Collectives are at the heart of the Main Concert of the European Stadium of Culture – exceptional duos bringing together musicians from different worlds and cultures. The third announced collective consists of: Kaliber 44 – a cult hip-hop formation from Poland, and Serhii Babkin – a charismatic Ukrainian artist known for both his solo activities and his performances in the 5’nizza duo. This meeting of two strong personalities – a legend and a narrator – will be a musical tale about the past, the present and hope. Their joint performance will become not only an arts event, but also a symbolic voice of generations – of artists who are not afraid to ask questions and talk about important issues.

Serhii Babkin is a versatile artist – a musician, singer, songwriter, theatre and film actor. He won the hearts of the audience as a member of the legendary 5’nizza band, while his solo career has landed him many radio hits in Ukraine. He has been a judge on The Voice, appeared in Dancing with the Stars, and his work – both popular and socially-engaged – touches on such themes as identity, freedom and love. In his latest piece, ‘127МА’, he pays tribute to the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by creating a moving musical documentary featuring archival military recordings.

Kaliber 44 has been constantly charting the development of Polish hip-hop since the 1990s. Their style – referred to as ‘psycho rap’ – combines poetic, often psychedelic message with uncompromising sound. Their debut album, Księga Tajemnicza. Prolog, ushered in a new era in Polish urban music, and their subsequent albums, such as W 63 minuty dookoła świata or 3:44, went down in history as milestones of the genre. Today, Kaliber 44, run by brothers Michał ‘Joka’ and Marcin ‘abradAb’ Marten, is still one of the most important voices on the music scene – courageous, conscious and faithful to their roots.

Culture as a language of the Presidency – solidarity, youth, innovation

The final concerts are a symbolic closure to the cultural programme of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. They carry a message of solidarity, openness, intercultural dialogue and building the future together. It is the young generation of creators that is at the heart of the events – authentic, uncompromising and unafraid to ask questions.

The final concerts in Rzeszów, Kraków, Poznań, Gdańsk and Bydgoszcz will summarise the most important ideas of the Presidency – expressed through art and music.

East of Culture – a space for creative dialogue

The festival East of Culture – European Stadium of Culture, organised by the National Centre for Culture Poland, the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Estrada Rzeszowska and the City of Rzeszów, is a space for cooperation and exchange between the member states of the European Union and the countries of the Eastern Partnership. Music, theatre, visual arts, film, dance, photography and public debate co-create an interdisciplinary platform celebrating diversity and building intercultural bridges.

As part of the festival, we will celebrate the Main Concert – consisting of the Opening Concert and the Concert of Collectives – as well as dozens of events taking place in the Rzeszów urban space. From site-specific installations, through alternative concerts and exhibitions, to performative activities – for a few days, Rzeszów will become Poland’s arts mecca.

Free admission – open invitation

The Main Concert as part of the Finale of the Presidency, which will take place on 27 June at 8:00 pm in Rzeszów, is an open event – the entry is free of charge. We invite everyone to celebrate together in a spirit of unity and cooperation across borders – the residents of Rzeszów, of the region, of Poland as well as guests from abroad.