VOŁOSI is one of the most prominent ensembles in the Polish world music scene. Their debut at The New Tradition Festival in 2010 yielded all possible awards. One year later their piece “Dusk” won Svetozar Stracina Grand Prix at The European Broadcasting Union in Bratislava, named the best European folk composition in 2011. In 2012 their CD ranked among the top in the World Music Charts Europe.
VOLOSI and their music reach far beyond the folk music category. Its essence is the energy of remote musical worlds colliding. Crossing boundaries is part of the show. Traditional musicians meet classical instrumentalists and travel along, reaching the unheard before. Their music derives from the tradition only partly. Rather, they are people immersed in tradition, creating a totally new quality. It was the same story when jazz was born.
Even though their music sounds familiar, it really is entirely original and inimitable. The VOŁOSI’s debut in 2010 at the ‘New Tradition’ Festival yielded all possible awards. In 2011 they confirmed their success by winning Grand Prix Svetozar Stracina for the best piece in the ‘world music’ category in Europe, in the contest organized by the European Broadcasting Union. In 2012 their first album entered the special World Charts Europe TOP20 selection. Since than VOŁOSI have constantly been on tour. All over the world they meet with spontaneous enthusiasm of the audience, and gain very positive critics’ reviews. Their concerts have been broadcasted by the 2 and 3 Programs of the Polish Radio, the BBC and the German WDR3. The critics universally agree that VOŁOSI have managed to achieve a unique and original musical style, escaping categorization. By exceeding the limits of string instruments they create music that can be described as thoroughly modern and attractive for contemporary listener – growing out of the Carpathian roots, but also bearing marks of jazz improvisation charged with rock energy and full swing of emotional content. This phenomenon brings VOŁOSI praise among big rock festival audiences, as well as highly prestigious concert hall attenders, world music lovers and royal family members.
