May 1, 2009 saw 6,346 guitar players join together to play the Jimi Hendrix hit "Hey Joe" and more than tripled the standing record for "Largest Guitar Ensemble" of 2,052 set last year in Concord, California. The event took place in the historic center of Wroclaw, Poland - a city which has taken on the title of "Wroclaw Guitar City" - a title that seems merited. In fact, the Mayor, Rafał Dutkiewicz, was among those playing, as was Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse and festival founder and director, Leszek Cichoński. Cichoński is a well-known musician and music educator in Poland and the festival was an outgrowth of one of his educational programs and has taken place - and grown - annually since 2003. Beyond the 6,346 guitar players, there were thousands of spectators and supporters in the Wrocław city center as well as other guitar players taking part online and in coordinated events in Sweden, the US, Canada and Australia (though those do not count towards the record). One of the objectives of the organizers is to establish May 1st as "World Guitar Day" and more coordinated simultaneous events are planed for next year and beyond.

Now it is the German's turn as they make their attempt on May 10th in Mainz.

Further information at:
www.myspace.com/thanksjimifest Some Video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATAbwGOzzxY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqAz2x6-VA0
Queue to Registration
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cJ-OP0q67w

we have some media reply already:
Guitar World
Modern Guitars

Join us in person in Wroclaw or on-line Thanks Jimi Festival - or contact us if you want to create a simultaneous event !

Play Hey Joe with TOP Polish guitarplayers Leszek Cichonski ,Krzysztof Jaworski, Marek Raduli, Mietek Jurecki, Ryszard Sygitowicz, as David Price (USA), and others. And you?
Neil Zaza (USA) , Feedback Family (Sweden), Egon Poka(Hungary) and a Great Final Concert DEEP PURPLE
Play "Smoke on the Water" with Steve Morse

GUITARISTS OF ALL COUNTRIES UNITE!!!
World Guitar Day 2007 Breaks previous Guinness World Record!!! - 1,881 guitar players playing together in Wroclaw Guitar City!!!
Read about on the BBC.
Founded in 2003 by Polish guitarist Leszek Cichonski in tribute to Jimi Hendrix, and an annual event since, the "Thanks Jimi Festival" takes place in the Rynek (Old Town Square) of the beautiful medieval city of Wroclaw (aka Breslau), Poland. The festival has grown into the largest guitar event in the world after securing the Guinness World Record for the Largest Guitar Orchestra in 2006 with 1,581 confirmed guitar players (including Wroclaw city mayor Rafal Dutkiewicz who participates every year) all playing together simultaneously (and official estimates of an additional 15,000 people in attendance). The event is transforming into the center of an annual 1st of May "World Guitar Day" and is expanding significantly with satellite events happening simultaneously around the world as well as private individuals and smaller groups being able to also take part in real time via the web.
2009 only looks to be bigger than last year's record breaker. Please join us in a day of universal, positive creative celebration and a new UNION and solidarity (this is Poland after all...) of guitar.
"With the power of soul, anything is possible" -J. Hendrix
The INCREDIBLE Thanks Jimi festival's promo-video on YouTube.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the city of Wroclaw in making this event happen! It would not be possible otherwise.
WROCLAW GUITAR CITY!
Please join us! Contact us via e-mail

Niel Zaza, Eric Mantel & Florian Opahle,
feat: Leszek Cichoński

Tour schedule :
07.11. - Radlin,
08.11. - Opole
09.11. - Wrocław -ALIBI
10.11. - Głubczyce
12.11. - Łódz
14.11. - Ciechanów
15.11. - Radzyń Podlaski
16.11. - Lubin

within
MEDIAWAVE INTERNATIONAL SUMMER ART CAMP

László Drapán, György Ferenczi (HUN), RENE TROSSMAN (CZ/USA), LESZEK CICHONSKI (PL), RENÉ LACKO (SK)


Visegrad Blues Workshop
With the leadership of György Ferenczi
(HUN , CZ , SK , PL , AUT)
Ravazd, 20-23 July, 2008

Besides Leszek Cichonski, René Lacko, a well-known Slovakian blues-rock guitar-player virtuoso and László Drapán, a legendary keyboard and saxophone-player from Győr, many other Hungarian and foreign guest lecturers will appear in the workshop. György Ferenczi piano-, accordion-player, singer and front member of Herfli Davidson, Rackajam bands will lead the workshop more info here

Greatest hist of Jimi Hendrix in new arrangements of polish guitar virtuosos are on the new cd "Hey Jimi"

Voodoo Chile, Angel, Fire and much more played by Jan Borysewicz, Leszek Cichonski, Zbigniew Holdys, Wojciech Waglewski, Jacek Krolik & Ryszard Sygitowicz.

* 1951 guitars* played Jimi Hendrix's blues-rock hit 'Hey Joe' and other songs at the Old Town Square in Wroclaw, Poland, on the 1st of may 2008. This event sets a new Guinness' World Record for the largest number of guitars simultaneously playing the same song. This was the sixth attempt: last year 1881 guitars participated in the event witch was the best score in the World.

The attempt took place during the 'Thanks Jimi Festival' dedicated to the music of the world's best known guitarist, Jimi Hendrix. It was organized on the initiative of Leszek Cichonski - a respected musician and music educator from Wroclaw, Poland, who wants to attain a goal of teaching guitarists a new Hendrix's song every year.

The event is transforming into the center of an annual 1st of May "World Guitar Day" and is expanding significantly with satellite events happening simultaneously around the world as well as private individuals and smaller groups being able to also take part in real time via the web.

Join us in person in Wroclaw or on-line - or contact us if you want to create a simultaneous event! Jan Borysewicz, Leszek Cichonski, Krzysztof Jaworski, Zbyszek Krebs, Jacek Królik, Marek Raduli, Mietek Jurecki, Wojciech Pilichowski, Ryszard Sygitowicz, as well as Carlos Johnson (USA), Egon Poka (Hungary), David Price (USA), A.G. Weinberger (Romania), Party Blues (Germany) and others. And you?

GUITARISTS OF ALL COUNTRIES UNITE!!!

World Guitar Day 2007 Breaks previous Guinness World Record!!! - 1,881 guitar players playing together in Wroclaw Guitar City!!!

Read about on the BBC.

Founded in 2003 by Polish guitarist Leszek Cichonski in tribute to Jimi Hendrix, and an annual event since, the "Thanks Jimi Festival" takes place in the Rynek (Old Town Square) of the beautiful medieval city of Wroclaw (aka Breslau), Poland. The festival has grown into the largest guitar event in the world after securing the Guinness World Record for the Largest Guitar Orchestra in 2006 with 1,581 confirmed guitar players (including Wroclaw city mayor Rafal Dutkiewicz who participates every year) all playing together simultaneously (and official estimates of an additional 15,000 people in attendance). The event is transforming into the center of an annual 1st of May "World Guitar Day" and is expanding significantly with satellite events happening simultaneously around the world as well as private individuals and smaller groups being able to also take part in real time via the web.

2008 only looks to be bigger than last year's record breaker. Please join us in a day of universal, positive creative celebration and a new UNION and solidarity (this is Poland after all...) of guitar.

"With the power of soul, anything is possible" -J. Hendrix

The INCREDIBLE Thanks Jimi festival's promo-video on YouTube.

While it is in Polish, anyone can learn the songs here: http://fanclub.cichonski.art.pl/grg.htm

Some of those that joined us last year - from Sweden: http://www.surrealismmusic.bravehost.com/jimifestival.html

http://fampersson.se/

And Berlin: http://www.rockinberlin.pl/rock_pliki/page0002.htm

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the city of Wroclaw in making this event happen! It would not be possible otherwise.

WROCLAW GUITAR CITY!

Please join us! Contact us via e-mail

from 27/09. till 7/10. Leszek Cichonski plays gigs in Australia.

He will play in Sydney, Perth and two concerts at the Great Southern Blues and Rockabilly Festival in Narooma www.bluesfestival.tv/artists.html

Leszek will have a real blues company - Dave Hole's rhythm section Band : Ace Follington - drums, Roy Daniel - bass and also Lez Karski ( guitarist, song writer and record producer worked with Flash & The Pan, Midnight Oil, Spy v Spy) - visite 'The Nervous Investors' site .

Tour schedule :
27/09 Sydney - the Bridge Hotel
28/09 Narooma Blues festival.
30/09 Narooma Blues festival.
2/10 -Perth Blues Club
5/10-The Palace Hotel, Wagin
6/10-The Cracovia Club, Perth

• 21.06. - Legnica [ klub 'Spiż' ]
  
• 22.06. - Lubin [plener]
  
• 23.06. - Domecko [stary dom]
  
• 24.06. - Tychy [plener]
  
• 27.06. - Zabkowice [ZOK]
  
• 28.06. - LEGNICA [SPIŻ]
• 29.06. - Gniezno ['Pod Piatka']
  
• 30.06. - Walbrzych [ '9 fala' ]
  
• 1.07. - Bogatynia [ BOK]
  
• 4.07. - Skierniewice [Polonia]
  
• 5.07. - Otwock - Hefajstos
  
• 6.07. - Malbork - Osrodek Kultury
  
• 7.07. - Olsztyn [' Blues Nights Festival']
  
• 8.07. - Gdynia [Pokład]
  
• 10.07. -Glubczyce
  

• 13 July - Bignasco, Ticino [Switzerland]
  
• 15 July - Macerata [Italy]
  
• 17 July - Chieti [Italy]
  
• 19 July - Perugia [ Italy]
  
• 21 July - Bergamo [??] [Italy]
  
  

• 25.07. - Wrocław [RURA]
• 26.07. - Bolesławiec
  
• 27.07. - KRAKÓW Pub jezdziecki "Stare Konie"
  
• 28.07. - Tychy
  
• 01.08. - Nowa Sól [NDK]
• 02.08. - Swinoujscie
• 3.08. - Szczecin
  
• 5.08. - Zielona Góra [Piekarnia Starej Kobiety]

Almost 2,000 musicians have gathered in the Polish city of Wroclaw to play a rock anthem by Jimi Hendrix.

The guitarists were aiming to set a new Guinness World Record by gathering 1,881 guitarists in the city's market square to play Hey Joe.
......... it was the biggest guitar ensemble in recorded history, though Guinness has not yet officially confirmed the feat.
more http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6613261.stm

The Guitar Record fans just finished an english version of "Guitar Emotions" fanclub website . Invite to visite and register please .

"With the power of soul, anything is possible" - J. Hendrix

GUITARISTS OF ALL COUNTRIES UNITE!!!

        Founded in 2003 by Polish guitarist Leszek Cichonski, the "Thanks Jimi Festival" has taken place annually in the Rynek (Old Town Square) of the beautiful medieval city of Wroclaw, Poland. The "Thanks Jimi Festival" has grown into the largest guitar event in the world after securing the Guinness World Record for the Largest Guitar Orchestra in 2006 with 1,581 confirmed guitar players all playing together simultaneously (and official estimates of an additional 15,000 people in attendance). The event is transforming into the center of an annual 1st of May "World Guitar Day" and is expanding significantly with satellite events happening simultaneously around the world as well as private individuals and smaller groups being able to also take part in real time via the web. 2007 only looks to be bigger than last year's record breaker. We hope you will join us in a day of global, positive creative celebration and a new UNION and solidarity (this is Poland after all...) of guitar.

Be a part of making the 1st of May WORLD GUITAR DAY !!!

         This is a new idea and a spontaneous MOVEMENT - we have fans in some specific 'hubs' (Berlin , Munich, Polish Radio in New York, Brazil, Sweden, Australia, and more joining every day) who want to celebrate The 1st of May - World Guitar Day with us. Some of these groups (and, hopefully, others) will host smaller local gatherings at the same time and webcast those events back to us in Wroclaw and we can show these live (and possibly later in the event) to the crowd in Wroclaw via our large screen monitors. If you want to organize something like this, CONTACT US!

We want everyone who wants to take part to be able to. If you want to be a part of it, we want you to be a part of it!

We have confirmation from Guitar Player Magazine's "Guitar Player Television" for promotion of this Idea and the event!

Help US make the 1st of May - WORLD GUITAR DAY !!!

After good reviews that the latest album "Come Together - Live" that Leszek Cichonski recorded with John "Broadway" Tucker and Wojciech Karolak received across the Ocean, the Polish musicians got a preliminary proposition followed by an official invitation to the Monterey Bay Blues Festival - the venue which used to host Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, among others.

        1581 guitars played Jimi Hendrix's blues-rock hit 'Hey Joe' at the Old Town Square in Wroclaw, Poland, on the 1st of may 2006, last week. This event sets a new Guinness' World Record for the largest number of guitars simultaneously playing the same song. This was the fourth attempt: last year 1201 guitars participated in the event. The previous record (1555 guitars) belonged to Epiphone - the American guitar producer.


        The attempt took place during the 'Thanks Jimi Festival' dedicated to the music of the world's best known guitarist, Jimi Hendrix. It was organized on the initiative of Leszek Cichonski - a respected musician and music educator from Wroclaw, Poland, who wants to attain a goal of teaching guitarists a new Hendrix's song every year.


        1581 guitars from all over Poland, as well as from countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, Sweden and the USA, gathered at the Old Town Square in Wroclaw despite the rain falling persistently since the day before. Until the last moment the weather forecasts were not optimistic, putting the whole event in danger but just before the general rehearsal (electric & acoustic guitars tuning) by 3 p.m. the rain suddenly stopped. When at 4 p.m. the orchestra conducted by Leszek Cichonski performed 'Hey Joe' the sun was shining! Thanks to... Jimi? Additionally, the world's largest guitar orchestra performed the hits: 'Little Wing', 'Red House', 'Wild Thing' , as well as Cichonski's own 'Thanks Jimi'.


        The idea was born nearly ten years ago during the summer blues guitar workshop held by Cichonski in Zakrzewo, when 16 participants have played together 'Hey Joe' for the first time. The idea to play this song by hundreds of guitars has been maturing for many years.


Even though the record was set, the 'Thanks Jimi Festival' will be continued in the next years.


Guitar Guinness Record - photo gallery

In May 2005, 1201 guitarists gathered in Wroclaw's historic Old Town Square to play Hendrix's songs together, with an estimated 15.000 additional observers in the audience.

This time we're meeting each other on May 1st 2006 on Wroclaw's Market Place in the city centre. It´s gonna be our 4th attempt to beat the Guitar Guinness Record and third edition of "Thanks Jimi Festival".

So far the world biggest guitar orchestra was performing on american´s EPIPHONE guitar producer anniversary, where 1555 musicians were assembled playing together.

As in the past three years, the festival will be preceded by a two-month educational workshop via mass media and the internet. "My idea was to teach people Hendrix's songs so that we would be able to play them together," says Cichonski. "And step by step we mastered three songs."

So if you are either a professional axeman or an amatour, present or would be, male or female... and if you still aren't hooked on this fest reading the above description, you never will! But mark these words, Wodstock Fest. was only once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. So was Altamont Fest. THANKS JIMI FEST is ahead of them - it was reproduced succesfully for the third time. Contrary to them both - THANKS JIMI FEST is alive, well and kicking.

Your help and contribution is highly appreciated!
You can download the event info and send it to your friends.

Spread the word on your guitar and music forum!!! Let's make it an international event this year! Well, we hope to see you guys in Wroclaw soon!

Leszek Cichoński will play eleven concerts during his european tour.

Besides the "Jimi & Rory" festival in Lens, our blues-rock quartet will play at the Blues Sur le Zinc Festival in Beauvais - the biggest blues show in France.

Mfa Kera (voc.) and Mike Russel (guit.) are going to join Leszek at the berlin show whitch also shapes up well and interesting!

(click on the picture to see a poster)


Tour dates:

France:

03.03 - de Loison sous Lens - master class guitar workshop
04.03 - de Loison sous Lens "Jimi & Rory Festival"   Gwyn ASHTON & Leszek CICHONSKI 

Leszek Cichonski will play in France in March - see:
http://perso.numericable.fr/~blues/intro_company.html.

It will be a special concert on 4th of March in a club where Jimi Hendrix had started his French Tour in 5th of March 1967. The Concert is a tribute to Hendrix and Rory Gallagher . It will be a guitar top meeting - Cichonski will share the stage with Gwyn Ashton.

A day before he will lead master class guitar workshop ( see a poster ).

The World's biggest guitar magazine "Guitar Player Magazine", in its October issue, printed an extensive article about Thanks Jimi Festival!

<- Click the picture to see and read it! (pdf)

Then, all the record holders who are in the photo are in Guitar Player Magazine as well :)
Send this photo to your friends!

Those who were at Thanks Jimi Festival'05 may not be surprised, but the rest will be for sure! After all it's hardly possible for someone who has only played the guitar for nearly 25 years to suddenly start singing!!! AND YET HE DID IT :-) "A JEDNAK" :-)
listen to Johnny Winter's composition - Leland Mississippi Blues - recorded live at record holders meeting in August: Leszek_Cichonski_Lelannd Mississippi blues.mp3

Bulldog Gravy is a post industrial jug band playing country blues of the 21st century. Their music proves that blues - even nearly acoustic blues - can be still played in an innovative and exciting way. What's interesting is the instrumentation used by the bluesmen. On the stage, besides overdrive harp, and electric and acoustic guitar you're going to see drums made of an old suitcase, some cardboard boxes, pots, a frying pan, and bike chains...

Listen to how it goes!!! Download Bulldogs' MP3 here:
buldog_gravy1-01.mp3
buldog_gravy2.mp3

Tour details below:


• 18.11.2005 Torun - Blues Meeting
• 19.11.2005 Konin - klub Energetyk
• 20.11.2005 Gdynia - Poklad Club
• 21.11.2005 Warszawa - Dekada ( z Leszkiem )
• 22.11.2005 Częstochowa "ASK " ( z Leszkiem )
• 24.11.2005 Ostrołeka klub "AVALON" ( z Leszkiem )
• 25.11.2005 Bialystok - Jesień z Bluesem ( z Leszkiem )
• 26.11.2005 Ciechanów - Kawiarenka Artystyczna ( z Leszkiem )
• 27.11.2005 Wrocław - Guitar Workshop Festival

"Come Together - Live" is a live record of Tucker and Cichoński featuring Wojciech Karolak. It is a feast for fans of Hammond, the sound of Leszek's guitar and the brilliant voice of John Tucker. The album includes blues standards, and the title piece "Come Together" and "Unchain My Heart" - worldwide hits in blues-rock versions; listen to some of the new album - www.cometogether.it-self.pl

In May 2005, 1201 guitarists gathered together in Wroclaw's historic Old Town Square to play Hendrix songs together, with an estimated 15.000 additional observers in the audience.

The Thanks Jimi Festival was organized by master guitarist and Hendrix interpreter Leszek Cichonski, who will lead the crowd in playing "Hey Joe," "Little Wing," "Wild Thing," and "Red House," as well as introducing performances by Tommy Emmanuel, John Brodway Tucker Band, Hungarian Solti/Poka/Toth Rock Band and some of Poland's finest guitarists.

As in the past two years, the festival was preceded by a two-month educational workshop via mass media and the Internet. "My idea was to teach people Hendrix songs so that we would be able to play them together," says Cichonski. "And step by step we mastered three songs." So if you are either a professional axeman or an amatour, present or would be, male or female... and if you still aren't hooked on this fest reading the above descrioption, you never will! But mark these words, Wodstock Fest. was only once-in-a- lifetime occurrence. So was Altamont Fest. THANKS JIMI FEST is ahead of them - it was reproduced succesfully for the third time. Contrary to them both - THANKS JIMI FEST is alive, well and kicking. You can make it even better - BE THERE THE NEXT YEAR OR JUST BE SQUARE !!!

...to see more amaizing photos click: photo gallery - GRG 2005

We expect over 1555 guitarists playing together "Hey Joe" and other Hendrix hits.
Your help and contribution is highly appreciated!
You can download the event info Spread the word on your guitar and music forum!!! Let's make it an international event this year!
Well, hope to see you guys in Wroclaw soon! Cheers!

A new international Cichonski's blues project VBB (Viesegrad Blues Band)!
The VBB concert Tour in Poland!

Visit the site http://www.visegradbluesband.com to listen mp3's recorded live in Prague concert .

Paweł Serafiński - Hammond Organ
Robert Szewczuga - bass
Bartek Niebielecki - drums
Leszek Cichoński- guitar

29th oct.-15th nov. 2004y.


See video LIVE (29 Mb)

Booking Agent:
Art Management
Grażyna Górka

tel. (+48 71) 341 11 15
tel./fax (+48 71) 780 78 64
e-mail:
biuroart@art-management.com.pl
g.gorka@art-management.com.pl