There are festivals I attend because I know the line up.
Then there is Globaltica, a festival that broadens your musical and cultural horizons.
Every year, I arrive in Kolibki Park knowing only 1 or 2 artists, sometimes even without knowing anybody, like this year. That is precisely why I keep coming back. I trust the festival’s program. Every edition introduces me to musicians I might never have discovered otherwise, and every year I leave with new favourites on my playlist.
Last weekend was no exception. Globaltica once again attracted a special kind of audience. Like me, some visitors came simply to open their minds and discover artists they had never heard before. Others had been following musicians from across the globe for years and finally had the opportunity to see them perform live in Poland. That balance between discovery and familiarity gives the festival its unique character. It is a place where curiosity is rewarded.
Over the course of the weekend, Kolibki Park became a meeting point for cultures, traditions and musical ideas. Rather than simply taking audiences around the world geographically, each performance offered a different way of understanding music. From recycled instruments built by Kin’gongolo Kiniata, to the hypnotic desert sounds of Noura Mint Seymali, the ancient vocal traditions of Värttinä, the Caribbean influences of Kobo Town, and the elegance of Rokia Traoré, every concert brought its own identity while remaining part of a remarkably coherent programme.
The festival was about much more than the music on stage. Workshops, discussions, film screenings and family activities encouraged visitors to slow down, explore and engage with cultures beyond the concerts themselves. Children created artwork while parents relaxed nearby, visitors browsed craft stalls, and conversations continued long after the final encore. Even the rain that swept across Kolibki Park on Friday failed to dampen the atmosphere, with ponchos replacing T shirts as audiences continued to dance and celebrate together.
Among the highlights of Friday was Turtle Island, whose performance perfectly embodied Globaltica’s spirit. The Japanese ensemble combined powerful taiko drumming with traditional folk instruments and expressive vocals to create a concert that felt both deeply rooted in Japanese culture and strikingly contemporary. Their performance was energetic, rock, theatrical and impossible to ignore. I highly enjoyed it!
Saturday offered another unforgettable moment with Rokia Traoré. Returning to the stage after a seven year absence, the acclaimed Malian singer and songwriter delivered a concert filled with emotion, elegance and quiet intensity. Her expressive voice and understated stage presence captivated the audience, creating an intimate atmosphere. It was a reminder that some of the most powerful moments in live music come from honesty and connection with the public.
That contrast is perhaps what makes Globaltica so distinctive. Every artist tells a different story, every performance offers a different perspective, yet together they create a festival where cultures do not compete but coexist. Whether visitors arrived to discover something entirely new or to finally experience a favourite artist live, they left with memories that reached far beyond the music itself.
