If one were to use terminology typical of rock or jazz music, this could certainly be described as a kind of supergroup, as the lineup consists of artists with impressive achievements, distinctive personalities, and numerous original musical projects to their credit.
The leader and creator of the ensemble is Weronika Grozdew-Kołacińska: ethnomusicologist, singer, assistant professor in the Department of Musicology at the Institute of Art of the Polish Academy of Sciences, head of the Ethnomusicology Laboratory at the Institute, co-founder and board member of the “Polish Ethnomusicological Seminar” Association, and juror of numerous traditional and folk music competitions in Poland, including the National Festival of Folk Bands and Singers in Kazimierz Dolny and Polish Radio’s Fonogram Źródeł competition.
She is the author of numerous articles on traditional music, as well as songbooks and books. She has participated in recordings for many albums across folk, early, and contemporary music, including works by artists such as Swoją Drogą, Village Kollektiv, Zespół Polski, Goście z Nizin, Sarakina, and Maria Pomianowska. A particularly important achievement was the publication of her album Etnofonie Kurpiowskie. Tribute to Szymanowski and Skierkowski.
The title of her new musical project, Wandering Songs, includes the subtitle Experiencing Polish-Bulgarian-Greek Music. The project grew out of the vocalist’s many years of musical experience, her family traditions, and the experiences of the artists she collaborates with. The concert program includes traditional pieces and compositions by Oskar Kolberg, Bartosz Niedźwiecki, Aleksandra Bilińska, Mikis Theodorakis, Giorgos Hatzinasios, Stefan Mutafchiyev, and Peter Lyondev.
