On Wednesday afternoon, with the sun shining brightly over the coastal city of Gdynia, Poland’s largest festival opened its doors. Attendees often jokingly point out that Open’er seems to have a talent for attracting unpredictable weather. In 2022, the festival's much-anticipated return after the pandemic had to be scrapped due to severe conditions. However, last weekend, this streak was broken. From Wednesday to Saturday, more than 100,000 people flocked to the sprawling venue in the sweltering heat for four vibrant days of music.
It’s safe to say that Open’er offers something for everyone, featuring a lineup filled with numerous renowned artists from various genres, many of whom are seen as headliners in the UK. Rock enthusiasts were treated to era-defining bands like Muse, Linkin Park, and Nine Inch Nails on the main stage, while the hip-hop lovers enjoyed performances by Future, Little Simz, and Doechii. Global superstars like Gracie Abrams and Tyla attracted massive crowds, and homegrown talent such as Bambi and Trupa Trupa also graced the stage.
Dressed in a bright blue gown that mirrored the sky, RAYE took on the honor of opening the main stage on Wednesday evening with a bold and humorous performance. Accompanied by her full band and soulful backing singers, she delivered a mix of old, new, and unreleased tracks. The Tooting-born artist introduced herself to the audience as a “drama queen who loves a big outro,” a claim she demonstrated with her theatrical vocal prowess at the end of nearly every song. The rapport between her and the musicians was evident, especially during a segment where she engaged in playful call and response interactions with the instruments.
While the majority of her set was interspersed with jokes and spontaneous remarks, her tone shifted dramatically during the emotionally charged ‘Ice Cream Man’—an unreleased song penned at age 17 that reflects her experiences with sexual assault by a producer. She shared with the audience, “This next song that I would like to sing for you is the saddest song I've ever written, the hardest song I've ever written. But at the same time, this song is medicine for me. Music is medicine.” The crowd reacted with overwhelming support.
The Tent Stage buzzed with excitement when Schoolboy Q of Top Dawg Entertainment made his eagerly awaited return to Poland. His last performance in the country was in 2019 when he stepped in last minute to replace Wu Tang Clan at the FEST festival. His DJ energized the crowd with popular tracks, notably Lil Yachty’s ‘Poland’, before the L.A. rapper took the stage. Mosh pits erupted throughout his lively and engaging set, reaching a climax during songs like ‘Floating’ and ‘Man Of The Year.’
Fresh from their debut at Glastonbury, New York duo FCUKERS—vocalist Shannon Wise and guitarist/producer Jackson Walker Lewis—took the Alter stage, delivering an effortlessly cool hour of breakbeats and sing-along choruses. Lewis, shirtless and brimming with energy, played off Wise's dynamic performance in a stylish display, their chemistry enhancing the set's raw, party-centric vibe and keeping the crowd captivated.
Massive Attack’s headline performance on Wednesday night was particularly impactful. Staying true to form, the Bristol collective used their mesmerizing sound and on-stage visuals to convey a broader socio-political message, reaffirming their stance against war. As Horace Andy, Deborah Miller, and Elizabeth Fraser shared vocal duties between tracks, screens displayed real-time data on Palestinian casualties in Gaza, footage of children mining cobalt in the D.R. Congo, and images related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
For 20 years, the festival has taken place at Babie Doły, an air base utilized by the Polish Navy, which has recently been particularly concerned about Russian aggression. During the band's performance, clips of the Ukraine war were interspersed with visuals of Vladimir Putin receiving standing ovations in the Kremlin, provoking loud boos and outrage from the Polish audience. At one point, the band also took aim at Donald Trump by showcasing the notorious AI-generated ‘Trump Gaza’ video shared on social media in February, which depicted him and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu laughing by a pool.
Accompanied by a vibrant live band, Jorja Smith made a late-night appearance on the Tent Stage, transitioning smoothly between introspective ballads and energetic hits like ‘Be Honest’ and ‘On My Mind.’ The highlight of her performance came during ‘Teenage Fantasy’, when thousands joined in singing the song she wrote at just 16.
After canceling her appearance at the festival last year due to an injury, Tyla commanded the main stage on Thursday afternoon, energizing the audience with a fun mix of Afrobeats-infused, highly rhythmic tracks. The choreography on stage was so infectious that audience members, regardless of background, found it hard to remain
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On Wednesday afternoon, with the sun shining brightly over the coastal city of Gdynia, Poland's largest festival began. Among the local visitors, it’s