert, as well as two-day passes and one-day tickets remain on sale. They can still be purchased online at the festival website and on Going, eBilet, Ticketmaster and Biletomat. It is worth making a decision to buy now, because on 1 June the prices of passes and tickets will change. For more information about next year’s edition of Tauron Nowa Muzyka Katowice, visit the festival website.