Karolina Węgrzyn
Songlines Encounters Festival
Karolina Węgrzyn, an award-winning Polish folk musician and singer, weaves together her powerful, melancholic voice — shaped by her traditional Carpathian and Ruthenian heritage — with the lively, upbeat rhythms of Eastern Europe to create captivating, exhilarating performances that resonate deeply with audiences.
Karolina Węgrzyn, a talented Polish folk singer and musician, captivates audiences with her electrifying performances that blend rich Eastern European rhythms with heartfelt storytelling. Supported by a collective of some of the best musicians from the West Midlands, Ann Jones on violin, Stephen Plummer on percussion, Dominic O’Sullivan on woodwinds and Chris Roberts on guitar, Karolina delivers an unforgettable musical journey with her dynamic voice.
Each show is a celebration of her Sub-Carpathian cultural heritage, woven together with a raw and emotive energy. The blend of intricate melodies and powerful rhythms takes the audience on a vivid exploration of Eastern Europe’s diverse traditions, while Karolina’s evocative voice invite listeners into a world of nostalgia and reflection. The shows are a vibrant fusion of Polish, Carpathian, Ukrainian, Balkan and Romani cultures to create an exhilarating and immersive experience. Don’t miss the chance to witness this one-of-a-kind artist bring her vision to life on stage, surrounded by a group of exceptional musicians who evoke emotions and create meaningful connections with their audiences, to create a sense of community and shared history.
This event will last approximately 70 minutes, without an interval.
Concessions & Under 30s tickets
Kings Place Concessions Tickets
We want to ensure that people who may be struggling financially to purchase a ticket can still enjoy visiting Kings Place. A limited number of tickets are allocated for certain events (if the ticket type does not show in the booking pathway, it means they are not available for this event or have all been sold). Concessions tickets are accessible for people on the following criteria (for more information visit our FAQs)
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Disability Benefit
- Income Support or Job Seekers allowance
- Students
£10 ‘Under 30s’ tickets
A limited number of £10 tickets for attendees aged under 30 are available for certain shows. To purchase an ‘Under 30s’ ticket, please choose the ‘Under 30s’ price type when selecting your ticket(s). If the option does not appear, this means all ‘Under 30s’ tickets have sold out or are not available for this performance. Please note that proof of age may be requested at the venue. The £10 offer does not apply to premium price categories.
Plan your visit
Getting here
Kings Place is situated just a few minutes’ walk from King’s Cross and St Pancras stations, one of the most connected locations in London and now the biggest transport hub in Europe.
Our address is:
90 York Way, London, N1 9AG.
The Venue
Our performance spaces are situated on the lower ground floor. Hall One, Hall Two and St Pancras are located in level -2, reached by stairs, escalator and lift from the ground floor entrance level.
Event Times
Door times indicate auditorium entrance times only. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the Kings Place seating areas, gallery-level art, canal-side terrace, café, restaurant and bar throughout the day and evening.
- Our events begin promptly at the advertised start time. Typically, there is no support unless otherwise stated.
- We recommend arriving in good time before the performance. The Hall doors will open 30 minutes before the performance to allow time to take your seats, or to choose a space for standing shows.
- Latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance where possible
Access
We aim to make your visit to Kings Place as comfortable as possible. For more information about the accessibility of Kings Place, including details about our Access Scheme, please visit this page.
If you would like to discuss your access requirements with a member of our team, please get in touch with the Box Office team at info@kingsplace.co.uk.
Food & Drink
Rotunda Bar & Restaurant
Rotunda, situated on the ground floor of Kings Place, offers a unique dining and drinking experience alongside Regent’s Canal. The concert bar in the venue foyer will also be open for select events.
Green & Fortune Café
Recently re-furbished and now open with a new look, the Green & Fortune Café is open for selected concerts. Serving hot and cold food and drinks, including sandwiches, salads, soup, stew and a pie of the day, alongside a choice of cakes made by the on-site bakery team. See here for selected concert dates and standard opening hours.
About Karolina Węgrzyn
Karolina is an award-winning Polish folk singer and multi- instrumentalist. She hails from Sub-Carpathia in South-Eastern Poland; she plays accordion, hammered dulcimer ‘cymbały’ and a Polish frame drum ‘bębenek obręczowy’. Growing up in a family of traditional dancers and singers, her life was surrounded by folklore; many traditional Polish songs were passed on to her by her grandmother. Karolina often uses the archaic “scream singing” – a method practiced in Eastern-European villages since pagan times that evolved along with the rural life and nature. In 2011 Karolina received an award from the Polish Ministry of Culture and Heritage for her artistic achievements, and took a 3rd place at The Traditional Musician’s Tournament in the Szczecin Philharmonic in 2021. Today she proudly represents her native culture at many events in the UK where she lives.
Karolina Wegrzyn is proud to announce the release of her debut album, “Oy Vesna Krasna” on 6 December 2024. The title, meaning “Oh, beautiful spring” in several Slavonic languages perfectly captures the essence of the album-celebrating the changing seasons, love, loss, and the rich tapestry of customs that define her heritage. Produced at an intimate Fushō Studios, “Oy Vesna Krasna” honours Karolina’s family traditions and expresses her deep gratitude for the opportunity to share it with the world. The album is available to listen on all music streaming platforms as well as on CD.
Reviews
‘Absolutely Stunning’ Folk.Wales Magazine
‘breathing new life into traditional sounds; (…) spreads the exuberance and diversity of Eastern European cultures; (…) Karolina’s art continues to inspire’ Polish Cultural Institute
‘It’s quite a find’ Podwireless
The curation of Songlines Encounters is supported by the 1900 Building
