Festival Mladí ladí Jazz to Feature Global Stars in Unique Venues

This year’s Mladí ladí jazz festival is set to bring an impressive lineup of global music stars and innovative performers to unconventional venues across Prague and other Czech cities.

Highlighting the festival will be Oscar-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla, who will perform for Czech audiences at the Municipal House on October 7.

Santaolalla, an Argentinian composer celebrated for his work on the films Brokeback Mountain and Babel and the popular game and TV series The Last of Us, has earned numerous accolades including two Academy Awards, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe.

You can get your ticket here.

A Diverse Lineup of International Talent

Santaolalla isn’t the only big name at this year’s festival. American saxophonist Colin Stetson, known for his unique musical style and contributions to the soundtrack of the video game Red Dead Redemption II, will also perform in Prague. Stetson, who has collaborated with artists like Lou Reed and the Chemical Brothers, will take the stage on October 22 at the Church of the Sacred Heart on Jiřího z Poděbrad Square.

Besides these headliners, the festival will showcase several young and promising musical acts. The London-based duo Blue Lab Beats, winners of a Grammy Award and celebrated for their fusion of jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat, and electronica, will perform on October 13 at Rock Café in Prague and on October 14 at the Jazz Tibet Club in Olomouc. The duo, consisting of Mr DM (David Mrakpor) and NK-OK (Namali Kwaten), first gained attention with remixes of hits by Dua Lipa and Rag’n’Bone Man.

Another exciting addition to the lineup is ECHT!, a Belgian group known for its eclectic blend of jazz, electronic, and hip-hop influences. They will perform at Fuchs2 on October 2, returning to Prague after a successful appearance at last year’s Mladí ladí fest. The group, featuring guitarist Florent Jeunieaux, bassist Federico Pecoraro, pianist Dorian Dumont, and drummer Martin Méreau, won acclaim in the Red Bull Elektropedia competition in 2020 and is known for its dynamic live performances that challenge traditional jazz norms.

Rounding out the festival’s lineup is the Irish duo Negro Impacto, who will perform on October 25 at Jazz Dock in Prague. Comprised of singer Chi Chi and producer Laurenc, the duo has gained attention for their blend of neo-soul, r’n’b, rock, and funk.

Bringing Global Jazz to Unique Prague Venues

Festival director Jan Gregar emphasizes the diversity and uniqueness of this year’s program, which includes a mix of legendary artists and fresh talent across various genres. “In this year’s dramaturgy, we are going across genres and scenes. Look forward to electronic, soul, and funk. In addition to now-legendary artists such as Gustavo Santaolalla and Colin Stetson, we are also inviting progressive projects such as Blue Lab Beats, ECHT!, and Negro Impacto to the Czech Republic. In addition, we have also prepared a workshop for music producers with Grammy winners Blue Lab Beats,” he says.

Workshops and Emerging Talent

This year, the festival will host a special workshop led by Blue Lab Beats, offering music producers a chance to learn from the Grammy-winning duo. The workshop, held at Rock Café on the afternoon of October 13, will explore how to blend genres like jazz, hip-hop, and electronica, along with practical demonstrations of their production techniques.

Participants will also get insights into their non-musical production careers and the duo’s journey from remixing tracks to winning international awards. The workshop is open to the public for a fee, but ticket holders for the evening concert can attend for free after registration.

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more