Closer to fans than ever before: Škwor conquered a sold-out UFFO in Trutnov
The tour of the band Škwor titled Blíž k vám is slowly but surely heading toward its finale. The penultimate stop took place on April 2 at UFFO in Trutnov, and it was clear that there would be no shortage of an intimate evening filled with great energy.
As the name of the tour itself suggests, the band opted this time for smaller clubs and closer contact with fans. The fact that it works is proven, among other things, by the reality that the vast majority of Czech tour dates were hopelessly sold out well in advance. And despite being one of the final stops, tickets for Trutnov were among the first to sell out. The moment the doors opened and fans were let into the venue, I immediately noticed that the hall was unusually small for a band of Škwor's caliber—one that regularly sells out large venues, including the O2 Universum, often multiple nights in a row. However, my initial concern that the space would be packed to the brim with no room to move didn't come true. I must admit that even in the front row, right under the stage, fans had exactly as much space around them as they needed. In the end, this intimate club atmosphere combined with a comfortable amount of space played a key role.
The evening kicked off with the three-member opening act Kontua. During their roughly 45-minute set, they performed a total of 13 songs, including two in English, gradually preparing the ground for the night's headliner. The band's bassist also made a joke, asking the audience if anyone else was from Turnov like him—but no one responded.
After a half-hour break and stage rearrangement, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived. With their opening song Kámen, Škwor took the stage. From the very first notes of this track and the following one, Kolikrát, they practically instantly won over the entire venue — and held that grip until the very end of the concert.
In addition to great music and a friendly atmosphere, the evening was also filled with the signature "Škwor-style" humor of frontman Petr Hrdlička. He playfully interacted with the audience—for example, quizzing them on the band's work by asking what the lead single from their latest album was. When the crowd answered "Sobě věrnej", he jokingly replied, "Cheated on? That was me." Later, he mentioned that the band is working on a new album and hopes fans will buy it and like it. When someone from the crowd shouted "nothing!" as a response to what would happen if they didn't, he quickly replied, "Not nothing—we'd be screwed." He also joked about his to-do list for the day, saying he wouldn't manage to buy bread rolls anymore. When a fan responded, "Doesn't matter, there's always tomorrow," he shot back, "There is—but it's a holiday, and the shops will be closed."
During their nearly two-hour performance, Škwor prepared a setlist of 26 songs, including two encores. It was a well-balanced selection featuring both older and newer tracks, fast heavy hitters as well as slower and acoustic songs—in short, a full cross-section of the band's catalog since their formation in 1998. From their earliest albums, fans heard hits like Mý slzy neuvidíš, Může se stát, and Sraž nás na kolena. From the latest album, six songs were performed: Pocit viny, Sobě věrnej, Čistej stůl, Do tmy, Pravda bolí, and Příkaz zněl jasně.
After playing 24 songs, the band left the stage, leaving fans clapping and chanting for their return. Shortly after, they came back for two encores. The first was arguably their most famous and most-watched song, Síla starejch vín, which currently boasts an incredible 92 million views on YouTube. The band was accompanied by a massive choir of fans singing along. The second encore was the classic hit Sraž nás na kolena, where the audience once again actively joined in, with Hrdlička letting them sing entire parts on their own.
Trutnov proved that even a band of this size can easily thrive in a smaller venue—and perhaps it's precisely there where they feel the most intense. The atmosphere was electrifying from start to finish, yet at the same time natural and friendly. Exactly the kind of concert fans leave feeling truly close to the band, with a genuine connection.
In conclusion, I would like to thank not only Kontua and Škwor, including their crews, for an evening full of great music, but also the organizers and everyone involved in ensuring the smooth running of the event—from the cloakroom staff and security to the bar service. And of course, thanks to all the fans who came and managed to sell out UFFO in such a short time. Thanks to them, live music and rock concerts remain very much alive.
Verri