Prague’s Metronome festival adds a third day, Macklemore joins the lineup

This year’s edition of the Metronome festival in Prague will be three days instead of two, running June 18–20 at Výstaviště, and will be modeled on Woodstock. The name is being changed to Metronome Prague – Music and Arts Fair.

In addition to the previously announced headliner Beck, there will also be US rapper Macklemore. UK rapper and producer Skepta, and UK electronic duo Underworld plus many more Czech and international acts. Macklemore will headline on the opening day, Beck will be on June 19, while Skepta and Underworld will close out the festival.

Macklemore’s music videos have been viewed more than three billion times and he is one of only two rappers to have a Diamond-certified single.

Other acts scheduled in the fifth edition of the festival include London indie-pop duo Oh Wonder, Zambian singer Sampa The Great, UK dream pop duo Still Corners, British-Nigerian artist Flohio, and Ukrainian teacher turned rapper Alyona Alyona.

The Czech scene will be represented by Tata Bojs, Lenny, Eurovision alumni Mikolas Josef, Kafka Band, Moimir Papalescu and the Nihilists, and Tomáš Klus.

Australian DJ Hot Dub Time Machine (Tom Lowdnes), who wowed the crowds at Coachella and Reading, will be at one of the afterparties.

New this year will be art installations, picnic spots, and colorful trees. A theme in the advertising is Alice in Wonderland, to emphasize the surreal and magical nature of the event. People who have already purchased early tickets will get the third day at no extra charge.

“With our music program we are getting closer to large international festivals each year, so people don’t need to travel for world class music. Macklemore is further evidence that we are succeeding in fulfilling that vision,” festival program chief Barbora Šubrtová said.

Promoter Serge Grimaux, who has joined joined the Metronome Prague team, says the ambitions of the festival have expanded. “The event will definitely be far more than just a festival. I want us to create a magical landscape filled with experiences and moments in which visitors will feel like Alice in Wonderland.” he said.

“At the start of my career I was lucky enough to be involved at the inception of the Montreal international jazz festival, which is today the biggest festival of its kind in the world. I see a lot of similarities between that event, which began at the turn of the ’70s, and Metronome Prague. Thanks to the fact it takes place in the center of the city, the magic of Prague itself and perfect timing at the most beautiful season of the year, we are offering our audience top international stars and lots of other forms of art,” he added.

Founders David Gaydečka said he was excited about the new era the festival was entering. “Metronome Prague should be number one among city-based music festivals and everything we’re preparing for this year is geared toward that goal. Further steps will follow,” David Gaydečka said.

The first four years of the festival saw stars such as Iggy Pop, Kraftwerk, David Byrne, Liam Gallagher, Sting, Foals, Primal Scream, Morcheeba, Chemical Brothers, Kasabian, Tom Odell, Ella Eyre, John Cale and Massive Attack. Last year’s edition drew a crowd of almost 20,000.