A year ago, lovers of this unique ethnic music festival were surprised to learn that all events of EtnoKraków / Crossroads take place in Wesoła. The concept worked brilliantly and the unusual atmosphere of the stage and auditorium set in a vast meadow was memorable for the audience. This time the date is surprising: the entire event takes place in June and, according to festival director Jan Słowiński, it is likely to remain there for good. There will be more surprises, however, thanks to the excellent programme and numerous returns. In fact, there are some true Crossroads veterans amongst almost one hundred artists from nine countries – from Norway and Finland to Congo and Gambia: the famous Romanian brass band Fanfare Ciocărlia, who performed here for the first time in 2001, Torgeir Vassvik – a singer of the Saami people, or the Wędrowiec group reviving old Vistula rites and rituals. There will also be performances by artists from Kinshasa and the Democratic Republic of Congo: the Kin'Gongolo Kiniata band is a voice from a country where there has been war for three decades. The main festival events (20–22 June) will take place at Wesoła: on Saturday in the open-air at the meadow in front of the Design Pharmacy and on Friday and Sunday in the intimate setting of the Strefa Nowa premises, including an ethno-electro set and the Dance Night. The Night of Songs will move to the Vistula River, joining Wianki in Krakow, the Concert at Dawn will be held on Poleski Boulevard (including Joanna Slowińska, the Łada band and Torgeir Vassvik), and we will return to the meadow at Wesola Street for the EthnoVillage for the young and the old. Stanisław Słowiński’s Symphony of the Four Corners of the World will be performed on 27 June at the 10th anniversary gala of the Kraków Nowa Huta Przyszłości company on the stage of the Nowa Huta Cultural Centre, and the charity concert Buen Camino! on 28 June in the ICE Kraków Congress Centre. Let us meet at the Crossroads!

Source: Karnet 6/2025