The Tęgie Chłopy band continues the tradition of dance music of the Kielce region in its authentic and unstylized form. The repertoire and instrumentation draws on the best models - traditional bands playing weddings and village parties in the past in the vicinity of Łagów and Opatów, such as the Witkowski brothers' band from Orłowo, the Krakowiak band from Zbelutka, Antoni Witkowski from Cisowo and many others.

The band's name is a musical statement: The Peasants primarily play Kielce ‘peasants’ - three-beat, tuneful melodies typical of the eastern Kielce region, also known as ‘światowki’ or ‘śpiw’. The Tęgie Chłopy want to dance so that ‘the ceiling rises’, as allegedly happened at the parties played by the famous Witkowski brothers' band. The presence of a strong brass section - trumpet, clarinet and tuba - is instrumental in raising the ceiling.

The band is made up of musicians involved in the organisation of the Kielecki Tabor Dom Tańca in Sędek near Łagów (2013, 2014). Most of them are co-creators of many acclaimed musical projects and animation activities in the world of Polish traditional music.

In an effort to access the oldest repertoire of the Kielce region, the band members have travelled hundreds of kilometres together in search of musicians and singers of the region. They spend time together learning local tunes, usually hosted by clarinetist Stanisław Witkowski, as well as singers from Sędek and the surrounding area - Maria Kowalik and Maria Gałka.

Flexible band line-up:
Stanisław Witkowski, Michał Żak – clarinet, saxophone
Maciej Filipczuk, Michał Maziarz, Marcin Żytomirski – violin
Ewa Grochowska – violin, vocal
Mateusz Kowalski – accordion
Szczepan Pospieszalski – trumpet
Dorota Murzynowska – baraban
Maniucha Bikont – tuba, singing

www.tegiechlopy.pl