Metronome Prague 2024 marks the seventh event in its history, with this one-of-a-kind festival taking place right in the heart of the historic city centre, within wonderful picturesque park surroundings, and at a time of the year perfect for enjoying three days of top-notch entertainment.
Metronome, especially based on my experience of this year’s festival, is an event that showcases a wide-variety of genres and artists. From top British pop-stars, to Czech rappers, German rock bands, French DJs and everything in between. With an eclectic mix of attendees (young, old, groups, couples and plenty of families too), this was a weekend everyone could enjoy.
And getting there was a breeze too, with the site being walkable from the northern part of the city, with numerous trams links, plentiful hire bikes / scooters, and taxis on top, getting back to your accommodation at the end of a great day of music was a breeze.
The festival’s location allowed attendees to enjoy the stunning surroundings of Prague before the day’s musical entertainment began, with beautiful bridges, the historic Old Town Square featuring the renowned astronomical clock, and numerous museums and galleries…it’s truly a tourist’s dream. And with most European locations having direct flights into airports a mere 20 minutes drive to Prague itself, international attendees could arrive stress free and ready to party.
2024 Metronome, much like previous years, hosted top headliners across the board, featuring BRIT award winner Raye, Glastonbury favourites The Last Dinner Party, international stars Milky Chance, Tom Grennan and Michael Kiwanuka, legends Kosheen and recent Coachella and Google I/O eccentric performer Marc Rebillet.
But that was just the tip of the iceberg! Across the seven different stages (including a podcast setup), there was always a mixture of dance, rap, rock or pop on offer, including Eurovision star Dadi Freyr, Czech rap-metal from Redzed, German synth band Zimmer90, the pop tones of Eugenie, UK grime from Ghetts, French electro-swing by Caravan Palace, international DJs and podcast conversations.
And if that wasn’t enough, there was plenty of great food and drink on offer, from local Czech specialties to international options across numerous food stalls and bars. Each of the stages had drinks and food close by, and if you timed things just right, there was rarely a queue for any of them.
Helpfully one of the sponsors of the event was handing out free honey whiskey on arrival, meaning patrons didn’t even have to attempt to queue for their first tipple! Many of the food stalls were centred in the refreshment zone, accessible from a lovely tree lined cobbled path…the perfect spot to make the most of the glorious sunshine we were blessed with in general (apart from the obligatory festival rain on Friday!).
Thursday
Before making my way into the festival I managed to explore the local vicinity, including the events namesake and logo inspiration, the Metronome clock. Set within a vast local park and with a view of the old town and river, it was a lovely vista to soak in prior to the busyness of what was about to occur.
The first day of Metronome Prague proper was kicked off on the main stage by two big Czech acts, November 2nd, a band oozing with indie vibes, then Lenny, with her raw and honest form of pop. As with most of the non-English speaking acts, plenty of the songs were actually in English, and frankly with the talent on display, even those that weren’t were great…
Talent is talent, and good music is good music regardless of the language. Both artists were a lovely introduction to the event, with patrons filling in, taking their free whiskey on entry, and moving across the site to explore the various stages amid the glorious heat.
Then with a welcoming roar Michael Kiwanuka was greeted by the amassed crowd. Michaels reserved and relaxed tones were echoed by his calm yet articulate guitar & piano playing, like a friendly hug for anyone in earshot. Performing many of his most famous hits, including those that deservedly won him Mercury Prizes and BRIT awards, the crowd were occasionally transported back in time with often epic music that felt like it was from a previous decade. If you know Michales stuff, you know what I’m talking about.
Switching up in tone, I made my way over to the Rap Club stage to view a performance by Afro-German hip-hop artist Albi X. This was one to remember! The energy from the songs on display, as well as the dancing that flowed from him, was infectious.
The crowd fed off his every word and move. At one point making his way down to the barrier to sing with the audience, and then into the crowd itself to dance amongst them, they cleared a circle for him to perform not just for them, but with them. A man with true style and intensity that was impossible to ignore. One take away track would be “Bibamba” …catchy to say the least!
And all too quickly, it was back to the main stage for the last main headliners, Bristonian dance legends Kosheen. With a sounds-scape perfect for large festivals, lead singer Sian Evans captivated the Prague crowd for every tune, holding the stage like the seasoned pro she is, occasionally breaking to interact directly with the crowd with her friendly & warm personality. All of this was matched by a clear demonstration of the quality music on display, including top hits “Catch” and “Hide U”, both timeless examples of their work.
At this point it was 11:30pm, where most festivals going would move in their DJ phase, however there were still yet more performers available, including Icelandic Eurovision star and all round creative Dadi Freyr. With Dadi representing his nation in the delayed 2021 Eurovision, then appearing again in 2023 to cover Atomic Kittens “Whole again”, his quirky yet extremely talented pop musings were a great representation of the musical variation on display at Metronome.
With the Moon Club stage filled with adoring fans and people new to his music well past midnight, it was an absolute pleasure to be seeing him and his band live for the second time in less than 12 months. Yet again, this is an artist who engages with the crowd like they are a group of his close friends, laughing and joking and guiding them through a set full of great tracks, especially “Think about things” and the aforementioned “Whole again” cover.
After Dadi’s set it was a brief move over to the Rap Club, which at this point (12:30am) was being used as a second dance tent, occupied by Czech DJ Rido, some great tunes and certainly something that could take you into the early hours of the morning with a smile on your face and a few extra thousand steps recorded from a LOT of dancing!
Friday
The first part of the day provided me with the opportunity of some more sightseeing, this time venturing into the heart of the city and visiting the old town. Walking through the charming alleyways and streets towards the large town square, I was able to take in the historical architecture, including the amazing Astronomical Clock and Charles Bridge, as well as various statues, traditional activities and a fair bit of people watching. I was also able to grab some lovely local food and drink whilst soaking in the still sunshine!
Then all too quickly it was back onto the festival site for the day’s entertainment to begin, and first up on the Electro stage was French singer Eugenie. Filled with emotionally rich dance music inspired tracks, performed with passion and engagement, the set included several great songs and something I can certainly see going down well on a much larger stage…recommendation from this one would be “Popstar shi*t”, a newly released track with attitude.
I was also able to wander around some of the other stages at this time, checking out part of sets from Blair Davie and Roxom3n, across the Park stage and amphitheatre -like CT Art Fontana stage, and these intermittent explorations were lovely, being free to discover is one of the perks of this festivals setup.
Once back at the main stage, it was time for the first (and arguably a band who should be further up the lineup, especially given the rave reviews of their Glastonbury set a few weeks later) headliner of the day, The Last Dinner Party. This is a band I was aware of previously, to an extent, but after this performance I am a card-carrying FAN of them… wow! Captivating doesn’t even come close to describing the show they put on for those in attendance.
By this point in the day the predicted (and pretty standard at a festival) rain had arrived, but it did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of anyone witnessing this set, with plenty of singing and excitement in the air, and lead singer Abigail Morris having an almost hypnotic hold on us all keeping that energy up the whole time. Playing plenty of their top tracks, including “Nothing Matters”, “Sinner” and “The Feminine Urge”, they also performed an amazing and sultry cover of “Wicked Game” (originally by Chis Isaak). Honestly I cannot speak / write more highly of a performance than this one, and if you see a chance of catching them live in the future, take it without question, you won’t be disappointed.
With a momentary break in the rain, I headed over to the Park stage (the secondary main outdoor location), grabbing some more delicious local Czech food on the way, to see Zimmer90. The German synth-pop band, famous for their viral hit “What Love Is” and its holistic use in 2023 recap posts on social media, put on a charming and honest set.
They were able to humorously adapt to some technical issues with grace and professionalism, which won a lot of people over, but only those that hadn’t already been by the pleasant and engrossing duos music. Plenty of tracks to checkout on your streaming platform of choice that would be an absolute pleasure to listen along to.
Another of the weekends main headliners were up next, German rock collective Milky Chance. Renowned for their international hit “Stolen Dance”, they entered the fray with the return of the rain, the colourful stage lighting and stylish attire matching the joyful spirit of the crowd (despite the downpour). This was epitomised by scenes of carefree singing and dancing in the drizzle, sometimes barefoot, with colourful ponchos as far as the eye could see.
This was a visage that perfectly represented the vibe of Metronome. Great music, good facilities, and relaxed atmosphere that encouraged breezy and calm fun. Milky Chance continued to wow with their high quality & uniquely styled tracks, fusing electronic and acoustic influences, clearly demonstrating why they have earnt hundreds of millions of streams.
As their set wrapped up and the weather started to ease, it was the perfect setting for the eccentric improvised stylings of Marc Rebillet. The charismatic American has a vast and loyal fanbase for his unique approach to music, one which has earned him spots at Coachella and a recent Google I/O event (as well as Lollapalooza in the past).
Although Mr Rebillets set is mostly in the moment, he was able to roll out a couple of his more well known tracks (those that have been viral sensations), like “Your new morning alarm” and “Girls Club”. Marc also had top-notch crowd work, as during the set he accepted a rather glorious robe from a fan (part of his previously standard attire on his popular streams), climbed down into the crowd to perform arm in arm with them, and even had someone up stage to create a unique track with.
David, clearly displaying a sign advocating for his throat singing prowess…made an offer Marc could not turn down. Before anyone knew it Marc had recorded some of his throat singing and turned into an energetic dance banger, accompanied by some unique dancing on David’s part. This was one of those sets anyone witnessing just wanted to go on and on, and to be able to see Marc live was a true honour (For both me and David!).
And then it was another short hop back to the mainstage to see another unique and distinct headliner, Meute, a German techno marching band. Yes, you read that correctly, an eleven piece band playing traditional marching band instruments (think trumpets, trombones, drums etc…) but covering well known European techno and house tracks.
It was truly a sight to behold, and an unusual headliner that makes Metronome Prague standout amongst other festivals. The crowd ate up every track of what was an amazing set, as they rattled through arrangements that helped attendees to keep the party going into the evening.
During this time I was also able to head over to the Rap club, where I was able to catch some of a completely juxtaposing performance by Czech rap-metal artist Redzed. This was a different kind of energy, a raw and unfiltered one which filled the indoor club-like stage, with metal and rap fans equally entertained by Redzed and his colleagues.
There was plenty of head nodding, arm waving and the occasional moshpit-eque circle being formed during songs that although unknown by some in the venue, almost subconsciously encourages you to sing along and join in. Stumbling across this act unplanned was another example of how the variety on offer at Metronome is an absolutely great selling point.
Saturday
The final day of Metronome Prague brought back the amazing weather and heat. Getting on site early, I was able to sample some more of the food on offer from one of the multitude of stalls whilst enjoying the glorious conditions and gazing at the giant ferris wheel (a constant landmark over the three days). The space was a lovely area of relative quiet amongst the wealth of entertainment, great to have available if your social battery was running low and you needed to recharge.
First up was a brief stop to see some of the performance from the S.V.A. String Trio including two talented flautists from the Prague 6 ZUŠ. This pallet cleanser of culture was a lovely warm up for what was to come. Which didn’t take long to arrive as Manchester born Lusaint took to the main stage.
Known initially for her distinct and popular covers of songs like “Don’t let go” and “Wicked game” (both part of her Metronome set), she’s now moved on to releasing some of original material she’s been writing for years, culminating in EP “Self sabotage”. Lusaints soleful and often Jazz inspired vocals were clearly demonstrated during her time in Prague, and it’s clear she’ll be a name to watch over the next few years.
Once Lucaint had wrapped up, it was onto another voyage of discovery, visiting the various auxiliary stages to see what was on offer. As I did, I strolled past plenty of cool outdoor bars, with deck chairs, hammocks, various drink options, even a skatepark teaching how to skateboard! More variety available for attendees!
However, I was able to resist those options and soak in an amazing show from CMAT. Short for Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, this Irish singer-songwriter and chart topper, accompanied by her band, smashed out country inspired rock and pop with a quirky spin, keeping the happy patrons fully engrossed as they danced and sang in the sun. Then, after a quick dip in the Moon Club to see some great acoustic rock from Czech-Irish artist Joshua Curran, I headed over to the main stage for the next headliners…Ride.
The English indie / alt-rock legends, known for pioneering the shoegaze subgenre, owned the stage as the longtime pros they are. With little fanfare, they expertly played engaging 90s rock which, even if you aren’t aware of their back catalogue, was a lovely way to spend an hour in the Prague sunshine. For many they’ll be an undiscovered gem, and their selection for the Metronome lineup would have opened a lot of eyes (and ears) to their quality music.
Bouncing back to the Park stage, I was able to see one of the artists I had on my hitlist prior to the event, Ghetts. This talented British grime MC has a top-notch skill for hard-hitting lyrics and intricate rhymes; here he energetically performed a plethora of hits from his numerous albums. Punchy track after punchy track, you were able to feel and hear the intelligent yet intense verses and chorus flow from the stage.
Ghetts confidently stolled from side to side, and during the right song, vigorously jumped and danced, showing a man who was clearly in the zone. For those who made their way over to the Park stage were very happy that they did, the crowd full of smiling faces, all dancing, vibing and loving the sights before them. Unfortunately it went by all too soon, with many (me included) wanting a lot more time with Mr Ghetts.
But there wasn’t time, as Tom Grennan was awaiting the masses, and the masses were absolutely awaiting him…with all potential viewing angles of the main stage filled in advance of him starting his set, and based on what followed, it was understandable why. Mr Grennan held the audience in his hands from the very first moment, as the award winning British singer-songwriter, with a slew of hits under his belt, brought his signature positivity and brightness to Prague.
Covering tracks like “All Goes wrong”, “Little Bit of Love”, “Lionheart”, “By Your Side” and “Remind Me” to name just a few, he not only grabbed the viewers attention, but orchestrated them at times in a masterful demonstration of a top crowd work (only possible with talent and a true down-to-earth nature).
As he moved through hit after hit, he was able to incorporate the proxy mascot for the festival, a giant blue Lizard! (brought along by a festival sponsor, who successfully handed out hundreds of blue trilby hats to attendees over the three days). Managing to get him up on stage, he danced and interacted with the mascot, and even helped throw out plenty of hats, all whilst performing a track (surely making both the Metronome organisers, and their sponsors, very happy).
Toms time on the main stage ended as the sun started to set, and it signalled another migration, this time to see French dance duo The Blaze on the Park stage. These Paris based cousins performed face to face, seemingly recreating their top hits on the spot, with the ambient electro-dance tracks producing an almost tribal atmosphere. Playing multiple top tunes, including “Territory” and “She”, they clearly demonstrated why they have hundreds of millions of plays on Spotify alone.
And so we made it to the main headliner, the artist who made BRIT Awards history when she won six prizes in one year, beating the previous records from Blur, Adele and Harry Styles… the one and only Raye. The stage was set up like a whitewashed jazz club, with big band players and backing singers flanking her at either side, perfectly framing the star of the show. I’ve already mentioned how many of the acts were masters at engaging with the crowd, but Raye was another level.
Conversing with the audience en-mass in a way that felt they were old pals around the dinner table. Brutally honest, touchingly so at points (especially during the track “Ice cream man”), laughing, joking and everything in between. She talked us all through her journey so far, the ups and down, the successes and failures, punctuated with the landmark tracks from her career so far.
From dance tune features, to R&B songs and jazz inspired hits, most conveying important messages and covering big subjects (sexual abuse, body dysmorphia, drug addiction, anxiety etc…), all this whilst creating an atmosphere indistinguishable from international superstars that Raye has written for in the past, like Beyonce.
Performing tracks like “Mary Jane”, “Escapism” and “Worth it” from her album My 21st Century Blues, she was also able to cover some of hear earlier features, including “Bed” (originally with David Guetta) and viral hit “Prada” (originally with D-Block Europe). Elegant and sophisticated when called for, down to hearth and raucous at other times (especially during an opportune twerk break!), it was a true honour to be able to see the performance up close, and another amazing booking for Metronome Prague to add to its history.
With Rayes set finishing at midnight, there was still plenty of partying left available on site across three of the other stages. I wandered back to the Moon Club to see some of Caravan Palace, and that party I mentioned…yeah, it was in full swing (literally).
This French electro-swing band had packed out the venue, with every person dancing like there was no tomorrow, amongst the bright lights and funky music on offer. I left the Moon Club with this image in my mind, the parting goodbye image that encapsulated the festival. Patrons young and old, from an assortment of nations, carefree and upbeat whilst listening to an amazing variety of music.
Overall my experience at Metronome Prague was top-quality. I’ve discovered artists I would never have been able to otherwise, in a friendly and welcoming setting, with great facilities, all in a beautiful city. A festival without the chaos or trouble you may experience elsewhere, busy but not enough where you can’t move. Lovely food and drink, lovely people, and amazing artists…what more could you ask for?
If you want a great city break combined with an awesome festival, make sure to book for 2025, you won’t regret it.
Words + photography by Andrew Roast
