Songs of protest – Follow The Rabbit Orchestra | POL
ABOUT
During this year’s edition of the Different Sounds Festival (June 28 – July 1, 2018)—taking place during the centenary of Poland regaining its independence, celebrated in Lublin under the banner “Lublin 1918–2018. Freedom Inspires Us”—we present a special musical programme composed of protest songs characteristic of various eras and turning points in world history.
From an anthropological perspective, if one examines the phenomenon of human rebellion through song or sound, protest music has been a constant presence. In the modern sense, as we understand them today, these songs emerged more prominently in the 1950s through balladeers such as Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Malvina Reynolds. Shortly thereafter, their direct successor, Bob Dylan, became the primary voice of his rebellious generation.
Every era found its own anthem: the hippies of the late 60s and early 70s had their songs of dissent, followed a decade later by the punks, and subsequently by hip-hop and hardcore subcultures. Iconic songs of rebellion are woven into the fabric of reggae, largely thanks to the cult status of Bob Marley. We find this same spirit in rock and New Wave, and even in electronic music and jazz—where, despite the absence of lyrics, the music itself (e.g., free jazz) was inherently rebellious, subversive, and intent on shattering rigid structures.
This theme will be tackled by the Follow The Rabbit Orchestra, a bespoke ensemble formed specifically for Different Sounds. Led by Ola Rzepka (Drekoty), the orchestra features musicians from groups such as 100nka and Graal, with special guest appearances by Gaba Kulka, Natalia Pikuła, and Marsija Loco.
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Songs of Protest – a special production of the East of Culture – Different Sounds Festival is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund as part of the project: “Economic Marketing of the Lubelskie Voivodeship II.”
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