PIEŚNI PRACY – MASECKI PLAYS THE BLUES

Festival opening concert

What is it about?

The grand opening concert of the 24th edition of the Łódź of Many Cultures Festival “Pieśni pracy” is a moving, expressive musical tribute to working people — their effort, their stories, and their sense of community. Marcin Masecki, one of Poland’s most original pianists, together with a nine-piece big band, draws on the blues not just as a musical style, but as a living, emotional language of storytelling.
The concert will be a musical journey through work songs from different corners of the world, reinterpreted through a Slavic sensitivity and Masecki’s own artistic voice. In this form, the blues becomes an essay on labor, untold stories, and human solidarity.
The project is inspired by both archival recordings and personal experience — and is dedicated to Masecki’s friend, Jan Dziaczkowski, who tragically passed away. The two shared a deep fascination with American folk music.

By whom?

Marcin Masecki – pianist, composer, and improviser. Known for his original reinterpretations of classical, jazz, and folk music. An artist with a unique style that combines experimentation with deep respect for musical traditions.

Big band – a nine-piece ensemble featuring saxophones, trumpets, trombones, bass, and drums. Together, they create a raw and emotional sound that combines blues rhythms with improvisation and a contemporary musical idiom.

Who is it for?

• for lovers of live music, blues, and jazz—for those who appreciate creative reinterpretations of tradition and seek events that explore important social and historical themes.
• for everyone looking to start the festival on a unique, reflective note.
• for adults and teens, with no age restrictions.

Why is it worth it?

This is more than just an opening concert – it’s the ideological manifesto of this year’s Łódź of Many Cultures Festival, dedicated to the culture of work. “Pieśni pracy” is a musical tribute to those whose daily labor laid the foundations of our reality. Marcin Masecki creates a space for listening and remembering, for reflection and community.

Availability:

The Concert Hall building of the Academy of Music is fully accessible for people with limited mobility, offering step-free access to all floors via high-speed elevators. The auditorium includes specially designed seating areas for wheelchair users. A parking lot with 70 spaces is available next to the building.

Nearby bus and train stops : Żubardzka/Drewnowska, Maratońska/Żubardzka, and Plac Reymonta/Drewnowska.

Photos:

Marcin Masecki, photo by Dar Gies, press materials.

#KulturaPracy #KoncertOtwarcia #BigBandLive #BluesNaŻywo