Invited by the European Centre of Solidarity, Unsound has co-curated the Solidarity of Arts Festival this year. The festival’s theme is “Courage” and it takes place in the Gdańsk shipyard, the birthplace of Solidarity movement in 1980. The event will run from Thursday 22nd until Sunday 25th August.
A variety of music will appear across four days and nights, including names well known to Unsound audiences such as Holly Herndon and Ben Frost, as well as headliners Tangerine Dream and Pussy Riot. The former is an important act connected to the Solidarity era in Poland, the latter needs no introduction for their performances and activism in Russia and across the globe. Felicita will present Soft Power together with “Śląsk” Song and Dance Ensemble, a show commissioned by Unsound for its 2016 Dislocation edition, while Robert Rich will give one of his rare Sleep Concerts.
A number of Polish acts will perform as well, including a new Siksa spectacle of protest and punk theatre, minimalist band Lotto and avant-garde folk group Polmuz. The Roundtable Orchestra, a group formed especially for Unsound and the European Centre of Solidarity will perform for the first time ever. Referencing the 1989 events with its name, it features percussion ensemble Remont Pomp - including members with and without a disability - and musicians coming from the jazz and experimental scenes: Tomasz Gadecki, Mike Majkowski, Raphael Rogiński, Mikołaj Trzaska i Tomasz Ziętek.
An afterparty with Olivia, Chino, Eltron and Rusałka also takes place today at Ulica Elektryków. Entry is free.
Tickets to all of the events are still available, with many free of charge. You can check the full schedule at Solidarity of Arts website, including not only music but also film and discussions related to its theme.