Biography
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Years Active
1971 – 1985 (14 years)
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Members
- Grażyna Kulawik
Wolna Grupa Bukowina (meaning Free Group Bukowina) is a Polish music band singing poetry/ballads (poezja śpiewana), touristic songs, folk and sometimes even soft folk-rock, inspired by Bob Dylan and the other American folk-singers.
The centerpiece of their work are the elusive, poetic words of Wojciech Belon set to music by Belon himself or guitarists Wacław Juszczyszyn and Wojciech Jarociński sung solo or in harmony by the three aforementioned and complimented by the singer Grażyna Kulawik. The most commonly known songs include "Majster Bieda", "Sielanka o domu" or "Bez słów".
The group was created in early 1970s by Wojciech Belon (who often introduced himself as Wojtek Bellon) and his friends. The first official performance took place in 1971 on Tourist Song Contest in Szklarska Poręba. The group was always an open format group, with many people joining to play and sing over the years, however the core team consisted of 4 people: Wojtek Belon, Grażyna Kulawik (going by the nickname "Zajączek"), Wacław Juszczyszyn and Wojciech Jarociński. The charismatic aura of the band leader added to the legendary status of the already very popular songs.
After the death of Wojek Belon on May 3rd, 1985, the group suspended their activities. The group with just 3 core members, Grażyna Kulawik, Wacław Juszczyszyn and Wojciech Jarociński resumed the artistic activities in early 1990s, first releasing the original band recordings from the years 1973-1985 on the classic "Bukowina" double album and then going on to record several well-received studio and live albums partially using the previously unreleased poems by the late Belon.
The songs of Wolna Grupa Bukowina are considered "underground", rarely played in the mass-media, but they are omnipresent during campfires, on touristic tracks and festivals all over Poland. They are considered classic by the lovers of the "poezja śpiewana" (sung poetry, a quite unique Polish twist on folk-rock) movement. The main themes include the beauty of nature (especially of the Carpathian mountains), eerie city moments (Kraków seemingly being one of the main settings) and tender, but never banal love songs.
Bukowina inspired a whole movement of guitar folk/sung poetry and Belon himself blessed the forming Stare Dobre Małżeństwo (SDM) as the new classics. English singing artists who might be considered as influences on Bukowina might include Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel.
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