HOYM Industry FEST – Where Industrial Heritage Meets Sound
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Deep in the heart of Silesia, surrounded by the echoes of a rich industrial past, HOYM Industry FEST has become one of Poland's most unique underground festivals. Hosted at the Ignacy Historic Mine in Rybnik, this event blends music, history, and art into a one-of-a-kind experience. More than just a festival, HOYM is a celebration of industrial culture, bringing together musicians, artists, historians, and fans who share a passion for raw soundscapes, mechanical rhythms, and the aesthetics of post-industrial landscapes.
Founded by a group of enthusiasts, the festival has grown into a must-attend event for lovers of industrial, electronic, and experimental music. Over the years, it has hosted not only concerts but also photography exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and urban exploration tours, creating a multi-dimensional jouy through the past, present, and future of industrial art.
With the 9th edition set to take place on September 27, 2025, the lineup is already shaping up to be something special, featuring a diverse range of artists from Poland and beyond. This year’s confirmed acts include:
Founded by a group of enthusiasts, the festival has grown into a must-attend event for lovers of industrial, electronic, and experimental music. Over the years, it has hosted not only concerts but also photography exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and urban exploration tours, creating a multi-dimensional jouy through the past, present, and future of industrial art.
With the 9th edition set to take place on September 27, 2025, the lineup is already shaping up to be something special, featuring a diverse range of artists from Poland and beyond. This year’s confirmed acts include:
- dISHARMONY
- HEDONE
- SLPWK
- SLEEPWALK
- THAT'S HOW I FIGHT
- TO AVOID
http://kopalniaignacy.pl
https://www.facebook.com/events/520897307639274
In this interview, we speak with the festival's main organizer, Andrzej Kieś, about the origins of HOYM, the philosophy behind it, and what to expect from the upcoming edition.
Alternation Magazine: Let's start with the location. The festival is held at the Ignacy Historic Mine, which is both a historical site and a cultural institution. What inspired you to organize HOYM Industry FEST here?
Actually, the question should be reversed: Why wouldn’t we organize an industrial festival at the Ignacy Historic Mine? Let me explain. I can’t quite recall if it was late 2016 or early 2017, but around that time, an informal initiative group was formed in Rybnik—what officials like to call a grassroots initiative. It was led by Mirosław Górka, a social activist involved in the Niedobczyce and Niewiadom districts, where the Ignacy Historic Mine is located.
The idea was to organize a cultural event in cooperation with the Ignacy Historic Mine. Today, the site is a fully revitalized cultural and tourist attraction, recognized with multiple awards for industrial heritage preservation and revitalization. However, back in 2016, these were only plans, and the institution wasn’t as renowned as it is today. At some point, the group decided to create an interdisciplinary festival, focused on industrial culture in its broadest sense. That’s when I was invited to join—as someone who had already organized concerts and cultural events, both independently and in partnership with municipal institutions.
The first edition was put together, as they say, on the fly—a collective but chaotic effort. But with each subsequent year, more and more responsibility landed on my shoulders. Today, I am the main organizer of the festival, and since 2022, I have been working full-time at the Ignacy Historic Mine, managing various cultural events (check out our social media and kopalniaignacy.pl).
If I enjoyed fancy titles, I could call myself the artistic director of HOYM Industry FEST. Of course, I still have a strong team supporting me—people who are just as dedicated to shaping this festival. I continue to work closely with Mirek Górka and Joanna Stebel, who, through Sassy Silesian, promotes the historical and tourist attractions of Upper Silesia and beyond.
Alternation Magazine: You describe HOYM as a festival of industrial arts. Does this mean only industrial music, or does it reflect a broader artistic and aesthetic philosophy?
The term itself suggests that we want to showcase industrial culture from various perspectives—through different art forms, but also by exploring the impact of industrialization on our world. We achieve this by inviting speakers, historians, and urban explorers to share their knowledge. For example, last year we organized a forest walk with Prof. Adam Stebel and Adam Kowalski in Niewiadom, exploring the ruins of the Beatensglück Mine, which was closed in 1919. We’ve also hosted urbex explorers, writers, historians, industrial revitalization specialists, and former factory workers. On top of that, photographers specializing in industrial landscapes have showcased their work here. We’ve welcomed artists like Bernard Bay (Belgium), Viktor Mácha (Czech Republic), Maciej Mutwil, Michał Machalski, Betty Kirsche, Maciej Fliegel, Sebastian Rosiak, and many more. We even had an industrial watercolor exhibition by the exceptionally talented Aneta Gajos. Is industrial a philosophy? I don’t know. Personally, I lean more toward the idea of an infinite void of cosmic chaos. But is it an artistic and aesthetic movement? Absolutely. At HOYM, you experience industrial through all your senses!
Alternation Magazine: Are there any other events in Silesia that could be considered competitors to HOYM? Industrial festivals are rare in Poland, yet you’ve built a strong presence.
First and foremost, I don’t want to compete with anyone. I prefer to believe that every initiative related to the industrial scene—or the broader electronic scene—helps fuel the others. This is such a deep niche that I personally appreciate every effort that supports the growth of artists producing mechanical sounds straight from steel mills and factories. I’m thrilled to see artists like Zamilska, LARMO, and Nightrun87 being invited on metal tours and festivals, where they can perform for entirely new audiences. We've been organizing this festival in Rybnik for almost a decade, and I wish all the best to others who work in this field.The Wrocław Industrial Festival is a major event in Silesia—everyone knows that. In Upper Silesia, industrial music mainly exists through regular club concerts, especially in Katowice. In the Upper Oderland region (formerly known as the Western Subregion of the Silesian Voivodeship), HOYM Industry FEST remains the only recurring industrial event.
What sets us apart isn’t just the music, but also the extra activities and experiences we provide, along with what we believe is a meaningful artistic message. That’s what makes us unique on a national level—standing out rather than competing!
The awareness that we’re doing something different and valuable has allowed us to stay persistent and committed, keeping this festival alive for so many years. Even the pandemic didn’t stop us—we didn’t back down in 2020 or 2021. It took several editions before this determination started paying off in the form of greater audience interest (some editions had moderate attendance) and more artists reaching out to play at HOYM Industry FEST.
Alternation Magazine: What can we expect from this year’s edition?
Since we’re still seven months away from the 9th edition on September 27, 2025, I can’t reveal much yet—except that there will be surprises! Keep an eye on our Facebook page and kopalniaignacy.pl for all updates.
Alternation Magazine: How do you choose the lineup? Do you book artists you personally listen to, or do you follow a different selection process?
The first edition, as I’ve already mentioned, was organized in a rather spontaneous, grassroots manner, but the musical part fell entirely on me. I decided to invite Agressiva 69, partly because I had been following their work since the late ‘90s and their album 2.47, and partly because I had already established a good relationship with the band. It turned out to be a perfect choice, as Tomasz Grochola was kind enough to provide me with both intellectual and emotional support throughout the organization of the inaugural HOYM Industry FEST. The only artist that my colleagues "pushed" onto the lineup was Lugola. The mastermind behind the project, Michał "Neithan" Kiełbasa, has become a key figure for the festival. Over the years, he has performed at HOYM twice with Lugola, as well as with Whalesong and Nothing Has Changed (a Rybnik show that was even released on tape!). However, he had to miss the last two editions due to his high demand as a touring sound technician, traveling the world with bands like Mayhem and Watain.
This year, if everything goes according to plan, he will return to Zabytkowa Kopalnia Ignacy, but this time in the role of sound engineer. Given our international lineup, we need a professional who can ensure the best possible sound quality. Plus, working with him is a pleasure—his mere presence has a ZEN-like calming effect on everyone around. In the early years, I had to search, explore, and get creative to put together a solid lineup while working within a very modest budget. I sought advice from people more knowledgeable in these sounds—for example, the phenomenal Anti-Terror performed at our festival thanks to a recommendation from Darek of The Proof, a band from my hometown. Now, however, we’ve reached a completely different stage—instead of searching, I select from the numerous offers that come in. If it were up to me, I’d book everyone, but we only have six slots, which already makes it feel like a mini-marathon. Last year, international bands started applying, and I saw an opportunity worth taking. As a result, this September, we’ll be hosting bands from Switzerland, Germany, and Slovakia. Of course, inviting bands I personally listen to is a great joy, but an equally huge thrill comes from exploring the vast and uncharted realms of underground music, discovering new bands and projects. I’m not the youngest anymore—I’ve already crossed into my 40s—but thanks to HOYM Industry FEST and the connections with people still passionate about music, I continue to experience the excitement of discovering something new. Who knows? Maybe, for me personally, that’s the most valuable part of this whole endeavor.
Alternation Magazine: Will this year’s lineup be strictly industrial, or will you take a broader approach? Who is the festival for?
I try to make the lineup as diverse as possible each time, but there always has to be at least a minimal element of industrial or electronic music present. It’s getting increasingly difficult to find "pure" industrial bands, but on the other hand, we live in times when blending styles no longer surprises anyone, and if you take a broader perspective, there’s plenty to choose from. That’s why we’ve hosted heavy guitar-driven bands like Jesus Chrysler Suicide and Kontagion on one hand, and trance-like, experimental acts such as Dynasonic and ARRM on the other. Ultimately, any artist performing at HOYM Industry FEST must align with my personal taste. However, I believe that anyone with an open mind and even a hint of good taste should find something for themselves—especially fans of electronic and industrial music.
Alternation Magazine: Organizing a festival is a massive challenge. Is it difficult to run such a niche event in Poland? What are the biggest obstacles?
As long as you enjoy doing it and don’t have any expectations, it’s easy. Right now, I’m in a comfortable position—I’ve built the HOYM Industry FEST brand to the point where the Historic Ignacy Mine secures the festival’s budget every year. Of course, it’s not a fortune, so we’ll never be inviting Laibach or Kombi Łosowski, but I feel very comfortable within the underground festival format. By bringing in niche yet, in my opinion, highly valuable acts, I truly feel like a cultural animator by calling (that’s what I studied, and I even managed to find a job in my field, haha). Moreover, there’s a unique spirit of understanding and shared participation among the audience, as if we’re part of something special and meaningful. I’m also lucky that every musician I’ve worked with while organizing this event has been incredibly humble, kind, and at the same time, professional. That wasn’t always the case when I organized rock and metal concerts, so maybe it’s a characteristic of this particular scene? Nothing left to do but keep going
Alternation Magazine: How would you convince someone who has never attended HOYM to visit this year?
If you enjoy electronic, industrial, experimental, or alternative sounds, there’s no better idea than visiting HOYM Industry FEST! The best way to experience it is to spend the whole day at the Historic Ignacy Mine, as the festival venue is also one of the biggest tourist attractions in the region! You can bring your family along—we have a playground, lots of greenery, and, every year, we invite the Dawne Komputery i Gry foundation, which sets up a retro gaming zone in one of the mine’s buildings. So, while waiting for the concerts, you can play on an Amiga, explore our exhibitions, attend lectures and workshops—you definitely won’t get bored! Additionally, Sleepwalk and To Avoid, despite being veterans of the scene, will be visiting Poland for the very first time. This makes it a historically significant event as well!
Alternation Magazine: Thank you for the conversation!
Thank you for the interest! I hope to see you all in September at the Ignacy Historic Mine in Rybnik!
photoi: Mirosław Górka
https://www.facebook.com/events/520897307639274
In this interview, we speak with the festival's main organizer, Andrzej Kieś, about the origins of HOYM, the philosophy behind it, and what to expect from the upcoming edition.
Alternation Magazine: Let's start with the location. The festival is held at the Ignacy Historic Mine, which is both a historical site and a cultural institution. What inspired you to organize HOYM Industry FEST here?
Actually, the question should be reversed: Why wouldn’t we organize an industrial festival at the Ignacy Historic Mine? Let me explain. I can’t quite recall if it was late 2016 or early 2017, but around that time, an informal initiative group was formed in Rybnik—what officials like to call a grassroots initiative. It was led by Mirosław Górka, a social activist involved in the Niedobczyce and Niewiadom districts, where the Ignacy Historic Mine is located.
The idea was to organize a cultural event in cooperation with the Ignacy Historic Mine. Today, the site is a fully revitalized cultural and tourist attraction, recognized with multiple awards for industrial heritage preservation and revitalization. However, back in 2016, these were only plans, and the institution wasn’t as renowned as it is today. At some point, the group decided to create an interdisciplinary festival, focused on industrial culture in its broadest sense. That’s when I was invited to join—as someone who had already organized concerts and cultural events, both independently and in partnership with municipal institutions.
The first edition was put together, as they say, on the fly—a collective but chaotic effort. But with each subsequent year, more and more responsibility landed on my shoulders. Today, I am the main organizer of the festival, and since 2022, I have been working full-time at the Ignacy Historic Mine, managing various cultural events (check out our social media and kopalniaignacy.pl).
If I enjoyed fancy titles, I could call myself the artistic director of HOYM Industry FEST. Of course, I still have a strong team supporting me—people who are just as dedicated to shaping this festival. I continue to work closely with Mirek Górka and Joanna Stebel, who, through Sassy Silesian, promotes the historical and tourist attractions of Upper Silesia and beyond.
Alternation Magazine: You describe HOYM as a festival of industrial arts. Does this mean only industrial music, or does it reflect a broader artistic and aesthetic philosophy?
The term itself suggests that we want to showcase industrial culture from various perspectives—through different art forms, but also by exploring the impact of industrialization on our world. We achieve this by inviting speakers, historians, and urban explorers to share their knowledge. For example, last year we organized a forest walk with Prof. Adam Stebel and Adam Kowalski in Niewiadom, exploring the ruins of the Beatensglück Mine, which was closed in 1919. We’ve also hosted urbex explorers, writers, historians, industrial revitalization specialists, and former factory workers. On top of that, photographers specializing in industrial landscapes have showcased their work here. We’ve welcomed artists like Bernard Bay (Belgium), Viktor Mácha (Czech Republic), Maciej Mutwil, Michał Machalski, Betty Kirsche, Maciej Fliegel, Sebastian Rosiak, and many more. We even had an industrial watercolor exhibition by the exceptionally talented Aneta Gajos. Is industrial a philosophy? I don’t know. Personally, I lean more toward the idea of an infinite void of cosmic chaos. But is it an artistic and aesthetic movement? Absolutely. At HOYM, you experience industrial through all your senses!
Alternation Magazine: Are there any other events in Silesia that could be considered competitors to HOYM? Industrial festivals are rare in Poland, yet you’ve built a strong presence.
First and foremost, I don’t want to compete with anyone. I prefer to believe that every initiative related to the industrial scene—or the broader electronic scene—helps fuel the others. This is such a deep niche that I personally appreciate every effort that supports the growth of artists producing mechanical sounds straight from steel mills and factories. I’m thrilled to see artists like Zamilska, LARMO, and Nightrun87 being invited on metal tours and festivals, where they can perform for entirely new audiences. We've been organizing this festival in Rybnik for almost a decade, and I wish all the best to others who work in this field.The Wrocław Industrial Festival is a major event in Silesia—everyone knows that. In Upper Silesia, industrial music mainly exists through regular club concerts, especially in Katowice. In the Upper Oderland region (formerly known as the Western Subregion of the Silesian Voivodeship), HOYM Industry FEST remains the only recurring industrial event.
What sets us apart isn’t just the music, but also the extra activities and experiences we provide, along with what we believe is a meaningful artistic message. That’s what makes us unique on a national level—standing out rather than competing!
The awareness that we’re doing something different and valuable has allowed us to stay persistent and committed, keeping this festival alive for so many years. Even the pandemic didn’t stop us—we didn’t back down in 2020 or 2021. It took several editions before this determination started paying off in the form of greater audience interest (some editions had moderate attendance) and more artists reaching out to play at HOYM Industry FEST.
Alternation Magazine: What can we expect from this year’s edition?
Since we’re still seven months away from the 9th edition on September 27, 2025, I can’t reveal much yet—except that there will be surprises! Keep an eye on our Facebook page and kopalniaignacy.pl for all updates.
Alternation Magazine: How do you choose the lineup? Do you book artists you personally listen to, or do you follow a different selection process?
The first edition, as I’ve already mentioned, was organized in a rather spontaneous, grassroots manner, but the musical part fell entirely on me. I decided to invite Agressiva 69, partly because I had been following their work since the late ‘90s and their album 2.47, and partly because I had already established a good relationship with the band. It turned out to be a perfect choice, as Tomasz Grochola was kind enough to provide me with both intellectual and emotional support throughout the organization of the inaugural HOYM Industry FEST. The only artist that my colleagues "pushed" onto the lineup was Lugola. The mastermind behind the project, Michał "Neithan" Kiełbasa, has become a key figure for the festival. Over the years, he has performed at HOYM twice with Lugola, as well as with Whalesong and Nothing Has Changed (a Rybnik show that was even released on tape!). However, he had to miss the last two editions due to his high demand as a touring sound technician, traveling the world with bands like Mayhem and Watain.
This year, if everything goes according to plan, he will return to Zabytkowa Kopalnia Ignacy, but this time in the role of sound engineer. Given our international lineup, we need a professional who can ensure the best possible sound quality. Plus, working with him is a pleasure—his mere presence has a ZEN-like calming effect on everyone around. In the early years, I had to search, explore, and get creative to put together a solid lineup while working within a very modest budget. I sought advice from people more knowledgeable in these sounds—for example, the phenomenal Anti-Terror performed at our festival thanks to a recommendation from Darek of The Proof, a band from my hometown. Now, however, we’ve reached a completely different stage—instead of searching, I select from the numerous offers that come in. If it were up to me, I’d book everyone, but we only have six slots, which already makes it feel like a mini-marathon. Last year, international bands started applying, and I saw an opportunity worth taking. As a result, this September, we’ll be hosting bands from Switzerland, Germany, and Slovakia. Of course, inviting bands I personally listen to is a great joy, but an equally huge thrill comes from exploring the vast and uncharted realms of underground music, discovering new bands and projects. I’m not the youngest anymore—I’ve already crossed into my 40s—but thanks to HOYM Industry FEST and the connections with people still passionate about music, I continue to experience the excitement of discovering something new. Who knows? Maybe, for me personally, that’s the most valuable part of this whole endeavor.
Alternation Magazine: Will this year’s lineup be strictly industrial, or will you take a broader approach? Who is the festival for?
I try to make the lineup as diverse as possible each time, but there always has to be at least a minimal element of industrial or electronic music present. It’s getting increasingly difficult to find "pure" industrial bands, but on the other hand, we live in times when blending styles no longer surprises anyone, and if you take a broader perspective, there’s plenty to choose from. That’s why we’ve hosted heavy guitar-driven bands like Jesus Chrysler Suicide and Kontagion on one hand, and trance-like, experimental acts such as Dynasonic and ARRM on the other. Ultimately, any artist performing at HOYM Industry FEST must align with my personal taste. However, I believe that anyone with an open mind and even a hint of good taste should find something for themselves—especially fans of electronic and industrial music.
Alternation Magazine: Organizing a festival is a massive challenge. Is it difficult to run such a niche event in Poland? What are the biggest obstacles?
As long as you enjoy doing it and don’t have any expectations, it’s easy. Right now, I’m in a comfortable position—I’ve built the HOYM Industry FEST brand to the point where the Historic Ignacy Mine secures the festival’s budget every year. Of course, it’s not a fortune, so we’ll never be inviting Laibach or Kombi Łosowski, but I feel very comfortable within the underground festival format. By bringing in niche yet, in my opinion, highly valuable acts, I truly feel like a cultural animator by calling (that’s what I studied, and I even managed to find a job in my field, haha). Moreover, there’s a unique spirit of understanding and shared participation among the audience, as if we’re part of something special and meaningful. I’m also lucky that every musician I’ve worked with while organizing this event has been incredibly humble, kind, and at the same time, professional. That wasn’t always the case when I organized rock and metal concerts, so maybe it’s a characteristic of this particular scene? Nothing left to do but keep going
Alternation Magazine: How would you convince someone who has never attended HOYM to visit this year?
If you enjoy electronic, industrial, experimental, or alternative sounds, there’s no better idea than visiting HOYM Industry FEST! The best way to experience it is to spend the whole day at the Historic Ignacy Mine, as the festival venue is also one of the biggest tourist attractions in the region! You can bring your family along—we have a playground, lots of greenery, and, every year, we invite the Dawne Komputery i Gry foundation, which sets up a retro gaming zone in one of the mine’s buildings. So, while waiting for the concerts, you can play on an Amiga, explore our exhibitions, attend lectures and workshops—you definitely won’t get bored! Additionally, Sleepwalk and To Avoid, despite being veterans of the scene, will be visiting Poland for the very first time. This makes it a historically significant event as well!
Alternation Magazine: Thank you for the conversation!
Thank you for the interest! I hope to see you all in September at the Ignacy Historic Mine in Rybnik!
photoi: Mirosław Górka
