LONSTAR - NEWS
WHAT'S THIS COUNTRY THING TOUR 22.09.2009
Lonstar’s tour „What’s This Country Thing”, titled after his new CD and kicked off last spring, has come to an end in September.
Twenty four concerts all over Poland and abroad: Cologne and Wittenberge in Germany, Piestany in Slovakia and Visaginas in Lithuania, among many others. In their number – big international festivals, songwriter recitals, club dates and acoustic “unplugged” performances at the meetings with his fans.
The last summer’s season’s highlight was Lonstar’s (and his band’s) spectacular multiple victory in the IX Country Music Awards “Stagecoach 2006-2008", concluded in April. When the smoke cleared and the results were revealed at the award-granting ceremony, the famous formula “...and the winner is... “ was followed by the name “Lonstar!” four times, as the recipient of awards for the Artist of the Year, Best Male Vocalist, Song of the Year and Best Album.
The very title, “What’s This Country Thing”, due to its reflective and provocative lyrics of the respective song has gained the status of the cult definition of country music in Poland’s country music fan circles. Thank you fans for your continuous support!
And now allow us to reminisce with great joy and satisfaction all key events and musical experiences of our “WHAT’S THIS COUNTRY THING” 2009 TOUR and invite you to a brief, illustrated summary of the most important ones:
- In April Lonstar and his band have become multiple winners of the 9th Country Music Awards “Stagecoach 2006-2008"
- Also in April Lonstar appeared (as guest and “walk-on” artist) at the concert of his German friend, Marty Wolfe and his band, Texas Heat, promoting their new CD. That premiere was held at the “Weisser Holunder” club in Cologne
- Lonstar’s own faithful German fans soon had one more chance to see him at the "7th Country Music Festival Prignitz" in Wittenberge
- The July concert series set off with Lonstar’s show at the 15th Jubilee Country Picnic in Dabrowa Gornicza, in Silesia (Southern Poland)
- Next stop - his concert at the Culture Center in Izabelin, on the outskirts of Warsaw, proved so successful, that it has spawned the series of country gigs of other country artists there
- In mid-July the recreational center “Raj” (“Paradise”) hosted the meeting of friends, fans and artists gathered there to honor Lonstar and his She-Wolf celebrating their symbolic joined "100th Birthday". Apart from Lonstar, Honky Tonk Brothers and Konrad Milczarski contributed with their music, while the dancers of the Rodeo, Strefa Country and Dancing Riders embellished the event with their stylish hoe-down choreography
- Annual “28th International Country Festival” in Mragowo to Lonstar meant the appearance on the Friday televised show, “Country in Polish”, where he sang his self-written Polish all-time country hit, “Radio”. Next, on Saturday night, he played with his band at the aforementioned Stagecoach Awards Gala. Then on Sunday, traditionally, he sang country gospels at the country Holy Mass in Mragowo’s parish church, along with German vocalist, Susan Kent and the first runner-up of the Youth Country Music Competition, 14 year old Gustaw Bzinkowski
- On the first weekend of August he headlined the 2nd Country Picnic in Szczawnica (Southern Poland)
- At this year’s edition of the Visagino Country Festival (Lithuania) Lonstar appeared as the Honorary Guest. He kicked off the traditional after party all-night jam and sang at the local church on Sunday, during the Holy Mass, which has already become a tradition on its own right – to close that wonderful festival with a final blessing, country style!
- Next international festival during this year’s tour was “Lodenica” in Pieštany (Slovakia), where Lonstar, again, was one of the headliners, alongside Slovakian star, Allan Mikušek and local legend, the Nedvěd Brothers. Allan Mikušek, privately friend of Lonstar, spontaneously joined him on stage and added his harmony vocal in Keith Whitley’s “When You Say Nothing At All”, to equally spontaneous, warm reaction of multi-thousand Slovakian audience
- The crowning of the 2009 summer tour was Lonstar’s Warsaw concert within the “Bemowo Country” series
- At the 2nd International Country Festival “Route 62” in Pomiechowek (25 miles north of Warsaw city limits) Lonstar’s original role was initially the one of an artistic guide of Lithuanian band, Vixva, but inevitably his presence encouraged befriended musicians of The Medley to summon him on stage to their collective, interestingly improvised rendition of Johnny Cash’s classic, “Folsom Prison Blues”. Nice accent for the wrapping-up of the summer concert season!
Lonstar’s plans for the upcoming weeks include the acoustic solo gigs at Warsaw’s trendy pub, “Lolek” (check for dates at saloon.pl) and a busy November: Country Music Messe in Nuremburg (Germany), “Vilnius Bluegrass” (Vilnius, Lithuania) and, also traditionally, “Plus Camerimage” film festival in Poland’s Moviemaking City, Lodz.
Also coming soon: full report from this year’s “Visagino Country”, video from “Country Picnic” in Mragowo and concert plans for the next year. Drop in!!!
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