The popular Ukrainian pop group Patsyki Z Franeka gave a concert on Thursday at De Parade in Den Bosch. A small festival was held on the square for hundreds of Ukrainian refugees who are being received in Brabant. Nazar Franeka, the leader of the band, practiced pronouncing ”s-Hertogenbosch’ before the concert.
Patsyki Z Franeka is one of the three bands that performed in our provincial capital. Khrystyna Soloviy and Vopli Vidopliassova also played for the five hundred Ukrainians and the hundreds of Brabanders who had come to the festival.
“I am very happy to be here,” says a Ukrainian woman. She has raised a yellow-blue flag. “We were brought here from our shelter outside Den Bosch. This way we can catch our breath and think about something else. This is especially nice for our children.”
Another lady is also happy that she is in Den Bosch. “Since my flight from Ukraine I have not attended a concert in my own language. Now I can do that again. That gives me a good feeling.”
Women with children
Organizer Mirabel van Lieshout is also happy with the large turnout. “There are mainly women with children here. So the bands are adapted to that. The men and boys are now fighting for their country.”
Before the concert, a mass was held in St. John’s Cathedral. During the service, a 30-meter Ukrainian flag was carried into the church.
Nazar Franeka is very happy that he can perform with his band in Den Bosch. “Many Dutch people support Ukraine in this difficult time for us,” he says. On behalf of all musicians in Ukraine, Franeka would like to thank the Netherlands for the support and also the reception of refugees.
“‘s-Hertogenbosch”
He has practiced a lot beforehand to be able to say ‘Good afternoon ‘s-Hertogenbosch’ during his concert. For example, Franeka addresses another woman with “‘s Hertogenbosch”. The woman looks back in surprise and says: “I’m from Vught”.
The three-piece pop band Patsyki Z Franeka consists of Nazar Franeka, Lola and DJ iPunkz. Vasya OMG is one of the band’s more famous songs: