EthnoPort 2010 opened last evening with three refreshing gigs and beautiful summery weather that made everyone feel it was the joyous beginning of holiday. It's the third edition of the festival and what struck me as a regular was the number of kids running around. It feels as if EthnoPort has taken on a much more family-oriented role or as if young parents have discovered its fantastic potential.
It's a lovely, little festival, light years away from overcrowded behemoths like Open'er at the Baltic Sea, which makes an awful lot of difference in atmosphere and comfort. Late-night concerts in the tent, with the audience perched on wooden benches, listening intently to world-music gems, are a highlight of June in Poznań for me. It's here where I saw one of the best concerts in my life, by the Finnish accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen.
Each day, traditionally, the opening concert is played by a Polish artist and yesterday it was the Kashubian-Klezmer folk band Bubliczki who set the place ablaze first. With a vast set of instruments, from accordion to double bass, and a forthcoming vocalist, they showed heart and skill on stage, coming up for three long encores.
Maciej Rychły from Kwartet Jorgi, the festival presenter and its friendly spirit, said it was the most important performace of the festival. In the same sentence, he called the next band the most important band, making it clear that EthnoPort respects no labels and classifications. I love it about this festival.
Bulbliczki was succeeded Staff Benda Bilili, a truly one-of-its-kind act from Kinshasa, Congo, made up of former street musicians with serious disabilities. With the provocative motto "We're all handicapped people, ain't we?", their concert was a phenomenal display of joy and vivacity and a testament to the astonishing journey these paraplegic artists have embarked on. Going back to African roots, with strange, home-made instruments but high on unrestrained spirt, it was both a sensation and a wonder to watch them come alive. Here's a good review from their London concert.
The final act of the evening was from Bulgaria. Eva Quartet featured three powerful female voices, chanting traditional Bulgarian and Orthodox songs mixed with some more contemporary repertoire. I took the liberty of going home halfway through their programme, due to growing signs of tiredness after a long day, but I was quite pleased with what I'd seen. Minimalistic, no-instrument incantations had the power to take my mind off the workaday and deeper into the festival spirit.
More coming up today.
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