For 32 years Cracow, in spite of being located so far from seas and oceans, has hosted one of the most popular shanties festivals –The International Sea Songs’ Festival -“Shanties”.
The idea of The “Shanties” Festival was born in 1981. The first festival had a character of an intimate gathering of 20 members of the organizing committee and 100 people of audience and was held in the cellars of a community center. In 1987 for the first time in the history of the festival the guests from abroad were invited. Since then the festival has enjoyed the international status.
Due to the success of the first festival, its growing popularity not only among sailors , the festival has evolved from a small event into one of the biggest shanties festivals not only in Poland but also in Europe.
Each February Cracow becomes the city of sailors and shanties. People from all over Poland and Europe come to Cracow to sing about sea adventures and voyages. During four days of the festival almost eleven thousand people of different age participate in six concerts at main concert halls and also in concerts in a festival tavern. The Festival gives the opportunity to listen to about 40 groups and performers. Each year the festival is organized under a different leading motto, which is often based on events from marine history. This way the festival presents the world of old ships.
Cracow’s festival has always been a cradle of shanty hits. Now they form a canon of sailors songs. The Festival is also a place where the most popular shanty groups and artists began their careers: Stare Dzwony, Packet, Ryczące Dwudziestki, Mechanicy Szanty, Cztery Refy, Zejman i Garkumpel, to list a few. They are the winners of many rewards in Poland and abroad.
Other events related to the festival such as: Trade Fair for Sailing “Krakżagiel” - till 2005, exhibitions of marine pictures and photos from cruises and sailing races, meetings with famous sailors, “sea dogs”, workshops for fiddlers and others have marked their permanent presence on the festival schedule.
The idea of The “Shanties” Festival was born in 1981. The first festival had a character of an intimate gathering of 20 members of the organizing committee and 100 people of audience and was held in the cellars of a community center. In 1987 for the first time in the history of the festival the guests from abroad were invited. Since then the festival has enjoyed the international status.
Due to the success of the first festival, its growing popularity not only among sailors , the festival has evolved from a small event into one of the biggest shanties festivals not only in Poland but also in Europe.
Each February Cracow becomes the city of sailors and shanties. People from all over Poland and Europe come to Cracow to sing about sea adventures and voyages. During four days of the festival almost eleven thousand people of different age participate in six concerts at main concert halls and also in concerts in a festival tavern. The Festival gives the opportunity to listen to about 40 groups and performers. Each year the festival is organized under a different leading motto, which is often based on events from marine history. This way the festival presents the world of old ships.
Cracow’s festival has always been a cradle of shanty hits. Now they form a canon of sailors songs. The Festival is also a place where the most popular shanty groups and artists began their careers: Stare Dzwony, Packet, Ryczące Dwudziestki, Mechanicy Szanty, Cztery Refy, Zejman i Garkumpel, to list a few. They are the winners of many rewards in Poland and abroad.
Other events related to the festival such as: Trade Fair for Sailing “Krakżagiel” - till 2005, exhibitions of marine pictures and photos from cruises and sailing races, meetings with famous sailors, “sea dogs”, workshops for fiddlers and others have marked their permanent presence on the festival schedule.