INDEPENDENT BELARUS festival | BIAZ NAZVY | Syndrom Samazvanca | Atesta

INDEPENDENT BELARUS

Festival of Belarusian independent music

• BIAZ NAZVY
• SYNDROM SAMAZVANCA
• ATESTA

Venue: Klub Re, ul. Św. Krzyża 4, Kraków
Time: 19:00
Tickets: 89 zł / 99 zł

BIAZ NAZVY (also known as :B:N:) is a Belarusian rock band originating from the punk scene, founded in 1999 in Bereza. Unofficially banned in Belarus. In the last decade one of the more popular bands in the country. Their music combines rebellious energy, emotional melodies and uncompromising lyrics, becoming a voice of identity, freedom and resistance to the mainstream. Lyrics are written primarily in Belarusian. Early in their career they said: 'there is rock in Polish, in Ukrainian, why shouldn't there be rock in Belarusian?' Today this is a form of protest against the dominance of the Russian language in Belarus. Despite moderate political activity, the band performed at various events under the slogan 'Solidarni z Białorusią', and in 2020 during protests in Minsk the vocalist performed acoustic concerts in different parts of the city, for which he was later detained by the police for 24 hours. A series of arrests in the music community began to spread. The decision to leave the country was obvious.

• Aliaksandr Liutych – guitar, vocals
• Mikalai Paliakou – bass (multi-instrumentalist, previously in the band Dzieciuki)
• Vicky Fates – drums (has performed e.g. with the band Akute)

The latest album '20+' (2025) is a strong and sincere testimony of the experiences of a generation living in the shadow of crises, emigration and the struggle for its own voice. The album premiered on 21 February 2025 (International Mother Language Day). The cover shows a cut cake and an unfinished party — a message that the times of relative normality ended after 2020. Teraz Rock magazine awarded it 4/5 stars, describing it as 'powerful catchy rock, without complexes and limitations, but also without folk clichés; with a huge load of energy and a handful of truly stadium choruses.'

SYNDROM SAMAZVANCA is a Belarusian band now living in Warsaw. Drawing inspiration from psychedelic rock, prog rock, krautrock and post-punk, they create an eclectic mix of dirty guitar riffs, intricate rhythms and synthesizer sounds. The band's fourth album, 'Mahajba', which also experiments with Belarusian folk motifs, was listed among the best albums of Central and Eastern Europe in 2025 by The Quietus.

ATESTA has existed since 2018 and was created as a result of a family collaboration between father and daughter. With the support of the experienced father — Aleksei Pavlovich (Ulis up, Nowaje Neba, Indigo, Tornado, Naka) — Uliana created her own band at the age of 13 and debuted on stage. The band has extensive concert experience in Belarus and in Poland — performing at festivals such as Basowiszcza, Uzaemna, PartizanRock, Graj. Their repertoire includes over 50 original songs and many music videos. There have also been a number of collaborations with well-known Belarusian musicians:

• Władysław Nawżyłow (Lesley Knife, Gods Tower)
• Aleś Czumakow (Stary Olsa)
• Aleś Lutycz (B:N:)
• Klim Małażawy (Botanic Projekt)

Uliana's energy impressed Artemy Troitsky; the band's professionalism and charisma are emphasized by Belarusian musicians and journalists who had the opportunity to see ATESTA live. Subtle lyricism and the raw energy of guitar, unrefined rock — music that is increasingly rare today. And above all — the charismatic voice of ATESTA's frontwoman.

After emigrating to Poland the band continues active creative and concert work. In February 2025 they released a new full-length album.

ATESTA discography (selected releases):

• EP 'Skrali' (2020)
• LP '16+' (2021)
• EP 'Kamaedzzzica' (2021)
• LP 'Fataľna apošni' (2022)
• LP 'Hramadstva' (2025)
• LP 'Lighthouse' (2025)