In 1994, the father-and-son team of Benedykt Kunicki and Oskar Kunicki founded the Jimiway Blues Festival in Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland. Named in tribute to Jimi Hendrix, this nonprofit initiative is rooted in the mission of presenting a broad spectrum of blues music styles. Music enthusiasts travel from far and wide to attend this two-day event, which is held annually on the third weekend of October. The festival contains a diverse lineup of live concerts, jam sessions, and exhibits of music photos. Internationally renowned blues artists including Sugaray Rayford, Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials, Kenny Neal, Joe Louis Walker, John Németh, Curtis Salgado, Nick Moss, Coco Montoya, Tommy Castro, Toronzo Cannon, Mr. Sipp, Lucky Peterson, and Albert Cummings have performed at Jimiway. Its organizers also are devoted to showcasing Polish blues stars and promising young blues acts as a way to bring together multiple generations of musicians and fans.
