Never can the term ‘underground’ be more literal than when referring to Prague’s music scene. Regardless of your sonic tastebuds much of the music in the Czech Republic capital occurs in the city’s cellar or basement pubs.
Whether or not the locality of Prague gigs was caused by the suppression of rock and roll music that occurred during the 70s and 80s of the communist regime that ended in 1989, due to the Velvet Revolution, remains to be seen.
The communist regime forced rock bands into obscurity, which allowed for an underground scene to emerge. Musicians found only small but dedicated audiences in obscure clubs and country houses. This scene found international notoriety after rock band The Plastic People Of The Universe (which you can about below) were imprisoned following a 1970s show.
One of the bands influences, Frank Zappa, was invited to play in Prague after the Iron Curtain was abolished with the new president Vaclav Havel a rock music fan.
The president even attempted to name Zappa as an ambassador to the US. The musician became an icon in the music scene of the Czech Republic. What cultivated from this suppression and then re-emergence of the importance of rock music was a music scene that prioritised the genre above all else.
Needless to say the rock scene is flourishing, but other music genres are finding prominence in the strength of their own niches.
Along with a healthy club scene electronic music is growing in the city of nearly 2 million people. While unsurprisingly for a European city house music is king, but drum and bass and techno sounds are gathering steam as well.
Since the 1920s jazz has always had its part to play throughout the metropolis’ music history. Today you can still hear it almost as fervently as you did in the past throughout Prague’s hundreds of concert halls and clubs. In the 60s American bluegrass music also came to the fore of the urban sprawl’s music scene.
However before you even make it to the music venue of your choice Prague exposes even the most casual listener to its live music culture via restaurants and bars who offer piano recitals to accompany your dinner or evening drinks.
In the past 10 years the city has seen itself caught up in the eye of popular Western music. The video for Kanye West’s ‘Diamonds In The Sierra Leone’ was shot in the city and Rihanna’s ‘Don’t Stop The Music’ was also filmed at Prague’s Radhost FX Club.
Undoubtedly as the deeper we move into the 21st Century the more Prague has attracted attention from outside of Europe. A fact, which only helps to diversify the city’s music scene. The future of Prague’s music culture looks both promising and exciting.
Prague Festivals/Conferences
Prague Spring
As the city’s biggest and most celebrated local music festival this event is held between mid-May and early June. Both international and local musicians are booked for various different venues across Prague. The festival also focuses on showcasing and supporting young performers as well as more notorious musicians. Everything from symphonic orchestras to contemporary jazz musicians is featured with events selling out quickly prior to the festival.
http://www.festival.cz/cz
United Islands Of Prague
With gigs and beer stands overtaking the Vltava riverfront this festival not only offers international performances from acts like Placebo or Iggy Pop but it also allows punters to witness music in a picturesque setting. Local acts are also booked with the festival stretching across different venues in the city. United Islands of Prague is held in June every year.
http://unitedislands.cz/en/home.html
Prague Record Stores
Pick A Sound, Plynární 23 Holešovice, http://www.pick-a-sound.cz/index.php/en/
This intimate and unique record store is situated within the alternative area of Holešovice. Pick A Sound supports local independent artists by focusing predominantly on selling local productions as well as foreign artists producing work in Prague. Selling an eclectic array of genres there really is no need to go past a store that “uncritically supports vinyl as the ultimate music medium”.
Phono, Opatovická 156/24, http://en.phono.cz
This record store boasts a collection of first hand releases with a display that majors in funk, soul, jazz, Latin, Brasil music, afro, dance, rock and pop. While both buying and selling is offered Phono also repairs and sells vintage turntables. Record player accessories and books are also sold while hiring of DJ equipment is allowed. Those with scratched DVD and CDs will also find Phono as a handy repair centre.
Poli5, Trojanova 9, http://www.poli5.cz
As one of the most celebrated vinyl providers in Prague this record store also offers magazines, CDs, art reproductions, t-shirts, fair trade and organic products and second hand books. Vinyl wise Poli5 sells new and reissued records as well as second hand LPs. Book readings, in store gigs and exhibitions are also held.
Prague Music Venues
Rock Café, Národní třída 20 Nové Město, www.rockcafe.cz
Not to be confused with the Hard Rock brand this establishment attracts a young yet laid back crowd hungry for some indie music. Situated underground Rock Café has multiple rooms with various bars situated throughout. The main stage holds free concerts regularly and you can even watch the live acts from a seated room on a projection screen for those who prefer comfort over mosh pits.
Palác Akropolis, Kubelíkova 27, http://www.palacakropolis.cz
This medium sized venue not only attracts some of the biggest local indie acts, but also international bands. Regardless of whether you’re a band or a solo act Palác Akropolis welcomes various different musicians. Closer to that of an art hub this establishment is home to an independent theatre, concert hall, a cinema and an exhibition space. Steeped in history the venue was abandoned in 1948 due to war and re-opened in 1996.
XT3, Rokycanova 29, http://www.xt3.cz/home/
With red brick arches this cavern-esque club and music venue hosts various different genres of music. DJs, hardcore rock acts and singer-songwriters all share the same stage. Lively at times and laid back on others, this intimate street level bar has something for almost everybody. XT3 is open seven days a week.
Prague Acts You Should Check Out
The Plastic People Of The Universe – Facebook
It’s hard to go past Prague bands or the history of the Czech Republic without coming across this underground rock act. The experimental band were strongly influenced by Frank Zappa and The Velvet Underground during the core years of their hey day which lasted from 1968 to 1988 before an inevitable reunion in 1997. But this six-piece are important to Prague’s historical fabric because they were formed less than a month after Soviet forces invaded Czechoslovakia and rebelled against the communist regime at the time.
The Prostitutes – Soundcloud
Formed in 2004 this indie rock five-piece have been at the forefront of Prague’s music scene ever since. Having survived the departures of founding member Mark Jukebox in 2006 and then Šmity in 2009 The Prostitutes released their third studio album, Deaf To The Call, in 2009. Listen to their song, ‘All The Money’, below.
