Kolumnen aus Polen

Letter from Warschau by Mario
january-february 2008

This month's review of the Polish ska scene opens up with the sad news of Dariusz "Dareczka" Jagielki's tragic death in a road accident in Holland. He was a well known and loved bass player for Konupians and Polish Ska pioneers Skankan. A fund raising gig was held in his honour to support his family on the 3rd of January 2009.

Wersja de Lux from Gydnia close to Gdansk (English Danzig) have a mini tour around Poland including Koscjerzyna, Chorzow, Legnica promoting their debut album release entitled "Wersja De Lux".

Skambomambo have launched their video for the Taxi driver track and will be touring Wroclaw and The Three cities of Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia plus gigs around their local town Szczecin.

Vespa released a limited edition of their first ever album entitled Vespa in CD format. The band has gone far since it's cassette tape beginnings but it's very positive to see a band publishing old material for the fans - Vespa has been around for 10 years now and celebrated the event with a gig at a local Szczecin club, even inviting ex-members on-stage. Of course Vespa still has to announce new dates for it humoursly dubbed Powtor (Monster) tour 2008-3000.

The Bartentenders are also launching their debut ep on February 26th in Warsaw.

It is a pity that one of the best Polish Ska websites www.rudemaker.pl comes out only in a Polish version but I personally have contacted the guys and we will see what can be done about that. This site is definitely the site for ska lovers in Poland. It includes information under the heading "Ska Train", which is about the beginning and the history of ska abroad and in Poland, plus other information about the Specials and Skatellites etc. Of course this is also one of my personal resources about the ska scene which I include in this newsletter.

Ska Gig Calendar for February - March

SKAMBOMAMBO:
10/ 02 AMFITEATR Valentinki Szczecin
10/02 Free Blues Club Szczecin
11/02 Klub Delta Dabie
10/03 Negatyw Gdansk
11/03 Anawa Gdynia
10/03 Cockney Pub Gdansk
24/03 Kontrasty Szczecin

The Bartenders:
26/02 Hydrozagadka

Wersja De Lux:
Vavamuffin & Alamedadsoulna
20/02 Stodola Warszawa

Alamedadsoulna:
21/02 Kloster Klub Tychy

Ziggie Piggie:
28/02 Zawiercie Chillout Zawiercie

May will see a lot of Juvenalia gigs around Poland. Every student organisation will receive funds to set up large open air concerts. This will see hundreds of bands in action including ska bands too. Mote about that will come in the next newsletter.

Stay Rude, Mario

www.myspace.com/skambomambo2006

www.koniecswiata.art.pl
www.myspace.com/akurat
www.vespa.odra1300.org
www.myspace.com/skauci
www.leniwiec.band.pl
www.myspace.com/ziggiepiggie
www.wersjadelux.pl
www.skangur.pl
www.thebartenders.pl