Księżyc

Experimental slavic folk music presented in collaboration with Unsound Festival.

Pioneer Works teams up with Unsound Festival to present a free concert by Polish avant-folk ensemble Księżyc in the PW Main Hall.

Księżyc's first album is the stuff of legend. It was originally released in 1996 and did something completely unique, combining medieval Slavic folk sounds with elements of 20th century minimalism. And although they split up soon after and the details became almost mythical, the self-titled album was passed around the Polish underground, and developed a cult following at home and abroad. They reformed in 2013, playing their first live show at Unsound in Krakow in 2014, and over a decade later they're celebrating their debut album's 30th anniversary. Joining them will be Polish muti-instrumentalist Paweł Romańczuk, a long-time collaborator. This rare concert is only their second time playing in New York.

About the artists

The first incarnation of Polish band Księżyc was active in the 1990’s, with their debut self-titled album released 30 years ago. They reformed in 2013 and began playing live again at Unsound Krakow in 2014. In both forms the members include Agata Harz (vocals), Katarzyna Smoluk (vocals, piano), Robert Niziński (wind instruments, keyboards), Lechosław Polak (accordion, keyboards, synthesizers) and Remigiusz Mazur Hanaj (lyrics, tapes). Joining them in NY is also muti-instrumentalist Paweł Romańczuk.

The spirit of Księżyc captures early and late medieval music with a sound rooted in the Slavic tradition combined with elements of minimalism and vocal experiments of the 20th Century. The alchemy of these constituent parts results in a breathtaking original music, both delicate and sinister. The surreal fairy tale inspired lyrics add to the inherent beauty, sadness and madness within.

Unsound New York is organized and presented by Fundacja Tone - Muzyka i Nowe Formy Sztuki and the Polish Cultural Institute New York, and supported by our main partner - Polish National Foundation.

This project is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland from the Culture Promotion Fund in partnership with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.