By Phil Williams
Photos by David Caro Rolando

Dotted with beautiful sunshine and more free entertainment than a column of bubble-wrap, last weekend saw the fifth jubilee of the Prague-wide festival, United Islands of Prague. This increasingly ambitious, predominantly free festival saw relaxation, arts and entertainment spread across the Vltava during the day of Saturday 20th, while both Friday and Saturday nights saw a variety of musical acts spread across the bars and clubs of Prague.

After a day of world music on Thursday, the festival opened in earnest on Friday 20th at the desolately moody Meet Factory, with Czech’s own Agon Orchestra’s free performance. This set a tone of alternative music, as gritty urban chants were spoken over dramatic classical music, alongside an exhibition of historical music posters adorning the warehouse’s gallery.

The main body of the festival came in the sedate but elaborate party that spread across the islands during Saturday daytime. The main stage on Strelak Island pleased large crowds through the day, with a range of acts including an energetic combination of flamenco and hip-hop from Spain’s La Shica. The greatest crowd-pleaser, however, was Prague’s own Toxique, mixing daringly original pop-music with a wide selection of bizarre props and clothing.

The river were riddled with alternative stages for music, presenting hip-hop, folk, jazz and more, all catered for by an international selection of bands. America’s jazz group Phishbacher was a highlight on the Kampa bank, where hackey-sacks and dogs were rife in an afternoon of untamed relaxation.

The music was only part of the fun, though, as stalls and tents lined the festival, offering, arts, crafts, food and drink. There was something for everyone: free hair-styling and temporary tattoos, interpretative dancers, decoration for bicycles and home-spun clothing, to name just a few. The prize for maximum relaxation has to go to SEAT Ibiza’s tent and island, however. Offering DJs, table-football and a barge resembling a tropical island (complete with sand and palm trees), the festival’s sponsors delivered admirably.

The festival continued into the night at a variety of hotspots, but ultimately concluded back at the Meet Factory, where the after-party rocked Prague into late dawn with good music, good people and great fajitas. The high-point of the after-party, and indeed of the whole weekend, came from the encapsulating electronic groove of headliners The Whip, from Manchester.

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