Come and enjoy the summer of music in the Czech Republic!

If music makes you tick and the summer is not the same for you without going to a few music festivals then the Czech Republic is the place for you. The country will rock this summer with a wonderful selection of big music events which are not to be missed. Whether you are looking for an event dedicated to one style such as hip hop, ska, reggae or alternative music or fancy a mixed style festival, there is something for everyone. And as a bonus you can enjoy your favourite bands in truly unique settings from a listed industrial building to a beautiful UNESCO town. 

Faith No More, Franz Ferdinand, Orbital and Crystal Castles will be the stars of the largest Czech festival Rock for People. Should you happen to venture out of the festival area, do spend some time exploring Hradec Kralove. The town is a unique urban combination of modern and traditional architecture. Pencil the dates July 3 – 6 for this popular festival.

The Colours of Ostrava Festival is well worth attending not only because of the wonderful array of participating bands but also because of the spectacular industrial setting of the ‘’The Lower Area of Vítkovice“ former steel making plant. From July 12 – 15 the event will take place in this large complex of industrial buildings and promises to be a fantastic experience. In between dancing and listening to music you can visit the inside of a steel furnace in which the temperature used to reach an incredible 1500 degrees in full production. The programme of the festival covers many different types of music. Among the acts will be Bobby McFerrin, ZAZ – known as “the new Edith Piaf”, the Animal Collective and many other names from electronic and world music. 

Creepee Teepee is an event which focuses on the latest acts from the world´s alternative music scene. The festival will take place from July 12 -15 and feature groups such as Coma Cinema, which boasts fantastic reviews from bloggers and independent music website Pitchfork, or Brooklyn punk duo Japanther, for whom the music is a part of an overall artistic concept including performances such as the one they staged at the Venice biennale. Do not forget to have a look around the town of Kutna Hora during the festival. Admire the gothic beauty of the Saint Barbara´s Cathedral and pay a visit to the famous ossuary as well.

The best of ska, punk, hardcore and reggae will be on offer at the Mighty Sounds Festival which will hit the town of Tabor in South Bohemia from July 13 - 15. Among the stars of this event will be the Neville Staple Band, whose frontman is the singer of the legendary band The Specials, for the fans of heavier music there will be Biohazard and Poison Idea. Those who like latin ska will look forward to the show of The Locos, the successor band of the popular Ska-P.

From Prague it is just a stone throw away to Benesov where the Sázava Fest takes place from August 2 – 5. To name a few of the big names from the busy list of participating bands there will be the Kaiser Chiefs, Fun Lovin‘ Criminals, Paul Oakenfold and Molotov from Mexico. Our secret tip is the French project Lyre de Temps.

Inspired by the feedback from its audience and its social media followers the Open Air Festival is going to feature the best of the electronic and guitar music scene this year. The programme includes acts such as Fat Boy Slim, Amy Macdonald and Booka Shade. One of the highlights of this festival will be the Gorillaz Sound System show. The festival takes place in Panensky Tynec from August 9 – 11. The town itself is interesting because of its impressive unfinished gothic cathedral which is said to have healing effects.

Hip Hop Kemp is another festival which will bring the Hradec Kralove airfield to life from August 15 – 18. Hip hop enthusiasts can look forward to the legends of the West Coast – the Dilated Peoples. The East Coast will be represented by Mos Def. Foreign Beggars from London, who worked with Björk and Gorillaz, will also perform at the festival.

You can experience a true hippie atmosphere from August 16 -19 at the “Czech Woodstock” – the Open Air Festival Trutnov. The first few editions of this festival took place during the communist times but then they were stopped by the secret police. The name of the former Czech president Vaclav Havel is connected with this festival as he was among its regular visitors. The organisers say that you don´t go to Trutnov because of the programme but because of the atmosphere. The atmosphere is unique even though the times of the secret police are long gone. The main draw of this year´s festival will be the band Korn.

CzechTourism is a state-funded agency of the Ministry for Regional Development. Its main activity is to promote the Czech Republic as an attractive tourist destination. More information is available at http://scandinavia.czechtourism.com.