Woodstock / PolAndRock 2018
This year I had the chance to attend the 24th annual polish Woodstock! It was an absolute dream. The festival’s motto is love, friendship and music.
The first Woodstock took place in 1994 in the town of Cyzmanowo but is now held in Kostrzyn nad Odrą. It’s hosted by the great orchestra of Christmas charity as a way of thanking its volunteers for their hard work.
Woodstock has had a lot of ups and downs since 1994 with many problems created by controversy and politics. However prevailed through the highs and lows and it’s lasted 24 years! I’d say that’s pretty fucking great!
Woodstock has hosted many great musicians over the years. This year I got to see Alestorm, frank carter and the rattlesnakes, In flames, You me at six, the goo goo Dolls, arch enemy, booze and Glory and the cherry on top was judis priest! After every band finishes their set the entire crowed sings “Happy Birthday” to the band as a way of saying thank you. The host Jurek Owsiak takes a photo with every band with the crowed in the background! Unfortunately judis priest who gathered a huge crowd decided they wouldn’t hang around for our gratitude and left the stage and the festival almost immediately. Boo to them really.
I also got to be involved in the biggest circle pit of the whole festival ! Thank you frank carter! I moshed a lot and sang a lot and it was amazing!
On another note, the hospitality of strangers was amazing, everyone was friendly and caring. I shared my food and others shared their beer. When you bumped into someone accidentally instead of getting angry they high fived you or just hugged you! Strangers asked if they could draw hearts on me and others tried to get me to meet their male friends. When friends tent broke a lovely lady helped us duct tape it back together! Friendship , love and music was really felt throughout the entire weekend. It was beautiful!
Religion (I know not everyone’s favourite topic) I couldn’t believe how many different religious leaders I saw! Really, there was a Harikrishna tent that did a parade every day! They also made the best vegan curry ! At 9 pln a bowl I was in heaven! The Krishna tent also offered yoga, praise and henna! I also saw a Christian/Catholic tent. I called in the Jesus tbh. There was priest’s and nuns walking around the festival all the time.
Now on to my favourite part of the whole festival, German firemen! Nothing sets my puls up like a German fireman spraying me with water from his fire engine! Especially when he’s driving though a crowed at the main stage during 36 degree heat. It was a teenage dream come true! See, the reason we had German firemen and not polish is because the polish government sucks and barred them from coming. Then even tried to stop the Germans from coming over the boarder. But hey, I still got my teenage dream come true. Guess that’s what matters right?! P.s is you are a German fireman reading this... feel free to send me pics of you in action. (Wink wink)
Right, I have blathered on about this festival for too long. Guess what I’m trying to say is, it was fucking amazing ! Would recommend to everyone !
