Hot off the heels from their EPIC AWESOME win in the European Festival Award 2011, Poland’s OFF Festival is BACK and 2012 is already shaping up to be an absolutely mammoth 4 day event.

Last year SoundStageReview was bursting with musical rhapsody at the mBank OFF Festival and for good reason, it was absolutely incredible, with awesome performances from artist such as: Primal Scream, PIL, Mogwai, Junior Boys, GaBlé, Czesław Śpiewa, Liars and Meshuggah just to name a few it was an fondly unforgettable 4 days of music that will last with us for a lifetime.

In 2012 OFF Festival is keen to prove why it’s such a great event with its first major artist announcement of 2012 and in typical OFF Festival style the announcement was gargantuan with the news that IGGY and the STOOGES will be a headlining artist, that’s right, IGGY POP is coming to Poland, though the fun doesn’t stop there, also announced is Electro-pop royalty SUICIDE, DEATH IN VEGAS, ICEAGE and one of the most amazing and creative musicians around today COLIN STETSON to round out this announcement.

Also was the earlier announcement in late 2011 that MATTHEW HERBERT and ALVA NOTO will be performing at the always entertaining OFF Festival before party on August 2 and if that’s still not enough for you, after the concert head over to Hipnoza, where Canadian artist DIAMOND RINGS will be heating up the crowd with his electro-pop sounds, followed by the mad Danish bunnies SLEEP PARTY PEOPLE.

…and then the second major artist announcement was made and quite honestly my heart stopped from shock and excitement… and why you ask?

My heart stopped and then went into a state of shock because I am having trouble comprehending the MINDBLOWING artists added to this event. At the top of the “awesome list” has to be the mighty all-knowing narrator HENRY ROLLINS, yes… the genius voice of BLACK FLAG will be at OFF Festival… I cannot believe it either! To add, we also have BLACK FACE which has founding BLACK FLAG member CHUCK DUKOWSKI performing in it.

If that wasn’t enough the likes of THURSTON MOORE and KIM GORDON of NY psychedelic legendary band SONIC YOUTH will also be performing in separate events, as will US bands BATTLES, TY SEGULL, SWANS, OTHER LIVES, KURT VILE and THE VIOLATORS and if that’s not enough we have metal icons BARONESS and CONVERGE .

…but wait there is more!

The English and Dutch will be lending their most impressive artists with the like of ALVA NOTO & BLIXA BARGELD, BAXTER DURY, FOREST SWORDS, NILS FRAHM, SPECTRUM and finally THE HOUSE OF LOVE. Then we have one of the most influential groups in music history, none other than the incredible ATARI TEENAGE RIOT.

If that wasn’t enough let’s not forget the incredible list of local talent from POLAND like JACASZEK, KANAŁ AUDYTYWNY, KIRK, MORDY, NERWOWE WAKACJE, NOSOWSKA, PIĘTNASTKA, and ŚWIETLIKI GRAJĄ performing "OGRÓD KONCENTRACYJNY" Even my own country of Australia and neighbours New Zealand are showing their musical diversity with AFRICA HITECH and CONNAN MOCKASIN to round off the list from the second announcement for OFF Festival 2012.

WHY GO TO OFF 2012?
One of the highlights of the European Festival Season is indisputably mBank’s Off Festival, SoundStageReview has covered this event in the past few years and this year we continue the coverage of this events growing status amongst the best music festivals in Europe.

After returning from Europe in 2011 everyone asked why Off Festival was so good, simple, OFF Festival has the reputation of finding the next great popular performers from around the world while also highlighting amazing established artists. Each year, the bands they have performing are exceptional. The creative team headed by OFF Festival’s creative director Artur Rojek continuously push our senses with great artists from every genre of music around the world.

Additionally, Off Festival as a festival, in its own right, is one of the best SoundStageReview has ever experienced consistently each year, for all us European festival travelling Australians, it has a “Falls Festival” feel about it, for everyone else on Earth… The vibe of OFF Festival is very down-to-earth, relaxed and enjoyable, though with a real buzz around the grounds each day. The festival boasts great facilities and excellent sideshow attractions throughout each festival day, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best planned out festivals on Earth.

Below are the current details of this year’s Off Festival, as always SoundStageReview will supply all the most current information, confirmed performing artists currently announced and international travel details with the cheapest and most reliable carriers so you can experience The 2011 Off Festival in all its glory, without it causing you a major stroke figuring out how to get there!

2012 Off Festival Details:

DATES:
2-5 August 2012

WHERE:
Dolina Trzech Stawów in Katowice. Poland.

Four Day OFF Pass (2 Aug. - 5 Aug.)

available:
early OFF - to 31 Jan. - 140 zł/about €34 (with campsite - 180 zł/about €43) SOLD OUT !
1 Feb. - - 160 zł/about €40 (with campsite - 200 zł/about €48) SOLD OUT !

Three Day OFF Pass (3 Aug. - 5 Aug.)

available:
1 Feb. - 16 Apr. - 120 zł/about €29 (with campsite - 160 zł/about €40)
17 Apr. - 11 Jun. - 160 zł/about €40 (with campsite - 200 zł/about €48)
12 Jun. - 2 Aug. - 200 zł/about €48 (with campsite - 240 zł/about €56)
after 2 Aug - 220 zł/about €60 (campsite can be purchased on the spot depending on availability)

One Day OFF Ticket (3 Aug. 4 Aug. or 5 Aug.)

available:
25 Jun. - 22 Jul. - 80 zł/about €20
23 Jul. - 2 Aug. - 120 zł/about €29
from 3 Aug, - 140 zł/about €31

OFF Before Party (2 Aug.)
Ticket for all concerts on August 2: Matthew Herbert (One Pig) + Alva Noto (Katowice Centre of Culture) / Nils Frahm + Sleep Party People (Hipnoza Club).

tickets available:
to 1 Aug. - 75 zł/about €18 - SOLD OUT !

Please note that the capacity of the Hipnoza Club is limited. Four-day OFF Pass and Before Party tickets holders will be admitted to the concert by order of arrival.

FESTIVAL VILLAGE

Campsite for 2 Aug. - 6 Aug. purchased separately (only for holders of a 4-Day OFF Pass bought in the OFF Shop)
available from 1 Feb. to 30 Jun. - 60 zł/about €15

Campsite for 3 Aug. - 6 Aug. purchased separately (only for holders of a 3-Day OFF Pass bought in the OFF Shop)
available from 1 Feb. to 30 Jun. - 45 zł/about €12

Order by e-mail with name, ID number, participant number (from order confirmation)

Campsite purchased separately for Festival Pass holders (on sale only in the Festival Village, depending on availablity. We recommend you book your campsite early to avoid disappointment.)
20 zł/about €6 per day

Artists: (currently confirmed) (line up is subject to change):

Africa HiTech (AU) Alva Noto (DE) Apteka (PL) anbb: alva noto & blixa bargeld (DE) Atari Teenage Riot (DE) Baroness (US) Battles (US) Bardo Pond (US) Baxter Dury (GB) Black Face (US) Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires (US) Colin Stetson (CA) Connan Mockasin (NZ) Container (US) Converge (US) Das Racist (US) Death In Vegas (GB) Dominique Young Unique (US) Fennesz & Lillevan (AT) Forest Swords (GB) Henry Rollins (US) Iceage (DK) Iggy And The Stooges (US) Jacaszek (PL) Josh T. Pearson (US) Kanał Audytywny (PL) Kim Gordon & Ikue Mori (US) King Creosote i Jon Hopkins (GB) kIRk (PL) Kurt Vile and The Violators (US) Matthew Herbert (GB) Metronomy (GB) Mordy (PL) Mikołaj Trzaska gra "Różę" (PL) Nerwowe Wakacje (PL) Nils Frahm (DE) Nosowska (PL) Other Lives (US) Papa M (US) Piętnastka (PL) Retro Stefson (IS) Shabazz Palaces (US) Shangaan Electro (AFR) Sleep Party People (DK) Spectrum (GB) Suicide (US) Swans (US) The House of Love (GB) The Antlers (US) Thurston Moore (US) Ty Segall (US)

Cool Kids of Death Paula i Karol Minerals DOOM Chrome Hoof performs "Hydrozagadka" Snowman Łona / Webber Tides From Nebula & Blindead The Wedding Present performs Seamonsters Jonathan Poneman Pissed Jeans Purity Ring Kuedo Fanfarlo Kobiety Profesjonalizm Andy Stott Beneficjenci Splendoru Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Demdike Stare Group Doueh Coldair Napszykłat Levity Mazzy Star Chromatics Dâm-Funk Kristen The Shipyard Keira Is You

International Travel Details

As always, I’m not going to get into details for every single airport costing etc, I will be here for a week explaining it. Basically, where ever you are based from (in my case Australia) you want to make your way to Poland via Warsaw International Airport.

I always travel Qantas Airways, the main reason for this is because they are a part of the “OneWorld Alliance Group” I find their coverage and customer service is always incredible, though that being said, airline companies are fairly the same so go with who you feel is right for you.

When you arrive in Warsaw, from there, jump on a train that takes you to Katowice , this trip takes between 4-6 hours, might seem long on screen but it’s a great trip and one of those journey’s that go quickly. Depending on where you are staying, either a hotel or on site camping, you need to get to Katowice train station and jump on a bus leaving from the Katowice train station (Dworzec PKP) to the Muchowiec airport (OFF Festival grounds) - lines 0 and 50 to the Trzy Stawy bus stop (shopping center, 500 meters from the festival grounds) - lines 10, 110, 672, 674, and 910.

Those landing at the Katowice-Pyrzowice airport may take the bus marked "Lotnisko" to the Katowice train station (Dworzec PKP) and then transfer to one of the above lines..

When you get to the festival, just enjoy the days of fantastic entertainment, there really is a good reason this festival is so well respected, the vibe of the fans is electric, it’s a very professional yet entertaining event and annually it improves, which I know for myself is what I find most satisfying.

For accommodation Off Festival have been kind enough to list some amazing accommodation spots, visit this link http://off-festival.pl/en/2012/info.html for all the options available.

Final Thoughts:

Off Festival really is a sensational event to witness over the 4 days, it’s most certainly one of the highlights for SoundStageReview each year and this year’s festival is going to be absolutely outstanding. Regardless if you are Polish local or an international festival traveller, this is one great festival to go and experience for yourself.

For ALL 2012 mBank Off Festival Information, visit: http://off-festival.pl/en/2012/ for all the up-to-date news of what is happening. SoundStageReview will be updating this page with the latest information as it’s released over the next 4 months leading up to OFF Festival 2012!!!


©2011 SoundStageReview InterMedia ™ ®