Thirteen years ago, a group of friends connected by the legendary Metro Club in Bialystok,
embarked on a journey to realise a shared dream: the creation of a festival unlike any other in Poland
focused on complete artistic freedom. In this spirit, Up To Date Festival was born.
The first edition of the event happened in 2010 and exploded onto the scene with a bang,
with all 3000 tickets selling out a week before the event. The festival’s vision was to facilitate a culture
built on broad musical ideals. Curation would be the focus - and some highlights would include electronic music
stages with performances from Sandwell District, Milton Bradley, Claro Intelecto, Ebola, Tes La Rok,
as well as elite Polish rap. The backdrop for the proceedings was a post-military warehouse complex
at Węglowa street, a venue sorely missed to this day. The raw and brutal architecture of the buildings,
combined with the DIY infrastructure created a unique atmosphere,
perfectly complimenting the music to create an unforgettable experience.
The festival quickly established itself as a pioneer in the scene, even though it was run by amateur
enthusiasts with a small budget. Still, it was this spirit that fostered the creativity and consistency the festival
has become known for. UTDF is ultimately defined by a dogma: a careful approach to curation and sound,
and a philosophy of booking and interaction with our audience. With three main stages, Pozdro Techno and Beats,
remain their biggest. Pozdro Techno is also the name of our custom-built sound system, developed and constructed
by the organizers themselves. Another highlight of UTDF is their relationship with ambient music - being amongst
the biggest advocates of the genre in Poland since 2014.
A special ambient stage called Salon Ambientu has changed its location from Opera House to theatres or outdoor settings.
Everything above is tied together by a further respect and philosophy aimed at cherishing intergenerational
relationships and promoting this music among people who simply do not understand it. For a couple of years,
UTDF has been organizing a “Send a postcard to your Grandma” effort in which they provide the opportunity to
send a custom-made festival postcard to loved ones from the festival for free. What’s more,
all people above the age of 50. are allowed to enter the festival free of charge.
UTDF remains an effort of love, passion, and vision.
