Publikováno: 30.1.2025
Nine new names have been announced for the line-up of the international festival Colours of Ostrava. Between July 16 and 19, musicians from Korea, Taiwan, China and Japan will perform in Dolní Vítkovice. Jung Jaeil, Korean composer and the author of the music for the hit TV series Squidward Tentacles or films such as Parasite and Mickey 17, will have a special performance together with the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava.
The atmosphere will be completed by visuals from the prestigious graphic studio Fluks. DPR IAN will have his Czech premiere on the last day of the festival. The artists complement the already announced performers Sting, The Chainsmokers, Iggy Pop, Justice, Snow Patrol and others.
Asian culture? A global phenomenon
Crossing cultural, genre or age boundaries continues. The upcoming 22nd year of Colours of Ostrava will introduce many performers in the industrial area of Vítkovice. “Since its inception, the Colours of Ostrava festival has focused on mapping interesting music from all around the world. Our ambition is to present music that is exotic, new, innovative, or deeply rooted in different cultures and nations. However, in recent years, we have been particularly dazzled by Asian culture, which has become a global phenomenon of the present,” says Zlata Holušová, the artistic director of the festival.
One of the most prominent players in the current cultural wave is Korea, whose work can surpass Hollywood production as well as established music labels. K-pop, a symbol of energy and perfection, together with iconic films such as the Oscar-winning Parasite and series such as Squidward Tentacles, demonstrate the strength of Korean storytelling. These stories are also complemented by captivating music created by brilliant artists such as Jung Jaeil – one of the heroes of the upcoming Colours of Ostrava festival.
Janáček Phillharmonic Ostrava
Jung Jaeil will have a special program created specifically for the festival. On stage, he will be joined by the players of the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava (JFO) and a projection from the graphic studio Fluks, which created the graphics for Lady Gaga's remix album or accompanied Olivia Rodrigo on her last years world tour. The more than hour-long show will feature both the original work of the Korean composer and music known to viewers from television and film. Fans of the hit TV series Squidward Tentacles will experience a unique performance of melodies using traditional Korean instruments, and listeners will be able to observe inspiration from Handel, Beethoven or Strauss in the music composed for Bong Joon-Ho's films. In addition to the Oscar-winning Parasite, there will also be the adventure film Okja or a preview of the anticipated sci-fi Mickey 17, which will be released in Czech cinemas at the beginning of March.
"Performing at music festivals is nothing new for us. However, each such project is unique, and highlights our experience from so-called crossover concerts, which connect popular music with a traditional symphony ensemble. We want to have the widest possible scope in dramaturgy and performance, because we want to attract the widest audience through music. I am convinced that thanks to this, visitors to the Colours of Ostrava festival will be able to get to know a different, highly attractive face of our philharmonic,” says the director of the JFO Jan Žemla.
The largest production in the Czech Republic
DPR IAN is a versatile artist who started out in Australia as a drummer in a rock band, later became a YouTube inspiration for budding dancers, and at the age of twenty-one he won an audition in Seoul to become part of the K-pop group C-Clown. All this invaluable experience led him to video production and inspired him to create his own creative collective, DPR (Dream Perfect Regime). “I dare say that this will be the largest production we have seen in this genre in the Czech Republic so far. Even though DPR IAN does not fall purely into the K-pop category, we enjoy its overlaps and straddling across styles. This performance will also be powerful thanks to the musician's meticulous attention to visual and movement aesthetics," says chief dramaturge Filip Košťálek, the recent winner of the New Kid On The Block award for young professionals in the music industry at the European Festival Awards.
The number of guests arriving in the Moravian-Silesian Region from the Asian continent is supplemented by indie rock singer-songwriter Lee Seung Yoon from Korea, geeky electronic duo Fat Hamster & Kang New, and electronic-rap duo Hypnosis Therapy. The band Outlet Drift and singer-songwriter Chih-Chih, Chih-Yin Kuo will arrive from Taiwan with their experimental psychedelic rock. Japan will be represented in the growing line-up by established DJ and producer ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, while China will be represented by musician Ajing with his modern take on traditional music.
Other confirmed performers include Sting, Shaggy, Iggy Pop, Justice, Noga Erez, Calin, Snow Patrol, Alvaro Soler, Sofi Tukker, J.A.R. and The Chainsmokers.
The Colours of Ostrava festival will traditionally be accompanied by the Meltingpot discussion forum. This year's edition will take place from Wednesday 16th to Saturday 19th July. All ticket categories are currently on sale, including camping options. For young visitors under 21, the last Fresh tickets are available for 2,490 CZK, their price will soon be five hundred CZK higher.
Information on the program, including current ticket prices, can be found at the Colours of Ostrava website.
Jurečkova 1935/12
702 00 Moravská Ostrava a Přívoz
Prokešovo náměstí 1803/8
Moravská Ostrava a Přívoz
Nádražní 164/215
702 00 Moravská Ostrava a Přívoz
Peterkova 1152/14
721 00 Ostrava Svinov
Horní 1664/63a
70030 Ostrava - Jih