During the eleven years of its existence, the ALTERNATIVA festival has gradually grown to become the largest and most important alternative music event in the Czech Republic. It has aimed at acquainting the wider Czech public with highly original and daring music performers from all around the world, and with an essential selection of the most interesting Czech artists. The festival is not bound to a specific genre, rather it reflects the actual developments in various fields of experimental/alternative/other music (jazz, alternative rock, world music, electronica, contemporary classical music…). In the past, the Alternative Festival has given the Czech public the chance to witness luminaries such as John Zorn and Masada, Art Zoyd, Test Dept., Pere Ubu founder David Thomas or Radian.

This year’s twelfth edition of the festival is devoting much space to experimental electronic music. Besides somewhat ‘lighter’ performances by experimental disco wizards Kevin Blechdom and Jason Forrest/Donna Summer, the highly talented Brit Max Tundra or the indie-feeling soaked electronica represented by Christian Kleine or DJ Thomas Morr, the audience will see ‘serious’ laptop shows by Aoki Takamasa, Yoshihiro Hanno, Moglass and Peter Szely, and the original abstract hip-hop of Man’s Best Friend (aka Sole). Fans of dub music will enjoy the gig of the legendary Dub Syndicate collective supported by Czech ethno-dub-techno formation Hypnotix. Those who prefer post-rock ventures should not miss Jackie-o Motherfucker, Ludzie or Kapital Band 1.

The festival is going to present many talents from the Czech Republic as well – underground/post-rock legends Mikolas Chadima and Pavel Richter, percussionist Pavel Fajt, Tam Tam Orchestra, laptop kid Michal Mariánek and many others. The Festival will also feature a live competition of interesting young groups/projects entitled Mala Alternativa (Small Alternativa), giving them a unique opportunity to present their music to wider public. In addition to music performances, the festival will also feature exhibitions, discussions, theatre plays, workshops and other events.

ALTERNATIVA 2004 PROGRAMME

Thursday November 25, Archa theatre, 8 p.m.
Dub Syndicate (UK / Jam)
Hypnotix (CZ)    

Friday November 26, Archa theatre, 8 p.m.
DAAU /Die Anarchistische abendunterhalhaltung/  (BE)
MBIRATIONS (A / Zimbabwe)
Kapital Band 1 (DE / A)

Saturday November 27, Archa theatre, 8 p.m.
Tamtam Orchestra (CZ)
Pavel Fajt / Drumtrek (CZ)
Tshikuna (CZ)

Sunday November 28, Kaštan – Unijazz scene, 5 p.m.
Malá Alternativa
live performances/competition of new projects and beginning bands, supported by SAI

Monday November 29, Kaštan – Unijazz scene, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Software as a musical instrument
workshop – using music software in music production, plus music software-based live performance in the evening.

Tuesday November 30, Kaštan – Unijazz scene, 7 p.m.
Skrytý p?vab byrokracie (CZ) + Mat?j&Miloš theatre (opening night of the project entitled “Návrat” / “Comeback”)

Tuesday November 30, Kaštan – Unijazz scene, 9 p.m.
Ridina Ahmedová / Hlasokraj (CZ)

Wednesday December 1, Kaštan – Unijazz scene, 8 p.m.
Mikoláš Chadima + Pavel Richter (CZ)
Scrape (FR)

Wednesday December 1, Matrix, 8 p.m.
Aoki Takamasa (JAP)
Yoshihiro Hanno (JAP)
Peter Szely (A)
Michal Mariánek (CZ)
release event > muteme.point.0 compilation

Thursday December 2, Matrix, 8 p.m.
Moglass (UKR)
Ludzie (PL)
Jackie-o Motherfucker (USA)

Friday December 3, Matrix, 8 p.m.
Barbara Idijot (SK)
Max Tundra (UK)
Christian Kleine (DE)
Man's Best friend (USA)
DJ Thomas Morr (DE)

Saturday December 4, Matrix, 8 p.m.
Enik (DE)
Kevin Blechdom (USA)
Jason Forrest/Donna Summer (USA)
Dj Michael Rieger (DE)

During the whole festival:
Kaštan – Unijazz scene:
Exhibition “Czech Music Scene 1989-2004” in cooperation with Popmuseum (popular music museum and archive) until the end of December
Unijazz reading room: Exhibition of photographs from past years of festival Alternativa, discussions etc.

Further Information: www.unijazz.cz

Organised by the Unijazz society (www.unijazz.cz) in cooperation with Tamizdat (www.tamizdat.org), Muteme (www.muteme.cz), Starcastic (www.starcastic.cz), Sperm (http://sperm.fkdm.org), Amp (www.rock-jazz.cz), Rachot Agency (www.rachot.cz)