Prague: Free International Music Festival June 23-25, 2011

Rocking out to the United Island's music festival in 2009. Photo: PavelM

By Joann Plockova in Prague—

Warm nights, world music and an island location; it might not sound like Prague, but it is indeed. It’s the city’s annual United Islands: a free international music festival and one of Prague’s most anticipated summer events.

Now in its 7th year, this year’s United Islands Music Festival is scheduled for June 23-25, 2011. Featuring 150 performers from around the world, this unique event is held in 20 clubs and nine stages on Prague’s Strelecky, Slovansky (Zofin), Kampa and Detsky Islands.

United Islands Music Festival

The event kicks off on Thursday with all performances held in clubs throughout the city including Akropolis, Lucerna, Roxy, Cross Club and Jazz Dock – a newly built venue that, in the same spirit of the event, sits above a lock on the Vltava River. On Friday and Saturday the music moves to the islands, with the main stage set up on Strelecky Island.

Including both established stars and new discoveries, artists range from Deolinda, a Portuguese Fado-inspired band to Russkaja who describe their music as “a mixture of trash metal, world jazz, funky stuff and Frank Zappa-esque rock.” The headliner is British electro group Audio Bullys, who are making their debut Prague performance.

Along with the music, drinks and food will be on offer as well. Check the Web site for specific programming and how to get there. Just listen for the music pulsating throughout the city!