Międzynarodowy Festiwal CZYSTE COUNTRY w Wolsztynie

THE FESTIVAL:

PEOPLE & STORY BEHIND THE FESTIVAL

Michael LONSTAR, Artistic Director of the Festival, an undisputed legend of country music in Poland and Europe, the only Polish artist who has performed in Nashville, including the Grand Ole Opry stage, musician, composer, and author of many songs for himself and Edyta Gepert, Jose Cura, and Jose Carreras among many others.

Author of the all-time Polish country hit RADIO and the festival anthem "WHAT'S THIS COUNTRY THING", translator and expert on English, Italian and film topics, cooperating with the EnergaCamerimage festival.

Recipient of the medal of the Minister of Culture "Meritorious for Polish Culture", multi-winner of national music plebiscites.

Magdalena Łuszczyńska – executive producer of the festival, exclusive booking agent for Nashville USA independent artists in Poland, road manager for American artists in Europe.

Producer of many events and concerts in Poland and Europe. Country music promoter in the media.

The sole manager of the Polish Legend of Country Music - Michael LONSTAR. Recipient of the Special Award 2021 of the Country & Folk Foundation and the coutrymusic.pl forum for many years of promotion and production work in the field of country music.

Member of the international jury of Austrian Country Music Federation Awards.

Waldemar Ligma - festival producer. The originator of the festival, leading the production team from the first edition in 2010.Director of the cultural institution and the animator of the cultural life of the region.

Winner of the Głos Wielkopolski award "Personality of the year" in the field of culture in 2020. Included into the Encyclopedia of Merit of Wielkopolska. Political scientist, culture expert, musician, music teacher.

Beata Ligma - Master of Music, vocalist, music teacher at primary and secondary schools, director of the Art-Mega Education Center in Wolsztyn, manager of the internal logistics and provisions at the festival.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Michael Lonstar

PRODUCER Waldemar Ligma

Wojciech Lis - Wolsztyn City Mayor

Jarosław Świrszcz - General manager of Wolsztyn Cultural Center

MICHAEL LONSTAR

MAGDA "SHE-WOLF"

WALDEK & BEATA

REMINISCENCES:

DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE FESTIVAL:

MAYOR OF WOLSZTYN Wojciech Lis

The "Pure Country" International Festival in Wolsztyn is an event that came into being thanks to the dreams and commitment of country music enthusiasts in Poland, and was brought to life by: Waldemar Ligma, social activist from Wolsztyn, music educator and culture animator, main producer of the Festival, Michał Lonstar - international star and Polish Country Music Legend (artistic director of the Festival) and Magdalena Łuszczyńska, production manager of the Festival, manager of American and Polish country music artists.

The main assumption of the festival is to show and widely promote the real value and charm of Nashville-style music in the era of misunderstood commercialization and often misunderstanding of the essence of country. Hence the name "Pure Country", which additionally speaks of the ecological purity of the land in which Wolsztyn is located. Wolsztyn has been awarded many times for its pro-ecological activities, and the main tourist attraction of the city is the only active historic steam locomotive in Europe, which, apart from its daily operation, is also the background for many international cultural events

The "Pure Country" festival is a completely non-commercial event, admission to the event is free, and the festival's budget consists solely of budget from the cultural fund of the city of Wolsztyn as well as possible subsidies and sponsorship support.

The festival is a celebration of people who love country & folk and a guarantee of great fun in an atmosphere of friendship and surrounded by music at the highest artistic level, performed by Polish and foreign country artists, mainly from the source of this music - the USA.

The event is covered by the media patronage of all major Greater Poland and industry media as well as Radio Warszawa and the Polski Traker monthly.

Since 2010, the festival gathers an audience of several thousand people a day, during each of the three days of the festival, and it has only received a positive response both in the environment of country & folk culture enthusiasts, as well as among the community of Wolsztyn and the surrounding area. It is currently the largest country music festival in Poland. and the only such attraction in the Wielkopolska region, which attracts large numbers of tourists from Poland and abroad as well as lovers of valuable music and its shared experience to the vicinity of Wolsztyn.

Every year, in second weekend of August we are waiting for YOU in the Park at Wolsztyn's Lake!

After my first two concerts I remembered Wolsztyn due to two things associated with America: the old steam engines that bring the scenes from Western movies to mind and the cavalcade of Harley-Davidson bikers escorting me to town, who added the feel of some American cult road movies.

But there was yet another component: the human factor, a friendly bunch of passionate fans and at the same time the constructive, down-to-earth people.

I met Waldek Ligma - an animator and driving force behind that bunch. It's good that the producer of music event is a musician. And in fact, Waldek is a musician. He knows the specifics (and hardships) of festival production from his own experience. And - what's even more important - he does know "what's this country thing".

The title, "PURE COUNTRY" has been enthusiastically adopted by the Mayor of Wolsztyna nd the fans alike, because it contains the double meaning: the ecological purity of the region and the stylistic purity of music.

In the times of an ill-conceived commercialization and, very often, a total misunderstanding of the very idea of country, we want to show the true value and beauty of this music, set in the superb Wolsztyn scenery.

Usually our lives are ruled by the chance. But this time is not the case. This one is the case of dreams coming true.

In the old times of Polish People's Republic, when the Western culture used to be denounced as "evil" and "hostile", I heard the first sounds of country music. In the times when everybody would listen to Poland's own new wave rock, it took a lot of courage to show off with ones country heart.

Then I heard the first recordings of Michael Lonstar and the passion come to stay. Country music began to appear in the media... never enough, though. But in far corner of my head a dream would bottle up - of a big country event in the town I've been tied to from the day I was born. I'd honestly envy the producers of the Mrągowo Picnic, that one weekend filled with country music.

Then again... why envy? - I thought. Why not putting together a similar festival, but with the lineup with stylish acts, here in Wolsztyn? And then, I met Michael Lonstar and Magdalena "She-Wolf"...

AND THAT'S HOW THE "PURE COUNTRY" HAS COME INTO BEING IN WOLSZTYN!

Ladies and Gentelmen!

Country music concerts held in Wolsztyn for the first time in 2010 proved successful and they visibly contributed to our town's fame.

"Pure Country" Festival is the only music event in the region of Greater Poland that draws so many renowned country acts from both Poland and abroad and, quite naturally, a huge flock of faithful fans.

Therefore, I think that from now on our guests and tourists would associate our town not only with the annual Steam Engine Parade but also with "Pure Country" which, became a fixed date in Wolsztyn's cultural calendar, worthwhile taking a trip.

Welcome from the bottom of my heart!