Clubs in Prague: The most beautiful, the most legendary and the most funky!
Apparently, we should use recommendations. Having researched our contacts, Euroradio approached a very interesting person – Tobi, a German who ran the only vinyl discs shop in Prague for five years! The right chap, indeed!
Перш чым раіць якія-небудзь клубы, Тобі папярэдзіў наконт музычных густаў пражан:
“Прага — гэта горад хаўзу! Вінаватыя ў гэтым галандцы, якія натоўпам кінуліся ў Прагу, калі абрынулася жалезная заслона. Галандскія дыджэі запаланілі пражскія клубы, гэта быў сапраўдны бум! З таго часу і пайшло...”.
ЗBefore advising on clubs, Tobi warned about the musical tastes of Prague residents.
“Prague is the city of house! The Dutch who dashed to Prague after the Iron Curtain was down are to blame for this. Dutch DJs were booming indeed...”
It was some 20 years ago. That’s when the most legendary club Roxy http://www.roxy.cz/ started up таго часу — гэта каля 20 гадоў таму. “Роксі” (Roxy).
Euroradio was happy to stay in the hotel which is in the same building as Club Roxy. Almost every evening we could observe the beautiful youth that was hanging out near the entrance. When going back to the room by elevator, we could hear ‘boom-boom’ somewhere from the under the ground.
The underground floor used to accommodate a theater, while Roxy started up as a small bar next door. Years passed, and the club now occupies the whole venue with a theater stage, balconies and a unique ambiance.
In the evening, Roxy hosts concerts, at night – parties with popular DJs, while the upper floor is home to the Contemporary Art Gallery NOD. What else?!
Але наш спецыяліст Тобі адзначыў: “За апошнія гады "Роксі" вельмі змяніўся, і не ў лепшы бок. Замест таго, каб развівацца і прыдумляць новае, яны пачалі запрашаць адных і тых жа дыджэяў і музыкаў зноў, і зноў, і зноў. А што, людзі прыходзяць — ну і хопіць. Таму кожны год — адна і тая ж праграма: Noisia, Pendulum і гэтак далей”.
But our expert Tobi noted: “Over the past years, Roxy has changed backwardly. Instead of developing and offering something new, they began inviting the same DJs and musicians all over again. That’s why they have the same program every year -- Noisia, Pendulum and so on”.
But Cross Club http://www.crossclub.cz stands out for its constant development and creativity in terms of the program and the interior “Крос Клаб” (Cross Club).
ГThis club resembles a mechanics and metal sculptures museum. The owner designs everything from stairs to tables by himself. He does it carefully to meet your mood. As a result, the building is filled with new metal things which prevent you from entering the club as you stand and watch this wonder. “I can’t imagine such a club in the West. The owners would be subdued by various bans. They would be told there was no fire safety or visitors could damage their heads or something like that… Here, please you can do whatever you want, so the owner is taking the benefit of the situation”, says Tobi.
Yet Tobi found shortcomings in Cross Club as well. He said there are too many crazy tourists in summer and that the dance floor is several times smaller than the bar, because Czechs prefer drinking and sitting to drinking and dancing. But he concluded on a positive note: “This is definitely a place worth visiting!”
Chapeau Rouge www.chapeaurouge.cz is yet another place on our list. It is located near Roxy, but has a reputation of the hottest hang-out joint in Prague. The club occupies three floors: a huge bar on the ground floor; minus 2 – a disco; minus 3 – a concert stage.
It has everything: hardcore, trash, reggie, beer, wine and allegedly lots of drugs that are sold right from the bar! To cut it short, this is total freedom which both tourists and locals are looking for.
Euroradio risked going there one evening… Total freedom, indeed… But we were not warned that Chapeau is a place with the one-night-stand attitude! Euroradio ended up fencing off tourists who were annoying with their desire to get to know you better.
However, It was Chapeau that hosted the only minimal party in Prague over a week. Spanish DJ Funk D'Void played there.
Tobi: “There are huge problems with minimal in Prague and the Czech Republic in general. You should not mention the word “minimal” when you are organizing a party. Otherwise, nobody will show up”, explained Tobi.
Do you know why? The Czechs do not consider minimal as music and call it a boring ‘copypaste”. Moreover, bottles are thrown at the kings of minimal!
“When Richie Hawtin played here, only 50 people came and ended up throwing bottles at him. I doubt that he will ever come back here again”.
So, don’t waste time, looking for something that is not in Prague. After the most legendary club, the most beautiful and hottest place, drop in the house boat U Bukanýra http://www.bukanyr.cz , electric and clash paradise Joy and live-concert Akropolis and you will be happy!
Photo: Mila Kotka
