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33-1347: The festival was initiated in 1994 by Jerzy Owsiak after his trip to the United States where he attended the Woodstock Festival, which was held after a 25-year hiatus. The festival's official motto is Love, Friendship, Music . The event is held by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity as a way of thanking its volunteers. Generally a weekend-long event, its two stages are in continuous use from early afternoon to dawn, featuring performances by around 30 bands every year. Many Polish musicians and bands have made several appearances, including IRA , Decapitated , Myslovitz , Maria Peszek , Kamil Bednarek , Dżem , Acid Drinkers , Lessdress , Hey , Riverside , and The Analogs . International bands are also invited every year – Skunk Anansie , Sabaton , Judas Priest , Within Temptation , Shaggy , The Stranglers , Papa Roach , The Prodigy , Kaiser Chiefs , Ugly Kid Joe , You Me at Six , Guano Apes , Kontrust , Clawfinger , Nigel Kennedy , Gentleman , Korpiklaani among many others. Festival promoters also aim to promote emerging talent – and

66-440: A competition is held prior to the festival, and the winners are given a chance to perform at the festival. The main musical theme is generally rock, but genres range from folk through experimental to metal . Recent years have also seen reggae , electronic music and even classical music represented. The name Przystanek Woodstock – "Woodstock Station" – refers to peace and friendship symbolized by

99-446: A number of international film festivals. The 2003 Woodstock was the last one held in the town of Żary. Because of controversy surrounding some incidents during the festival, that Jerzy Owsiak was part of, it was decided that Żary would no longer be a setting for the concerts. From 2004 to 2019, the festival took place in the town of Kostrzyn nad Odrą . In 2011 the festival featured such bands as The Prodigy and Helloween . In 2012,

132-400: A public broadcasting corporation, operating throughout Poland. Since December 1991 he has been preparing a TV programme, "Róbta, co chceta, czyli rockendrollowa jazda bez trzymanki" for TVP2 , which was called "Dziura w koszu" from 1994, and from 1996 "Kręcioła". In 2007 he began working for the radio again. On 4 July 2007 he ran, for the first time, "Dźwiękoszczelny magazyn Jurka Owsiaka" on

165-894: The Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw . When he was a teenager, he was involved with the hippie subculture in the Masovian Voivodeship . His fascination with this subculture led to his idea for the Woodstock festival. He is married to Lidia (née Niedźwiecka) who is also a board member of the WOŚP Foundation. Due to being acquainted with Wojciech Waglewski , Owsiak became well known in music circles. Since 1988, he has attended Voo Voo concerts. He has performed at some of them with his band, Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Chińskich Ręczników (Society of Friends of Chinese Towels), and he started his programme on

198-559: The Broczyno airfield in Czaplinek , Western Pomerania. 52°36′41″N 14°40′05″E  /  52.61139°N 14.66806°E  / 52.61139; 14.66806 Jerzy Owsiak Jerzy Zbigniew Owsiak ( Polish pronunciation: [ˈjɛʐɨ ˈɔfɕak] ; born 6 October 1953) is a Polish journalist and social campaigner . He is the founder of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (WOŚP / Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy), one of

231-740: The Central European University in Budapest . He also completed a course in European Law co-organized with Cambridge University as well as American Law co-organized with the University of Florida at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw. In 2006, he received a PhD degree from the University of Warsaw on the basis of his dissertation entitled Multi-level Citizenship in

264-581: The Civic Platform , Democratic Left Alliance and Polish People's Party . During his tenure he brought a number of local governments to court for their introduction of the controversial LGBT-free zones , which met with criticism from the ruling conservative Law and Justice party. In 2018, he was awarded the Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize for the promotion of the fundamental human rights of intellectual and political freedom. In 2017-2019

297-758: The Jarocin Festival , along with Walter Chełstowski. They also organized the first Przystanek Woodstock in 1995 in Czymanowo near Żarnowiec . In 1993, Owsiak founded the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, along with Lidia Niedźwiedzka-Owsiak and Bohdan Maruszewski, which is now one of the largest, non-government, non-profit, charities in Poland. The main objective of the charity is "Health Protection and Saving Children's Lives through Providing Medical Equipment to Public Hospitals". His first fund-raising participation

330-697: The Rozgłośnia Harcerska (the Scout's Radio Station). After the termination of his work in the Scout's Radio Station, his next undertaking was the broadcast of "Brum". He ran it from 1991 to 1994 in PR Program III . It was only broadcast on Fridays. Between 1994 and 1999, it changed its name to "Się kręci". Later, he undertook the broadcast of "Kręcioła" on Polskie Radio Program I and attended meetings with listeners on Saturday mornings at RMF FM . Between 1991 and 2007, Owsiak cooperated with Telewizja Polska ,

363-570: The Senate ) could not agree on a successor. On 15 April 2021, the Constitutional Tribunal issued a ruling that he should stay in office for at most three further months. In the 2023 parliamentary elections he ran as a Civic Coalition candidate (as part of Senate Pact 2023 ) for the Senate from the constituency no. 44 . He received 628,442 votes and was elected senator. In the same year he

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396-513: The Woodstock Festival and the TV series Northern Exposure , aired as Przystanek Alaska (Alaska Station), immensely popular in Poland at that time. The name of the festival was changed to Pol'and'Rock Festival on March 8, 2018. The change was motivated by licensing dispute with the agency representing Michael Lang . The new name reflects both the rock'n'roll roots of the event and the strong ties to

429-505: The town of Czymanowo (near Gnewin), located near the Żarnowieckie Lake. The performers included Carrantouhill , Skankan, Żuki, Myslovitz , Ira , and Urszula . During the festival no alcohol was sold, which was similar to the Jarocin festivals . The second festival was held in Szczecin - Dąbie, Szczecin in 1996. This time the first Woodstock's "prohibition law" was partially lifted and beer

462-618: The Civil Rights Ombudsman Adam Bodnar supported the 'Let's Kick Racism Out Of Stadiums' tournament, organized by "Never Again" Association at the Pol'and'Rock Festival (also known as Polish Woodstock), the biggest open-air free music festival in Europe. Bodnar officially inaugurated the tournaments, personally refereed during the games and took part in the matches. He participated in a meeting organised by "Never Again" Association during

495-626: The European Constitutional Sphere . In 2019, he obtained habilitation at his alma mater. He worked as an assistant professor at the Department of Human Rights of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw as well as academic teacher at the SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw. In the 1990s he collaborated with the anti-racist "Never Again" Association . Until 2004, he worked at

528-794: The Panoptykon Foundation as well as Director of the Zbigniew Hołda Association. He was also a member of the board of directors of the UN Fund for Victims of Torture. In 2011 he was awarded with the Tolerance Prize by the Polish LGBT organizations and in 2013 he received a scholarship within the scope of German Marshall Memorial Fellowship programme. In 2015, he was appointed as the Polish Ombudsman after receiving endorsement of

561-611: The Swedish power metal band Sabaton performed at the festival, recording the set as a live album , Swedish Empire Live . In 2020 an online festival was held due to the covid pandemic, livestreamed from Transcolor Studio in Szeligi near Warsaw. The 2021 edition was held on the Makowice - Płoty airfield in Western Pomerania with limited attendance. Since 2022 the festival has been held on

594-454: The TV soap opera " Klan " as himself and in "Autoportret z kochanką" by Radosław Piwowarski . At the end of the 1980s and the 1990s, Owsiak was engaged in the organization of many rock concerts. He organized a series of marathon music concerts, which all had a common feature – his characteristic "stammering" announcing, and the participation of the best Polish Punk rock bands of that time. These concerts included: In 1991 and 1992 he ran

627-400: The TV programme under the same title, broadcast on TVP2. According to a survey by Gazeta Wyborcza it is the most-trusted Polish organization. Owsiak split with from TVP after 16 years of cooperation. He ran programmes such as the annual GOCC Great Finale, "Kręcioła", "Bezpieczne Wakacje" and "Róbta co chceta". On 6 October 2007, a new channel on DTH platform n belonging to ITI Group ,

660-593: The WAWA radio station. The show was later broadcast on the Eska Rock radio station, until 4 April 2010. In 2007, he produced the youth channel, O.TV (Owsiak TV), which is available on the Direct-broadcast satellite , n platform. Owsiak is the co-author of the "Orkiestra Klubu Pomocnych Serc, czyli monolog – wodospad Jurka Owsiaka", a book which comprises an extensive interview made by Bartłomiej Dobroczyński. He also acted in

693-612: The Weil, Gotshal & Manges law office. He then became a member of the Helsinki Human Rights Foundation (Polish: Helsińska Fundacja Praw Człowieka ). In 2008, he served as an expert at the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) where he specialized in the observance of human rights in Poland. In 2010, he was appointed deputy director of the Helsinki Human Rights Foundation. He also served as chairman of

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726-651: The award motivating his decision by the Nazi past of the award founder's father. In September 2020, he was awarded the French Order of Legion of Honour for guarding the civic rights and values in Poland. Bodnar has appeared in leading universities' events including at Yale. Bodnar's five-year term of office expired in September 2020. The two chambers of the Polish parliament (the Sejm and

759-650: The festival and spoke about the cases of homophobic violence in Poland. In 2019, he was awarded the Rule of Law Award conferred by the World Justice Project for his "outstanding efforts in strengthening the rule of law in difficult circumstances". He dedicated the award to Karol Modzelewski . The same year he received the Human Dignity Award from the Roland Berger Foundation ; however, he declined

792-610: The festival. The 1999 Woodstock was held on 6–8 August. This time the attendance record was broken. The audience reached almost 200,000 people. The 2000 festival was planned to be held in Lębork , but due to permission uncertainties, and protest of local committees (Komitet obrony Moralności - The Committee for the Defense of Morality) it had to be cancelled. Nevertheless, over 1000 people showed up and organized an unauthorized "rock'n'roll picnic" without any professional music bands. This happening

825-1333: The heritage of the Polish democratic and freedom fighting movement. The organizers of the festival claim that even though the name of the festival has changed, the ethos behind the event remains unchanged. Along with the concerts on five stages there are many other events organized during the festival. The Akademia Sztuk Przepięknych ("Academy of Finest Arts") is a place where young people participate in panel discussions with well-known politicians, artists, journalists, musicians, actors and religious leaders. The guests have included Lech Wałęsa , Bronisław Komorowski , Joachim Gauck , Kesang Takla (the Dalai Lama 's Northern European representative), Olga Tokarczuk , Tadeusz Mazowiecki , Marek Belka , Andrzej Wajda , Marek Kondrat , Joanna Kulig , Janusz Gajos , Jerzy Buzek , Kuba Wojewódzki , Agnieszka Holland , Bogusław Linda , Dorota Masłowska , Leszek Balcerowicz , Włodek Pawlik , Magdalena Środa , Jerzy Stuhr , Szymon Hołownia , Wojciech Pszoniak and Adam Bodnar . The festival also showcases dozens of NGO organizations such as Greenpeace , Polish Humanitarian Action , animal rights activists and many other 'third sector' organizations and initiatives. First Woodstock Festival Poland took place on 15–16 July 1995, in

858-426: The largest non-governmental , non-profit charity organizations in Poland. Owsiak is the main initiator and promoter for the group's Grand Finale, an annual worldwide festival where money is raised for the medical care of children as well as the elderly suffering from various medical conditions. He is also the creator of the annual Pol'and'Rock Festival , formerly known as Przystanek Woodstock ("Woodstock Festival"),

891-497: The largest annual music festival in Poland, and one of the largest annual music festivals in the world. Owsiak is married to Lidia Niedźwiedzka-Owsiak, the Medical Affairs Director for WOŚP. He is also a stained glass maker, and has qualifications in psychotherapy . At the age of eight, Owsiak moved with his parents from Gdańsk to Warsaw . There, he graduated from high school, and later attempted to get enrolled at

924-502: Was also continued during the Jarocin Festival the same year. There was a lot of positive feedback for these actions, and in March 1993, thanks to the initiative of Owsiak and Walter Chełstowski, GOCC officially came into existence and its first Great Finale was organised on 3 January 1993. Since then, the Great Finale has taken place every year and Owsiak is the main organizer and compere of

957-439: Was later referred to as the "Dziki Przystanek" ("The Wild Station"). In 2001 Żary was again the setting for the festival. The 2002 Woodstock was significant, because it was filmed, and the footage was used to produce "Przystanek Woodstock. Najgłośniejszy Film Polski" ("The Woodstock Station. The Loudest Film In Poland"), a concert film, which was screened in movie theatres across the country the following year, and also took part in

990-552: Was launched. The decision to split with TVP was made by Owsiak because, as he says, his programmes were not broadcast enough, and the Great Finale of this year was limited only to several five-minute-long entries. In 2023, after the 2023 Polish parliamentary election , Owsiak renewed his collaboration the TVP. Adam Bodnar Adam Piotr Bodnar (born 6 January 1977) is a Polish lawyer , educator , human rights activist and politician who currently serves as Minister of Justice . He

1023-412: Was organised spontaneously after an appeal from the cardio-surgeons from " Centrum Zdrowia Dziecka " ("Children's Memorial Health Institute"), for financial support for the purchase of medical equipment. In 1992, Owsiak invited doctors onto his programme "Brum" broadcast on Polskie Radio Program III , and repeatedly reminded his listeners on every edition about paying money into a given account. This action

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1056-655: Was sold. The third festival took place the next year, on 16–17 August in the town of Żary , which became the setting of the Przystanek Woodstock festivals until 2003. Initially, the festival was planned to be held in July, but because of the 1997 flood, which affected much of Poland, the festival was postponed until August. The 1998 Woodstock Festival Poland featured the performances of nearly 50 bands. The band list included Closterkeller , Akurat , Oddział Zamknięty, Kobranocka, and Acid Drinkers . Almost 150,000 people attended

1089-510: Was the 7th Polish Ombudsman from 2015 until July 2021. He was born into Polish – Ukrainian family. His Ukrainian father, as a child, was forcibly displaced from a village near Sanok to north-west Poland in Operation Vistula . In 2000, he graduated in law from the University of Warsaw and in 2001 he obtained the Master of Law degree in the field of comparative constitutional law from

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