In this post I have gathered photos from music festivals in Poland that I went to between 2019 and 2025. Most of them come from Pol’and’Rock Festival (formerly Przystanek Woodstock) – I was at five editions, in Kostrzyn nad Odrą and in Czaplinek-Broczyno. On top of that, two festivals with heavy music: Materiafest in Szczecinek and Summer Dying Loud in Aleksandrów Łódzki. The May festival 3-Majówka in Wrocław and the attempt at the Guitar Guinness World Record in the Market Square are described in a separate post: Guitar Guinness World Record and 3-Majówka.
Table of contents
- Pol’and’Rock Festival – five editions: 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025
- Materiafest – by the Bismarck Tower in Szczecinek
- Summer Dying Loud – metal in Aleksandrów Łódzki
- Practical information
Pol’and’Rock Festival – five editions: 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025
Pol’and’Rock Festival is a free festival organised since 1995 by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity foundation (WOŚP) as a thank-you to its volunteers. Until 2017 it was called Przystanek Woodstock; in 2018 it changed its name for legal reasons. It lasts three days at the turn of July and August. From 2004 to 2019 it was held in Kostrzyn nad Odrą, in 2020 it took place online, in 2021 at the airfield in Makowice, and since 2022 it has been held at the Czaplinek-Broczyno landing strip in the Drawsko Lake District. Besides the concerts on the Big and Small Stages, there is the Academy of Finest Arts (ASP) – a place for meetings with people from culture and public life.
2019 – the 25th edition in Kostrzyn nad Odrą
The 25th Pol’and’Rock took place on 1–3 August 2019 – so far the last time in Kostrzyn nad Odrą, on a former military training ground. The day before the first concert the field in front of the Big Stage was still empty, and a huge number “25” stood at the side of the stage.
On the afternoon of 1 August crowds were already walking between the tents, and the tents stretched all the way to the forest. On the evening of 3 August green signs with the names of towns hung on the barriers in front of the stage – among them Jaroszów, Płoty, Milanówek and Mińsk Mazowiecki. Signs like these appear in my photos from every later edition too.
2022 – the first time at the Czaplinek-Broczyno landing strip
The 28th edition (4–6 August 2022) was the first one in Czaplinek-Broczyno. The words “NO WAR” were written on the side of the Big Stage, and flags, including the Polish white-and-red one, flew above the audience. The announced Limp Bizkit concert was cancelled because of the singer’s health problems.
The campsite covers the grassy areas around the paved strip of the landing field. On the afternoon of 5 August a rainbow appeared over the tents, and the next evening the sun set over the strip where festivalgoers were walking.
2023 – the 29th edition
The 29th Pol’and’Rock lasted from 3 to 5 August 2023. Among others, Bullet for My Valentine, Epica, Napalm Death and Lady Pank played. Huge slogans hung on the Big Stage with the number “29”, among them “TO JEST MÓJ KAWAŁEK ZIEMI” (“This is my piece of land”).
The weather was changeable. On the first day a strong wind knocked over one of the metal towers on the festival grounds – three people were injured. The same evening a double rainbow appeared over the Big Stage, and on 4 August the sun set over the crowd in front of the stage.
On the morning of 6 August, after the last night of concerts, part of the campsite was under water.
2024 – the 30th edition
The 30th, anniversary edition took place on 1–3 August 2024. Among others, Electric Callboy, Guano Apes, Clawfinger and Coma played. A big number “30” stood on top of the Big Stage.
The Academy of Finest Arts has its own huge tent at the festival. On the evening of 3 August a big crowd gathered in front of the ASP tent.
In 2024 the last concerts ended in the night from Saturday to Sunday. On 4 August at around 2:20 a.m. many musicians stood on the Big Stage at once, and flames shot up above the stage. Less than half an hour later the screen showed the dates of the next edition: 31.07–02.08.2025.
2025 – the 31st edition
The 31st Pol’and’Rock lasted from 31 July to 2 August 2025. The programme hung on a tall tower with signposts. On the Big Stage, among others, Spiderbait, Nocny Kochanek, Agnostic Front, Static-X, Wolfmother, Paradise Lost, Fear Factory and Royal Republic played. The Academy of Finest Arts started as early as Wednesday, 30 July – among other things with a stand-up show and a recital by Michał Bajor – and over the following days its guests included Szymon Majewski, Michał Wiśniewski, Andrzej Dragan and Ewa Chodakowska.
A Ferris wheel stood on the festival grounds. From its gondola you could see the whole campsite – thousands of tents all the way to the forest on the horizon – and the Big Stage with the crowd (that photo opens this post).
In front of the Big Stage lots of flags were waving – white-and-red, rainbow and with all kinds of slogans. On 1 August, during the Static-X concert, an inflatable dinghy with the band’s logo floated over the heads of the audience, carrying a figure with a mirror ball instead of a head.
Materiafest – by the Bismarck Tower in Szczecinek
Materiafest is held in Szczecinek, by the Bismarck Tower – a stone tower standing among trees. In 2023 it was the 11th edition, on 25–26 August. According to the poster, the concerts took place on two stages: the Tower Stage and the Forest Stage. On Friday the line-up included Sepultura, Materia, Frontside, Krzta and Flapjack, and on Saturday Decapitated, Humanity’s Last Breath, Netherless, Jakub Żytecki and Dom Zły, among others.
In the evening the illuminated tower glowed behind the crowd in front of the stage. On Friday, 25 August, the headliner was Sepultura – a Brazilian thrash metal band formed in 1984 in Belo Horizonte. Behind the drums hung a backdrop with the band’s logo and the word “Quadra” – the title of their 2020 album.
Summer Dying Loud – metal in Aleksandrów Łódzki
Summer Dying Loud is a metal festival in Aleksandrów Łódzki, right next to Łódź. It takes place at the beginning of September at the municipal sports and recreation centre (MOSiR), among pine trees. The label of the festival beer describes it as a festival “where metal sounds ring out in the heart of Aleksandrów Łódzki”. I went to two editions – the 14th and the 15th.
2023 – the 14th edition
The 14th edition took place on 7–9 September 2023. You entered the festival grounds through a gate made of blue shipping containers with a “SUMMER DYING LOUD XIV” banner.
On Saturday, 9 September, shortly before midnight, Candlemass played – a Swedish doom metal band formed in 1984 in Stockholm. Later that night, after 2 a.m., the festival logo was shown on the stage screen.
2024 – the 15th edition
I was at the 15th edition from 5 to 7 September 2024. At the wristband desk hung a banner with the bands – Moonspell and Overkill at the top, and lower down The Crown, Anaal Nathrakh, Borknagar, Chapel of Disease and Convulse, among others – and on the fence there was a timetable for the two stages: the Main Stage (Scena Główna) and the Crypt (Krypta).
The concerts started in the early afternoon – on Friday, 6 September, the band Sphære was playing after 2 p.m. On Saturday, 7 September, from 9:30 p.m. the Main Stage belonged to Overkill – an American thrash metal band from New Jersey, formed in 1980 – followed by Moonspell.
Practical information
- Pol’and’Rock Festival – every year at the turn of July and August, three days of concerts; the meetings at the Academy of Finest Arts sometimes start a day earlier. Since 2022 the festival has been held at the Czaplinek-Broczyno landing strip in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. Entry is free – the exception was 2021, when passes were required.
- Camping at Pol’and’Rock – the campsite covers a huge area around the stages. In 2023, after the rain, part of the field was under water, so it is better to pitch your tent on higher ground.
- Materiafest – Szczecinek, the grounds by the Bismarck Tower; in 2023 on 25–26 August. Entry requires a ticket – in 2023 there was a festival pass with the campsite included (that is what the wristband said).
- Summer Dying Loud – Aleksandrów Łódzki, beginning of September, three days. Entry with a ticket; there is a wristband desk at the entrance. There is a campsite among the pine trees on site.
- More festivals – I described 3-Majówka and the Guitar Guinness World Record in Wrocław in the post Guitar Guinness World Record and 3-Majówka.
