“PURE COUNTRY – STATION X” and MORE FESTIVAL STARS

We have a pleasure of informing you that Wolsztyn’s musical steam engine, “PURE COUNTRY – STATION X” has departed at full throttle in March, kickin’ off the series of events within the nation-wide promotional  campaign for the “Pure Country” festival and the town of Wolsztyn itself.

The first leg of the campaign was the “Station Sioux” – the club gig at the Sioux restaurant in Warsaw, whose manager, Mr. Grzegorz Nowak, is a huge country fan and effective supporter of Wolsztyn festival. The roster of the artists on the Sioux contained Michael Lonstar, Dorota Krawczyk and the Alabama Band. In between the musical acts the producers of the “Pure Country” honored Mr. Nowak and our media patrons who celebrated their anniversaries: Maciek “Coachman” Swiatek, editor-in-chief of the “Stagecoach” biweekly, who has been riding this country trail for the last 15 years, and Robert “Cowboy Kash” Kashmiri & Hubert Sojka – who have been managing a trendsetting “countrymusic.pl” forum for 5 years. We congratulate the recipients and we wish them many more significant anniversaries!

The next stations on the Wolsztyn “Pure Country” trail’s route are: Chełmno – June 30, 2012, and Bukowina Tatrzanska – July 21, 2012. Preparations for the next concerts in various corners of the country are under way. Detailed information follows soon, but before it does, we invite you to our photo-report from the night at the Sioux.

During the “Pure Country – Station Sioux” concert the producers revealed the latest on this year’s festival’s program.

EXCLUSIVELY AT THE "PURE COUNTRY" FESTIVAL IN WOLSZTYN !!!

We are happy to tell you that the list of the artists from the Capital of Country Music – Nashville – has been enhanced by the charismatic, genuine “outlaw” with an awesome, deep voice, a sought-after songwriter, and a leading representative of the “True Country” trend – RAY SCOTT, the untamed rebel to the bone, and at the same time a great stylist of the genre, whose songs and attitude stand in defense of true values and sounds of country music, against the prevalent, ill-conceived commerce and pop. He expressed his artistic motto in his big hit, “My Kind of Music” (from his first, namesake CD), while his recent album bears adequate title “Rayality”, which is both a paraphrase of his first name and a definition of the CD’s content. And, among a dozen of other great songs, there’s his last, outrageously funny hit, “Those Jeans” . The album will be available on sale in Wolsztyn!

Ray Scott’s songs are covered by such superstars as Trace Adkins, Randy Travis or Clay Walker. His songwriting skills match his vocal talent. Ray successfully tours the world as a singer in his own right. His appearance at the “Pure Country 2012” will be his first-ever and ONLY show in Poland.

You can find the initial information on the Artists and other planned “Pure Country 2012” attractions in our PROGRAM section. The complete program will be available on our website within a few weeks. In the meantime you can already listen to selected songs of the Artists whom you will have the chance to see live on Wolsztyn stage in August.

 CHRISTMAS TIME IN WOLSZTYN

Christmas is a magical time of good wishes, friendly reunions and gifts. We spent the pre-Christmas weekend visiting the friends of the "Pure Country" in Wolsztyn.

One of the most important ones was the meeting with Mayor of Wolsztyn, Mr. Andrzej Rogozinski. We summed up the past festival, we discussed the next phases of development of festival's infrastructure for the years to come and we finalize some decisions regarding the "Pure Country 2012", which will result in technological upgrading of the internet transmission of the concerts, and very soon on our website you will find the enhanced information on the increased lodging base in Wolsztyn and Karpicko (private quarters and a new campsite).

Warm ,heartfelt atmosphere dominated another significant visit: the afternoon filled with caroling  under a Christmas tree at the Mlynkowiak family. Let us remind you: struggling with cancer, nine year old Dominik Mlynkowiak  has been embraced by the program of the "Dreamers Mail" foundation. We wrote about him on festival facebook and on "muzyka-country.pl" gazette. Complicated and long term treatment prevents Dominik from leaving home and participate in most of his peers' activities. Post cards and letters sent to him from all over Poland help him to overcome his solitude and give him a lot of so much needed encouragement and joy.

Lonstar's visit meant a lot to the boy and his family. On this occasion we appeal one more time to you all: do not forget about Dominik and send him many words of hope which he needs so much. Luckily, the treatment is taking gradual effects, Dominik feels considerably better, but there is still a long way for him to go. The boy is surprisingly serene and he patiently endures the treatment process, even though he pays enormous price of renunciation. We thank his Parents for hosting us and we keep our fingers crossed for the success of certain plan we conceived together. We hope to meet the entire Mlynkowiak family at the "Pure Country 2012".

At the end we'd like to announce some good news: we have more tourist and artistic attractions in store, unprecedented in Poland. Detailed info will follow soon!

„PURE COUNTRY" 2012 - FIRST STARS FOR THE CHRISTMAS GIFTS

It has become a tradition to give "PURE COUNTRY" fans a Christmas gift: we reveal the preliminary program plans for the next year's edition and the names of its first headliners.

The idea behind the festival from its very conception has been to present the wide spectrum of country music trends and the essential values conveyed by it. And you just cannot achieve that without reaching for the roots. Hence, on the Wolsztyn stage once again there will appear the strong representation of the capital of Country Music - Nashville, USA.

With great joy and satisfaction we inform you that in spite of the raging global economy crisis we have our first American stars of the PURE COUNTRY 2012 already booked. And they are:

GEORGE HAMILTON IV, called "The International Ambassador of Country Music", Grand Ole Opry legend, the unquestioned mentor and mainstay of Country's best traditions. Living encyclopedia of Country Music, and at the same time an Artist whose name is the constant entry in every encyclopedia. A true Southern Gentleman straight from the "Gone With The Wind" epoch, that - thank God - has not gone with the wind.

GEORGE HAMILTON V, the son of George IV, the continuator of the family tradition, who writes and sings in the contemporary rough-around-the-edges country-rockin' honky-tonk mold. An untamed volcano of stage energy, spiced with that showcase Southern sense of humor.

The Hamilton Boys will appear in Wolsztyn backed by Poland's own Colorado Band, with whom they have been collaborating occasionally for many years. And this is where we have a surprise for you: in their Wolsztyn concert they will premiere their joint recording project. To our knowledge, their brand-new album "fresh from the assembly line" should be out by that time.

All we can disclose today is that both the concert and the CD will feature many "classic" hits of two Georges and of the Colorado Band in surprising new versions, and also... Oh, no! We won't tell you more! You just have to experience it all live. So, start planning your summertime vacation right now and come to Wolsztyn!

 Visit us frequently, ‘cause more news will come soon!

PURE COUNTRY 2012 - THE DATES

Festival PURE COUNTRY has entered its pre-production phase "at full throttle", just like it did last year, and we already confirm the date of the third edition.

3^rd International Festival PURE COUNTRY 2012 will take place on August 11-12 (Saturday-Sunday). However, we invite you to Wolsztyn as early as on Friday, August 10^th.

Continuing our idea of the Friday "kick-off" events, we plan to begin the festival attractions on Friday afternoon. Currently, the pre-production works are under way. Our Friday program will feature some extra music and dance shows, plus some other activities.

We'll keep updating the details. Meanwhile we are happy to present the next media feedback of the PURE COUNTRY 2011 from the country and abroad. Extensive detailed articles on our festival appeared in the German monthly, "Western Mail" #9/2011, and in "Polish Trucker" monthly, #11/2011. Enjoy the reading!

"PURE COUNTRY" 2011 - THANK YOU !!!

Second edition of the „PURE COUNTRY" festival is already a history, but - judging by the opinions of its participants whose number exceeded 6.000 on the Saturday night - it has made a history indeed, as one of the most memorable phenomena of the season. One of many positive effects of this year's success is the fact that "PURE COUNTRY" has definitely confirmed its steady presence in Wolsztyn's calendar of the future annual cultural events, and in the private calendars of Polish country music fans, too.

Today we would like to thank from the bottom of our hearts all the wonderful people whose support, hard work and encouraging presence have made it happen with such a huge success .

First of all, we owe huge thanks to Mayor of the town of Wolsztyn, Mr. Andrzej Rogozinski, whose support of the idea of "PURE COUNTRY" allowed the festival to come into being and grow up to its current dimension. See the interview with Mayor Rogozinski by the TV Karat reporter, in our GALLERY.

We thank the director of Wolsztyn's Center of Culture, Mr. Jaroslaw Świrszcz and his employees for their logistic, technical, and organizational contribution without which the festival simply wouldn't have happened.

Special thanks go to our dedicated volunteers and to Damian Sarbak, who initiated, designed, produced and directed the online worldwide broadcast of the festival (the first-ever live online worldwide broadcast in the history of country music in Poland).

We address the words of our immense gratitude to all our sponsors without whom the festival wouldn't have had a chance to exist. We thank in particular our musical sponsor, ZIBI company, sponsor and producer of festival's graphics and advertising signs, SHINE, also Wolsztyn hotels, MONTANA and KAUKASKA, and Mr. & Mrs. Karwatka of Dom Restauracyjny EUROPA from Wolsztyn.

"Last but not least", we thank all of you - the wonderful festival audience, citizens of Wolsztyn, and all of you who came down to Wolsztyn from near and far, as well as everybody else who were not able to come over but watched us online.