Inside The Polish Underground Scene

Clubs in Poland come and go, with the usual changes of names, locations, target groups, and so on. It’s not easy to find a place that stays in business longer than 2-3 years, and even a year is considered a long period for an underground club. On the other hand, some of the clubs have grown to become the pulse of Polish rave culture.

The capital, Warsaw, is quite famous for its techno scene, mostly because of the Berlin “wind” that brings that vibe. Some well-known clubs are Smolna and Luzztro. Smolna is the new one, while Luzztro has been in business for almost a decade. It has lasted because of a wide range of different parties for different audiences. And further, you may find some great techno parties there. Another example of a club that has gone the distance is Projekt Lab in Poznan. Like Warsaw, Poznan is more techno-oriented, but also there are occasional psytrance parties, such as the well-known “Powrót do Źródła.”

INQbator in Katowice is also an active club and hosts amazing parties, followed by mesmerizing visual entertainment.

Heading to the north, you will find the legendary club called Sfinks in Sopot, famous for its underground house, techno, and drum ‘n’ bass parties. For those who seek good trance raves, there is the awesome Protokultura in Gdansk.

The cultural heartbeat of Poland – Krakow – boasts a rich underground culture in its streets, starting with Prozak 2.0. Situated in a medieval basement, this place has persisted as one of the oldest underground epicenters.  Names like SNTS and Kollektiv Turmstrasse have performed within its maze-like interior. Another place-to-be is Szpitalna 1. It seems like a casual cocktail bar, but once you get in, the stairs lead you to a dark, underground, labyrinth-like, spacious venue and strong sound system. Varieties of rave parties are hosted here, but mostly acid and techno (by organizations like Breslau Techno). For those who would rather choose smaller underground places, there is Święta Krowa, a lovely, cozy underground nest, with a small bar, a chill zone, and a dance floor.

Finally, there is Tytano – a former tobacco factory retrofitted into an urban hotspot. The growing popularity of Tytano’s pubs and club – Zet Pe Te – has taken the Polish underground scene to a whole new level. Zet Pe Te, with its two ancient, spacious industrial venues and a backyard, is placing itself among the top underground clubs. Regular raves happen here, as well as massive trance parties that include several stages, hosted by organizations such as Deepersence and Egodrop.

Photos: Abyss

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