Festival Alternativa 2024 Prague

Festival Alternativa 2024, taking place from November 15 to 23, promises an intense musical experience for all those who seek innovation and boldness in music.

The annual festival unites legendary names with new discoveries, exploring uncharted paths between the local and international scenes. This year, attendees will have the chance to discover various music genres, from experimental jazz to improvisational music that transcends traditional genre boundaries. Alternativa thus offers a space where different cultures and approaches in music intersect, creating a unique platform for fans of innovative sounds.

With a longstanding tradition dating back to the 1990s, Alternativa is one of the few festivals actively avoiding mainstream conventions and commercial programming. Visitors can look forward not only to exceptional concerts but also to creative workshops, discussions, and accompanying programs where they can delve deeper into the philosophy and approach of the festival.

About the Festival:

Festival Alternativa is one of the longest-running showcases of experimental music in Prague. Since the 1990s, it has offered a unique alternative to mainstream commercial festivals, connecting international and local artists. At Alternativa, legends of the experimental and free jazz scenes perform alongside emerging talents, providing audiences with extraordinary experiences.

Past festival guests have included artists such as John Zorn, Księżyc, Laibach, and avant-garde projects like Supersilent and Deathprod. In recent years, Alternativa has also introduced prominent names from the electronic scene, such as Beatrice Dillon and Pharmakon.

The festival is also known for its unique performances where musicians collaborate only for a particular evening. Alternativa provides a platform for independent Czech collectives like Jednota, Genot Centre, and BCAA System, giving space to the local underground.

The International Project Access

As part of the festival, the Access project is an international initiative connecting artists from different countries. The project focuses on experimental music in unconventional settings, such as school buildings. During the 2024 and 2025 residencies, Access will expand to Prague schools, where six artists will work with students on unique projects, presented in public rehearsals and premieres.

Alternativa offers not only encounters with music that breaks genre boundaries but also inspiration for personal creativity, openness to new perspectives, and community connections.

Locations:

• Troja Chateau: A baroque gem built in the late 17th century, known for its architecture and artistic décor.
• Atrium Žižkov: A cultural center in Žižkov offering concerts in a renovated baroque church and an outdoor garden.
• Punctum – Krásovka: A community space known for music, exhibitions, and experimental art.
• ARCHA+: A progressive arts and theater space located in a historical rondocubist building.
• MeetFactory: Founded by artist David Černý, this center hosts music, theater, exhibitions, and international artist residencies.
• Čítárna Unijazz: A cozy reading room on Husitská Street offering author readings, concerts, film screenings, and discussions for culture lovers.

PROGRAM:

Friday, November 15 – Atrium Žižkov

• 7:00 PM – Re-Patched
• 8:00 PM – Linnéa Talp
• 9:00 PM – dans les arbres

Saturday, November 16 – Archa

• 8:00 PM – Jenny Hval: I Want to Be a Machine

Tuesday, November 19 – Čítárna Unijazz

• 8:00 PM – Vidět hutnou hudbu & Mica Trombini + \unexCoder

Friday, November 22 – MeetFactory

• 6:00 PM – Live jam: Hledáme společný zvuk
• 8:00 PM – Georgy Bagdasarov
• 9:00 PM – Eryck Abecassis
• 10:00 PM – Mathieu Chamagne & Lê Quan Ninh
• 11:00 PM – Puce Mary

Saturday, November 23 – MeetFactory

• 4:00 PM – Mathieu Chamagne: Volumes
• 8:00 PM – Adéla Konečná
• 9:00 PM – Far East Network
• 10:00 PM – Tittingur presents BVRKA (A/V live set)
• 11:00 PM – Praed + Michaela Turcerová

WHERE: Various locations in Prague
WHEN: November 15-23, 2024
PRICE: 950 CZK

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