Mat213
He wears his arrogance on his sleeve, with ironically self-parodying lyrics that hold up a mirror to today’s society, and a sound that fuses hyperpop, rap, and folk. His latest album Nesu Oheň—in his own words—is for people who sit on benches and drink just to get drunk. The fast tempo puts you in a trance, but if you really listen to the words, you will hear Mat213 reminiscing about the last beautiful summer, or raging against politicians for building cities that clearly aren’t made for people. He’s a hyperpop outsider making music for people who don’t want to feel like people. A sad boy hiding his sensitivity and melancholy behind absurd, tragicomic lyrics—because admitting he is serious would probably just make him feel awkward.
Bert and Friends
There’s really no need to introduce Berta and Friends to our lounging, seaside-loving audience — after all, they’ve been sailing the Czech Sea for nearly a decade now. And guess what? They’re finally docking in Valeč to spread their good vibes! I’m jumping for joy: Yo-ho-ho!
Transmitter (UK/DE)
This German-British crew has the potential to absolutely wreck the stage—in the best way possible. Expect a breakbeat explosion in the form of a live DJ set, fused with pounding drums and loud, in-your-face vocals. Whatever you do, don’t miss these maniacs. It’s gonna be pure mayhem.
I Love You Honey Bunny
ILYHB are a Prague indie-pop band with English lyrics that has been touring foreign festivals for some time. Their music balances between euphoria and melancholy, and the lyrics reflect social events. The way they create and think about music is essential. Although the band members reflect on how they are changing in their new album something remains: energetic guitars, aggressive synthesizers and distinctive melodies.
pistole (DE)
pistole is a one man arpeggiator driven techno thing with live drums and a bunch of keyboards from Hamburg but originated in the music scene of Chicago. Highly energetic, very danceable, progressive and with a slight punk attitude. With his audio-reactive live visuals and the TV sets a pistole show is a diy-immersive dance party.
Kvietah
Magdalena Fendrychová, also known as Kvietah, writes songs in various genres – from rock-influenced and pop to world music. In her lyrics, she uses imagery from everyday life to express emotions and also touches on political themes that resonate within society. Kvietah performs in different formations – this year, she’s coming to Povaleč with her full band! foto Martin Fendrych
Už jsme doma
Music like the one played by UJD is hard to find anywhere else. It is wild in a punk way, urgent, yet the composition is complex and elaborate with timeless lyrics. The typical features are the trumpet sound, the incredible tempo and the live performances filled with intense energy and humor. This is perhaps the reason why the band as well as their audience don’t seem to get any older.
Madhouse Express
Psychedelic fuzz and raw rock’n’roll collide in the Prague quartet Madhouse Express, who, in just a few years, have cemented their place as an undeniable powerhouse in Czech psychedelia and the beating heart of the scene. Get ready for a mind-bending theremin solo!
Fotbal
The collective Fotbal fuses post-punk energy with elements of kraut-rock, math-rock as well as psychedelia. The tight four-piece keeps further securing their reputation of one of Czech’s most authentic musical acts with their two elaborate releases Moon Landing Revival and Why Is This Happening To You as well as with their live performances. The band’s rhythm section uncompromisingly creates a hypnotic yet novel and surprising basis that is complemented by complex guitar lines and strange synthesiser sounds. All is tied together by the reverb soaked vocal.
Treska Jednoskvrnná
Treska jednodvrná is a Czech alternative band moving on the edge of rock and pop, injecting its own wit and occasional madness into the music with anxious lyrics and energetic riffs. At the same time, there is a risk of a big mess here and there, and then punk combined with decent nudity can come and love on stage is gushing out like a stream. Friendly, young, full of energy, definitely on the rise.
Gambrz Reprs
You probably know these guys in their plush onesies and if you don't, you definitely should. They've been stirring up trouble on the Czech rap scene for a few years now, and this year they're bringing their catchy raps about Parma’s bars to Povaleč. Don’t miss out on this rock’n’roll rap show packed with energy and beer-fueled truths!
HIHIHAHAHOLKY
Rappers and performers Alena Novotná and Štěpánka Todorová, together with producer and live DJ Matěj Šíma, form a group with the unmistakable name Hihihahaholky. Their sound is an experimental fusion of words, rap, and custom-made beats, ranging from smooth jazz to hard-hitting trap. Alena and Štěpánka started shaping the band's vision by exploring the world of femininity, which gave birth to their pink, supergirl alter egos - bold, playful, and unapologetically unique.
Stříbrný Rafael
Stříbrný Rafael (Silver Rafael) was just an entirely normal guy. No, seriously! Completely normal! But he tried. And that’s why, at every meeting of his homeowner’s association, he made sure to ask at least one constructive question. And let’s be honest, Povaleč and a homeowner’s association meeting are pretty much the same thing, just with baroque-style backdrops.
August 31
The story began with the duo Pysh Pash and live music in Prague's bars and cafés. Through organic additions and friendly connections, the current project August 31 was born. Fans of cowboy guitar riffs, Amy Winehouse, whiskey-soaked ballads, smoky atmospheres, and chords with the numbers 7 and 9 will find something to enjoy. The songs are about love, sharing the burden of depression, and riding on night buses.
Samoty
Samoty carries a guitar case in one hand, with a thumb out on some backroad in the middle of nowhere. Their worn-out boots and a beat-up notebook stuffed with scribbled lyrics in the back pocket tell stories of long days, cheap coffee, and music written under open skies. The duo is spinning stories of solitude — two weathered cremonas pouring out modern-day campfire songs, dusted with blues and streaked with rock’n’roll grit.
Agstashe
Behind the name AGSTASHE stands a 21-year-old composer, producer, singer, and rapper. With an American father, it’s no surprise that he creates exclusively in English. Honestly, we don’t think there’s anyone else on the Czech scene who delivers English-language rap quite like this - humble, but with a real American sound which he brings to local ears.
Syntax Error
The relatively fresh four-piece experimental music group combines many musical influences – from industrial, electronic music, alternative metal to noise rock and shoegaze. The uninterrupted, continuous musical set combines hypnotic repetitiveness with an immersive wall of sound and ranges from subtle ambient passages to intense electronic sequences.
Franz Skafka
Show Franze Skafky blends music with elements of stand-up and performative drinking. His lyrics touch on the Czech National Revival as well as a grudge against Hanspaulka. He mixes flowery Czech boom bap with diverse beats that slip into techno depending on how many beers have been consumed.
Sdružení rodičů a přátel RoPy
The long-running Czech underground band will present a live tragicomedy wrapped in punk, circus and sometimes just makes you want to cry with sadness. The very distinctive lyrics will guide you through this RoPa world of madness, sexuality, the working class and many other topics they deal with in life. Don't miss these demons and their absorbing stream of melancholic ride.
Fail Together
A six-piece folk punk band from Prague carries the melody of Irish pubs, the wildness of punk and the pathos of campfires. They play rough and tenderly on banjo, violin, washboard, bass banjo, guitar and anything else that is at hand or that they make themselves and which they are happy to borrow during the concert. They tell stories about the good and bad that we all go through, about broken hearts, self-destruction and anxiety, but also about kindness, friendship and hope for a better tomorrow.
MATE RADI HADI
Brno pop garage blues band with a touch of rock claims to play for all ages of your moms. This bizarre dazzles not only with its name but also with its elusive lyrics, complemented by psychedelia and spiced guitars that seem to be unable to decide which direction to take (meaning only in a good way).
Podcasts and talks
Tam a zase zpátky živě: Posezení s Tolkienem
Everything you want to know about coffee, but was afraid to ask. Coffee workshop of how to make coffee on the trip. Do you like coffee and traveling? Come by to learn how to make great coffee on a trip. What equipment to carry on and what to rid of?
Theatre
IPUP: PRÁZDNÁ MÍSTA
A docu-reality exploring the ethical boundaries of activism, asking: what matters more – the genuine act or its representation? Is it possible to be an activist without looking like a lunatic? Josef Neudeker and Alena Novotná document both their official and unofficial efforts to revitalize forgotten places in their hometowns.
Holektiv: Vrány
ONE IS CRYING AND TWO IS LAUGHTER, THREE ARE WEDDINGS, FOUR ARE BIRTHS, FIVE IS SILVER, SIX IS GOLD AGAIN, SEVEN SECRETS YOU DON'T TELL US, EIGHT HEAVEN, NINE HELL AND TEN SCARED OF THE DEVIL. They live alongside us, just as they occupy their territories in the forests far from humans. Their colour, hunched attitude and love of carrion have helped them become a symbol of death. But they are also a symbol of birth. Crows as bearers of dreams and secrets. A movement performance accompanied by live music on one object. The performance combines movement, live music and scenography. For this time in the fascinating setting of the theatron in the castle garden. CREATING TEAM: Concept and interpretation: Andrea Vykysalá, Karolína Křížková Directorial collaboration: Eliška Brtnická Scenography: Studio Herrmann & Coufal Music: Terezie Kovalová Costumes: Michaela Čapková Lighting and sound: Daniel Kozlík Production and PR: Andrea Vykysalá (Benková) The project was supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, Prague City Hall, HAMU, the State Culture Fund of the Czech Republic, Cirqueon, Jatka78 and KD Mlejn
Saysomething.cz: Tajemství Vesmíru
Secrets of the Universe - improvised theatre: Metoděj & Dozer What lies in the depths of the universe? And what in the imagination of two actors who have been improvising together for over 15 years? Metoděj and Dozer take you on a journey across galaxies, reality and absurdity - completely unscripted. The pair, who are incredibly well matched, entertain not only with their acting transformations, but also with their original costumes and sense of (extra-)terrestrial humour. Get ready for a ride full of surprises, where anything can happen. Secrets of the Universe? One thing's for sure - you'll laugh.
KUSOTORI: From the Cradle to Enslave
The leitmotif of the performance, with a title referring to the cult metal album by the band Cradle of Filth, is the fate of human existence, in which the individual is condemned through education, institutions and employment to a life that only pretends to be free. In the spirit of Butoh's performance, this theme is grasped in extreme mental and physical positions, where the viewer easily loses sight of the boundaries between play and lived reality. KUSOTORI's work is a continuation of the Japanese avant-garde performance form Butoh. Accompanied by original music, they tailor their performances to specific locations. They thematize current existential themes in a manner typical of this genre, i.e. expressive dance using appropriate minimalist make-up and costume design. Creative team: Jakub Krajíc, Kristýna Boháčová, Vojtěch Kosour, Alžběta Jechová
ČINOHRA DAMU: ARABSKÁ NOC
Everyone has their dreams. But who can be sure they’re not living them right now? The dream of one extraordinary night in an ordinary housing estate blends imagination with reality – becoming indistinguishable from each other, flowing freely like water through a pipe, washing away the line between closeness and loneliness. A line we keep hitting day after day without even noticing, in a world where we’re all completely alone – together. Or… are we just dreaming? "You think everything will be okay, at least this time… but then it’s not – and it’s even worse than ever before."
OLDSTARS: AUDIENCE
Vaněk is a playwright forced to work in a brewery rolling barrels. His superior, the brewmaster, likes beer, motivational quotes, and Jiřina Bohdalová. And he’s also supposed to report Vaněk to the secret police (StB). Both are steeped in the futility of the situation – each in their own way. Aren’t those some fine paradoxes?
Joke Division: Volná improvizace
It's here again - the tradition of free improvisation at Povaleč continues! Nothing is prepared, everything happens here and now - and absolutely anything can happen. Joke Division is a new theatre group - the first Czech improvisation division, founded by actor and comedian Láďa Karda. The group focuses on theatrical improvisation and stand-up, offering a wide range of performances from funny to more serious formats. Joke Division regularly collaborates with other improv groups and organizes stand-up evenings where the audience can enjoy unforgettable moments full of spontaneous reactions and laughter. Get ready for a unique atmosphere and entertainment that will immerse you in the world of improvisation like never before!
Terra Incognita
ContACT: Jedna a jedna jsou tři, aneb zaostři
Nevyžádaná rada
Movies
Ta druhá
Eighteen-year-old Johana wants to leave her hometown. She wants to graduate from high school and go to university. However, her final year of school is more challenging for her than for her classmates. She plays an irreplaceable role in her family - helping to take care of her younger sister, who has a disability. Despite all the love, she has to break free from everyone‘s expectations, find her own space, and escape her sister‘s shadow. Johana is what is known as a glass child, unintentionally overlooked by her overburdened parents and the rest of the world. Can she overcome her doubts and feelings of guilt and dare to put herself first? This observational documentary film explores the long-neglected issue of healthy siblings in families caring for children with special needs. This intimate film gives a voice to everyone who has ever felt like the other one. • Direction: Marie–Magdalena Kochová / 2024 / 87 min.
Svět mezi námi
Marie Tomanová travelled from Mikulov to the USA as an au pair, and today she shoots campaigns for fashion brands such as Nike, Instagram, or for the fashion magazines such as Vogue CS. However, her name is better known abroad than in her native country, which provided few opportunities for the young painter. Paradoxically, it was only in New York, far from home, that she was able to grow up and find herself - a transition greatly supported by Marie’s partner in professional and personal life, art historian Thomas Beachdel. Tomanová touches the world in a different way, with a rush of positive emotions, an immediate connection, acting as a medium through which the energy of the portrait-sitter passes. Director Marie Dvořáková, who also relocated to the US, connects to the photographer in the same way. The portrait of the two Maries tells the story of the American dream and the search for roots, identity and home. • Direction: Marie Dvořáková / 2024 / 93 min.
Reportáž psaná na benzínce
Ivana Svobodová, a journalist for the weekly Respekt magazine specializing in the Czech disinformation scene, does not create her reports from her desk, but in the field. She engages in clashes of opinion with people who believe in the positions propagated by bloggers like Vidlák. The plurality of opinion has been transformed by their influence into a battlefield divided into good and bad media. This confrontational portrait of the role of a liberal periodical in the era of rampant social media conspiracies with a sociological overlay discusses the impossibility of dialogue. It asks questions about the difference between opinion and fact, as well as what authority is respected by those who oppose authority and who is the watchdog of democracy. • Direction: Zora Čápová / 2024 / 54 min.
Ptáče
Twelve-year-old Bailey lives with her party-going father Bug (Barry Keoghan) and rebellious brother Hunter (Jason Buda) in a small town in the east of England. When a mysterious stranger named Bird (Franz Rogowski) suddenly enters her life, Bailey longs to spread her wings and leave her shattered home. • Direction: Andrea Arnold / 2024 / 119 min.
Chiméra
Treasure hunters, grave robbers and comedians. These are the members of the „Tombaroli“ party. But one of them, Arthur (Josh O'Connor), has a special gift – the ability to find places where ancient Etruscan treasures are hidden. While he frantically searches for his lost love, the other friends use his unique talent to make their fortunes. But the chimera hunt leads them to the border between the living and the dead worlds. In her unmistakable style, director Alice Rohrwacher delivers a magical film set in the sunny Italian countryside. • Direction: Alice Rohrwacher / 2023 / 130 min.
Ještě nejsem, kým chci být
Libuše Jarcovjáková is a legend of world photography and an unbridled woman who defied all conventions. Her life is a mosaic of fascinating encounters and wild stories - from the rough underground of communist Czechoslovakia, to exclusive photo shoots for leading fashion brands in Tokyo, to her dramatic escape to West Berlin, where she witnessed the fall of the Iron Curtain. Thousands of analogue photographs and pages of personal diaries were turned into a formally unique documentary directed by Klára Tasovská. • Direction: Klára Tasovská / 2024 / 90 min.