Rawa Blues Festival (pronounc. rava) is one of the largest (world's largest indoor blues festival) and most popular blues festivals in Europe and in the world. The festival was named after the Rawa River, which flows through the city of Katowice in Poland. The first edition was held in April 1981.
Among the highlights of past festivals were: Luther Allison, Junior Wells, Koko Taylor, Carey Bell, John Cephas and Phil Wiggins, C. J. Chenier, Rory Block, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, as well as many Polish blues legends such as Tadeusz Nalepa, Slawek Wierzcholski, Dżem and many others. Head of the festival is Ireneusz Dudek a.k.a. "Shakin' Dudi".
Famous quotes containing the words blues and/or festival:
“The blues women had a commanding presence and a refreshing robustness. They were nurturers, taking the yeast of experience, kneading it into dough, molding it and letting it grow in their minds to bring the listener bread for sustenance, shaped by their sensibilities.”
—Rosetta Reitz, U.S. author. As quoted in The Political Palate, ch. 10, by Betsey Beaven et al. (1980)
“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose: at the festival of unleavened bread, at the festival of weeks, and at the festival of booths. They shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed; all shall give as they are able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Deuteronomy 16:16,17.