Aleš Brichta and Rock Christmas at Barč – when carols give way to guitar riffs
Are you in Prague and already tired of the omnipresent pre-Christmas rush and endless queues? Then Rock Christmas at Barča was the perfect escape and a much-needed break from reality! Sometimes it's not a bad idea to switch off for a moment, trade Christmas carols for honest guitar riffs, and tune into the holiday season in a slightly different way. On December 20th, three bands arrived at the Barikádníků Cultural Center, giving all visitors a proper dose of rock music.
Even before the doors opened, visitors had the opportunity to meet Aleš Brichta in the local bar, where he gave an interview about his long-standing presence on the metal scene. During the conversation, many interesting facts and humorous stories were shared—such as why Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson has a fondness for Czech vegetables.
After that, attention shifted to the main hall, where the evening was kicked off by the first band, Traffic Trouble. This young Prague-based band was formed as a student project in 2020, during the pandemic, when schools were closed and the members had plenty of time to lock themselves in a rehearsal room to create and practice. Their repertoire includes songs with both Czech and English lyrics. For this concert, they also included a cover of Andílek by Aleš Brichta.
After a short break, the more established and well-known band Turbo took the stage. Although the hall was already fairly full during the first performance, it now became noticeably more crowded. Fans know this band well and frequently joined in the singing. Vocalist Radek Zíka often handed the microphone to the audience, and the choruses of well-known hits echoed through the hall performed by the crowd itself. After playing one of their undeniable biggest hits, Hráč, the band said goodbye—but following chants of "one more!", they returned to treat fans to another major hit, Chtěl jsem mít. After that, Turbo bid their final farewell, and all eyes turned to the highlight of the evening: Aleš Brichta Project.
The event was completely sold out in advance, a fact emphasized right at the beginning by manager Marek Polar, who also took on the role of host for the evening. He mentioned that in the days leading up to the concert he had received countless calls from people desperately trying to get tickets, asking whether there might still be a few available. He also announced that tickets for next year's Rock Christmas are already on sale and promised that next year, the audience at Barča will meet for a Christmas concert twice.
By this point, the hall was so densely packed that anyone from the front rows who needed to step out or get refreshments faced a real challenge getting back to their spot. I managed it, however, and once again bring you this report straight from the front row under the stage. The short break ended with Aleš Brichta's thunderous roar as his assistant led him onto the stage and seated him in a prepared chair, joined by a thousand fans shouting together the classic and well-known chant: "Co je? Co je? Co je? Co je? Co je?" This seamlessly transitioned into the opening song Proč.
Next came Amadeus, a song Aleš had been intensively preparing for and rehearsing before the concert. After the following song Adrian, the tempo slowed down, and the hall was illuminated by mobile phone lights during the ballad Ztráty a nálezy. The most powerful moment of the evening was Zimní královna, when singer Katka Kročilová, who had until then remained hidden at the back of the stage, stepped into the spotlight and performed a duet with Aleš. Other hits followed, including Dívka s perlami ve vlasech, preceded by Aleš amusing the audience with his knowledge of two Hungarian phrases, and Jsem prý blázen jen, a cover of the famous Jiří Schelinger song that Aleš recorded with the project Zemětřesení. This was followed by the iconic Arakain hit Apage satanas, and finally Nechte vlajky vlát, originating from the Hattrick project and regularly featured in Alkehol's live setlists as well.
Shortly before the end, Aleš's grandson Santiago Brichta, who is Colombian, even appeared on stage. Aleš also mentioned his second grandson, Elliott Sadler, who is English.
The entire concert was a great success and proved that Aleš Brichta still has plenty to offer his audience.
In conclusion, heartfelt thanks go to all performing bands for their energetic shows and to the fans who created a truly unique atmosphere. A sold-out Barča, a hall full of singing people, and shared joy from music were the perfect closing chapter to Rock Christmas—an event many will surely remember fondly.