The icy streets of Prague bring everything to a standstill. The cold is so biting that even time itself seems to have slowed. Usain Bolt is attempting to sprint across Wenceslas Square, and people want to capture him in slow mo. But as soon as they take their hands out of their gloves, they freeze solid, and no one ever hears about it. Third-year law students get their tongues stuck to railings after reading in their textbooks that snowflakes signify money. Yet, in one underground hall, it’s as hot as Australia. People are hopping like kangaroos and as content as koalas. Come warm up at the legendary Rock Café, dance to the indie rock, jazz, and bluegrass tones of guitars, trumpets, and saxophones, and help us set the heart of Prague’s alternative scene in motion once again.

STAYJ:
Energetic shows and big band elements in the context of an indie-rock band. Their recent single Palette of the World was also the anthem of the Central European Jamboree. In recent years, the band has performed on the main stage of the Povaleč festival, sharing the stage with Lenka Dusilova and Ventolin, at Park 360 as part of the Scout National Jamboree, and at Lucerna Music Bar for the album launch of Vanua2. This autumn, the band played to a packed club in Edinburgh, Scotland. STAYJ’s music reminds us that even if we are sometimes not in the most pleasant situations, there is usually a way out of them. Often all it takes is a change of attitude, self-confidence and the belief that it makes sense. Jonáš’s guitar virtuosity, Pep’s trumpet solo with his eyes closed, David’s seven-quarter rhythm, the jazzy harmonies of Kubo’s keys and the rumbling of Honza’s bass. “It gives us great joy to see people singing our songs with us at concerts. There is no boundary between the auditorium and the stage at that moment.”

BOOKIE BAKER & band
Bookie Baker are an indie folk duo from Canada and Ireland. Members Alex Montyro and Caolan O Neill Forde combine traditional folk music with an experimental sound palaette, and genres such as bluegrass, jazz and much more. The band has been described as a winning combination of deft yet beautifully-understated musicianship & wry turn of phrase expressive vocals & reminiscent of Father John Misty meets Simon Garfunkel. From the beginning, Alex’s and Caolan’s journey has been fuelled by a sense of adventure, and a passion for music and storytelling. The collaboration began after Montyro opened a music venue in the Liaoning province of China and O’Neill-Forde wandered in looking for musical compatriots in a faraway land. Soon packing in large crowds to the ire of local communist party officials, the duo found themselves enduring multiple interrogations by local police after an arrest during a live performance. Released after being warned to never play music in the country again, they opened a map and considered options across the globe. One city became a clear standout due to its thriving renaissance of creativity, culture and commerce: Prague. On the 19th of December, the duo will play with an outstanding band of musicians who grew up in the Czech capital.

Wreckberries:
Four children of the new millennium from Michle burdened by the ubiquitous chronic modernization and digitalization. Throw them in a box and they start playing indie rock with a subtle punk flavour – about peddlers of lies, penguins in post-apocalyptic Antarctica and ticking clockwork. SO WHAT?

Marie April & The Fools:
Marie April is a 19 year old singer-songwriter who has 2 released songs and is working on her debut EP. She has been involved in music since childhood, but it was only in January this year that she and her friends formed a band to breathe new life into her songs originally written for guitar and vocals. Strong vocals, catchy melodies and honest lyrics about finding identity and inspiration, loss and growing up will draw you into their unique atmosphere and just won’t let go.
Maria April & The Fools’ concept is particularly original in its blending of genres such as rock, indie, soul and jazz. The cornerstones are Vojtěch Šedivý on electric guitar, František Zahálka on bass guitar and keyboards and Marek Dršata on drums. What gives the music a fresh touch is the modest but energetic brass section, consisting of Manus Quinn on trumpet and Jay Austin on trombone. “Not making music isn’t even an option for me, and if you leave our show with some inner urge or it just grabs you by the heart, we’ve accomplished our goal.”