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Any number of annual Czech festivals focus on light installations, bold sounds, and world-class film, but few combine all of those things into a month-long genre-bending fest that ends, literally, on a high note.
The 12th annual Spectaculare Festival, opening Feb. 28, will bring together a curated mix of electronic, ambient, and jazz performances, film screenings, and interactive art across Prague. This year's edition culminates with a performance on World Piano Day, March 28.
A total of 17 events (eight concerts, four workshops, four music-themed films, and an exhibition) promise to thrill those seeking innovative visual and sonic experiences, says the festival's dramaturg Josef Sedloň.
“Spectaculare is, for me, a space for creative innovation. It's for anyone who is looking for new, authentic experiences and wants to discover the original expression of contemporary music and art.”
The festival opens with Kiasmos, the Icelandic-Faroese duo known for their hypnotic rhythms and striking visuals, at SaSaZu on Feb. 28.
A compelling addition to this year's fest, Gram Kosmu, an interactive exhibition by multimedia artist Pavel Holeček, featuring audio-kinetic sculptures that generate live ambient compositions. This immersive installation opens March 1 at (A)VOID Gallery.
On March 5, Max Cooper’s sold-out 3D/AV show at MeetFactory will test the limits of audiovisual performance, while the British jazz-electronic collective Vega Trails (March 25) blends atmospheric jazz with electronic textures at Palác Akropolis.
Sedloň, a renowned Czech DJ and producer recommends the Vega Trails concert for the groups’ “instrumental precision blended with unexpected, almost meditative moments,” Sound of Fractures, which explores new sonic dimensions through bold experimental aesthetics, and the esteemed pianist Henrik Lindstrand, special guest for this year’s Piano Day. Lindstrand will perform at the Concert Hall of the Prague Conservatory on March 28.
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Other noteworthy performances include the Welsh trio Slowly Rolling Camera (March 12), who brings a cinematic approach to jazz, and Sound of Fractures and Lowtopic (March 7), combining ambient soundscapes with club beats in their Czech debut. On March 17, Rafael Anton Irisarri and Abul Mogard will explore the intersections of ambient, drone, and improvisation at CAMP.
Mods and rave: Music docs to watch
A series of music-themed documentaries will screen at Bio Oko as part of this year’s festival. The groundbreaking documentary Eno offers a unique, ever-changing viewing experience, generating a different version each time. Featuring extensive footage, music, and interviews, it explores Brian Eno’s creative process and artistic philosophy.
Everybody in the Place re-examines acid house, linking its rise to 1980s Britain’s social and political shifts. The film explores rave culture’s deep-rooted connections to protest, industry, and identity through rare archives and a classroom discussion.
Bunch of Kunst follows British punk duo Sleaford Mods on their two-year rise from DIY recording sessions in Nottingham to mainstream success. The film captures their raw, politically charged energy and vividly portrays Brexit-era Britain, highlighting working-class struggles and frustration.
Electronic Body Movie is the first documentary on Electronic Body Music (EBM), tracing its 1980s origins in Germany and Belgium. Featuring rare footage and interviews, it explores EBM’s lasting influence on techno and club culture.
With performances across venues such as Akropolis, Bio Oko, CAMP, Meetfactory, Bike Jesus, and the Prague Conservatory, Spectaculare 12 is an essential experience for anyone interested in the convergence of music, art, and technology.
