THE HISTORY OF VLADIMIRSKA
Since Vladimirska’s first public concert as a full band in their hometown of Krakow, Poland, in February 2010, the response to their music has been enthusiastic, and they’ve been performing constantly in Poland and beyond.
They’ve played at German festivals such as “Fusion Festival” in Rostock, “PolkaBeats Festival” in Cottbus, and “Rotation Street Music Festival” and “Down by the River Festival” in Berlin; at the “Barbakan Festival” in Slovakia; and at Polish festivals such as “SLOT Fest,” “Green Zoo,” “Hear the City,” “Reminiscences Theatre Festival” and the “Festival of Silent Film” in Krakow, “Folkowisko” in Gorajec, “Folkolory” in Szamotuły, “Warsaw Cinema Concert Series” in Warsaw, and “Garden of Sounds Festival” in Katowice.
Vladimirska was invited by the National Museum in Krakow to perform live music to the 1929 silent film “Mocny Człowiek” during “Night of Museums” and again in Warsaw as part of the Warsaw Film Concert series. They were invited by the City of Krakow to perform on the Main Square for New Year’s Eve celebrations in 2012 alongside Polish and foreign music stars. Their music has been featured by Wojtek Waglewski and Fisz on the program “Magiel Wagli” on Polskie Radio 3 (Polish National Radio). In June 2012 they released their debut video for their song “Werewolf,” directed and produced by Mateo Zaręba.
In November 2011, Vladimirska was awarded the German Record Critics’ Award (“Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik”) in the category of “Folk & Folklore” for their debut album “Night Trains,” released in June 2011 by Gusstaff Records. In April 2012, they were awarded Third Prize in the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) in Nashville, Tennessee (with a jury composed of Tom Waits, Jeff Beck, Tori Amos, Ozzy Osbourne, Robert Smith and other professionals) for their instrumental song “Muzyka do filmu.”
Full-grown in the streets of Cracow, this quartet plays a mixture of folk, pop, circus and enjoyable traditional jazz, somewhere between lightly melancholic film music and good-humoured polka. The transparent tone and sober production work in this CD are admirably consistent with the singular sound characteristic of this band. Fresh, unrestrained and marvellous.
(Jury of the “Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik” – November 2011)
This international band, led by accordionist Scotia Gilroy, is bringing back to life a lost and precious tradition. Sometimes joyful, sometimes melancholy … Vladimirska weaves enchanting motifs and ethereal melodies into nostalgic but carefree, lively songs.
(Jacek Świąder, Gazeta Wyborcza – June 2011)
I really like this band, because I like groups that do their own thing. Listen and love it, please go buy their album. It’s a bit klezmer, a bit like a backyard circus, really cool.
(Wojtek Waglewski, “Magiel Wagli,” Polish National Radio 3)
Even though their songs are their own compositions, every note seems to come from a faraway time and place.
(folk24.pl)
Stylish, old-fashioned and totally distinct from everyone else. They’ve been complemented by Wojciech Waglewski, they’ve won awards in international competitions, and they are beyond doubt one of the most interesting newest phenomenons on the Polish music scene.
(Marcin Flint, t-mobile-music.pl)
VLADIMIRSKA:
Scotia Gilroy – accordion, toy piano, vocals
Zbigniew Szwajdych – trumpet
Leszek HeFi Wiśniowski – saxophone, flute
Kuba Duda – electric guitar, banjo
Adrian Górka – acoustic guitar, mandolin
Tomek Marzec – percussion
