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Karolina Wegrzyn is a polish singer, accordionist and song collector; hailing from the Sub-Carpathia (south east) region of Poland. Karolina grew up surrounded by folk tradition; heavily influenced by her grandmother, who coached generations of local youngsters in traditional Polish song and dance.

 

Karolina has since become interested in, and performs folk music from other surrounding countries; such as Ukraine, Slovakia and the Balkan states, as well as music from nomadic tribes that settled in and around Eastern Europe; such as the Łemko people and the Roma communities. She learned to sing in an ancient technique of white voice (otherwise known as scream singing). She also collects forgotten songs and stories by meeting with elderly citizens of her native communities.

 

In 2021 Karolina took third place at the Polish National True Musician’s Tournament in Szczecin. She regularly plays around the West Midlands with some of Birmingham’s best musicians and artists. She often takes part in Tereza Buskova’s street performances inspired by Czech traditions. You can also catch her collaborating with Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham and performing in the city’s Symphony Hall. 

 

Together with some of Birmingham's finest musicians, they create a heart warming experience with archaic stories and rhythms that will move your feet to dance.

Hej jedziemy & U hajičku travičku (Hey we’re on our way) by Karolina Węgrzyn | Polska i Łemkowska
03:40

Hej jedziemy & U hajičku travičku (Hey we’re on our way) by Karolina Węgrzyn | Polska i Łemkowska

Exciting NEWS my Friends!! My debut album "Oy Vesna Krasna" is OUT NOW on all online streaming platforms! / Kochani! Już można kupić nasza płytę przez poniższe linki: Buy digital album on Bandcamp: https://karolinawegrzyn.bandcamp.com/album/oy-vesna-krasna Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6FFDKwjsGOif0PDA7PP5dZ?si=nhSujAkHQoOYKPZkq8qT0w Other links: https://linktr.ee/karolina.wegrzyn If you'd like a physical copy, email me: karolina.wegrzyn11@gmail.com Videography - Jack Nelson 🎨Album artwork - Karolina Wegrzyn 📸Cover photo - David Shepherd Recorded and produced by Steven Banbury at Fushō Studios 2024 Special thanks to Don Laight for letting us use your farmhouse and Angus Hammersley for helping us make it all happen!! Featured artists: 🎤 Vocals, accordion 🪗, hammered dulcimer (cymbały) - Karolina Węgrzyn 🎻Violin - Ann Ka Ann Katherine Jones 🪘Percussion, acoustic guitar - Stephen Plummer Woodwind instruments - Dominic O'Sullivan 🎼Double bass - Mike Bethel 🎸Guitar - Chris Roberts Hafren Music Copyright ©Karolina Węgrzyn 2024 ®Karolina Węgrzyn 2024. All rights reserved. “Oy Vesna Krasna” in many Slavonic languages means “oh beautiful spring”. This debut album by Polish artist and musician Karolina Węgrzyn is a homage to her family’s traditions, but also a journey to connect the different cultures and minorities of Eastern Europe. Blending joyful and dynamic Balkan rhythms with a powerful and melancholic Northern Carpathian voice, Karolina and her eclectic band approach these songs with a deep respect, but also infuse with their own interpretations. This album is a celebration of beauty and diversity of Eastern-European cultures. “I am honoured to share my heritage with you”. Track no.1 Hej jedziemy & U hajičku travičku (Hey we’re on our way) by Karolina Węgrzyn A medley of two songs - “Hey we’re on our way” (Hey we’re on our way) is a traditional song from the Subcarpathian region in the South East of Poland. It is a mountainous province referred to as “the foot of the Carpathian Mountains”. Its music is varied, reflecting cross-cultural influences from neighbouring countries. This song has quite a rebellious feeling - a group of horse riders, possibly soldiers, are coming back from war. They’re looking for a place to stay as the nights are cold. They are demanding to be let inside villager’s homes to get warm, threatening that they will shatter their walls or climb through the windows. “U hajičku, travičku ja žala” is a Carpatho-Rusin song from the Slovakian side of Carpathian mountains. People from that region are known as Łemko or Rusini (Ruthenians). This is an unpretentious song about a girl’s love dream, told in a simple but charming manner. Songs collected and arranged by Karolina Wegrzyn.
Little Queens
06:22

Little Queens

Little Queens, or Královničky, as the festival is known in the Czech Republic, is the creative reimagining of an ancient tradition, which celebrates nature and the role of women within their communities.  The project also gives voice to female refugees and other expatriates who wish to express their identities within the intricate cultural context of their adopted home in the UK, bringing new colour, poetry and hope. ------ CREDITS ------- Creative Director Tereza Bušková Supported by Arts Council England Visit Sandwell   Project Partners Brushstrokes Community Project MotherShip Projects   Creative Practitioners & Supporters Bearwood Community Hub Blue and White Creative Multistory Oak House Museum Warley Woods Community Trust   Costumes Mariana Novotná   Embroidery workshops Tina Francis   The Queen Marketa Patelova   The King Karolina Wegrzyn   The Yarovit Goddess Zoë Simon   Little Queens Radka Saeedian, Lucia Húsková, Suchita Raj, Michaela Freeman, Mariana Novotná, Irena Jaitly, Siyona Raj, Maya Hurlow, Charlotte Freeman, Gréta Novotná, Jemima Gardener, Ellora Jaitly, Miri Emerson, Devi & Tali Patel   Musical direction / violin Oliver Clayton   Cello Bela Emerson Singing Karolina Wegrzyn   Songs Polish summer solstice song, “Kompałecka Mała Nocka” (Swimming In The Waters, Little Night) Ukrainian spring ritual song, "Oy Vesna Krasna” (Oh Beautiful Spring)   Canopy structure Studio Polpo   Camera Chris Keenan   Editing Stifani Brothers   Graphic design Jiří Bušek   Photography Carl Gibbons Dee Patel   Special thank you to Members of Sandwell Communities Jana Tillotson Jenine McGaughran Naomi St Juste Sorina Stallard Bianca Pirvuceanu Hasu Patel Tuckey Print Time Assist Ltd. Phi Forestry Billinghams florist
Hidden Mothers
04:54
CSB Online Stream
30:29
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