Deloraine and The Trouble Notes: Pagan Magic at Lucerna Music Bar

On Tuesday, October 28, Lucerna Music Bar transformed into a sanctuary of gods and pagan legends. The air smelled of mead, the hall pulsed with tension – as if the gods themselves were about to descend among mortals. The walls shook with the rhythm of drums and the echo of ancient stories, which were reborn in song and dance. Deloraine set off on their autumn Arkona Tour and welcomed The Trouble Notes by their side.

The gates of the Lantern opened around 5pm and fans arrived dressed as forest fairies, Norse warriors and other creatures. The Lantern became a sacred place where the human world connected with the realm of gods and ancient spirits.

The hall began to fill up and shortly after half past six, The Trouble Notes – Bennet Cerven (violin), Flo Blacksmith (guitar) and Todd James (drums) – took to the stage. Their instrumental pieces spoke for themselves, the combination of violin, guitar and drums created an alchemy of folk, rock and dance energy. Bennet and Flo danced, jumped and made Lucerna dance on stage with songs such as Grand Masquerade, Sands of Time and Storm Searching. Halfway through the set, Kuba from Deloraine joined them and they played two songs together, which the audience received with enthusiasm. During the concert, Bennet reminisced about what it was like to play on the streets of Prague years ago and what it is like to stand on the Lucerna stage now. They also presented their merch: "More Violins – Less Violence", the proceeds of which support children affected by the war in Ukraine. The end of the show was wild and imaginative – Bennet and Flo played their instruments from behind and a fan appeared on stage in a lizard costume dancing with a sword and torch. The band left the stage to thunderous applause and screams. The hall fell silent, waiting for the ceremony, which was to begin in a few moments.

Shortly after half past seven, Lucerna plunged into darkness. Tension hung in the air, as if before the beginning of an ancient ritual. Out of the darkness emerged the band Deloraine – Derias (guitar, vocals), Kuba (bass), Spars (vocals), Turmawen (violin), Miloš (drums), Marek (keyboards), Daphydcrow (didgeridoo), Máša (vocals) and Tokhi (drums), who stood with their backs to the audience. The hall was filled with thunderous applause and chanting. A gust of energy filled the space and a green light illuminated Máša, above whom a magical being appeared, performing an ancient ceremony, which was also joined by dancers from Blackout Paradox. The music spread throughout the hall and an evening full of stories, magic and paganism began.

The concert opened with the song Vlaštovka, followed by the new song Lada from the upcoming album Dryáda. Máša invited the audience to form circles. The lantern turned into a living sacred circle, where people danced not only with their bodies but also with their souls. The Witcher fans became more alert when Derias challenged the audience to a duel between two teams, "Yennefer" or "Triss". The audience was clear - they have the red-haired sorceress Triss in their hearts. However, fate decreed otherwise, Yennefer emerged from the darkness and dominated the stage with the first notes.

Then – as if a wind had risen from the distant mountains – the song of the Highlanders was heard. The lantern turned into a huge drakkar sailing on the sea. The fans sat in rows, shouting "Hey!" and the hall undulated, like the stormy waves of the north. After the mighty drakkar, darkness came – and from it, in a blue light, Morana, the goddess of winter, stepped out. In a black dress, she danced above the band, while Máša sang Ostara, connecting winter and spring. The songs Lughnasad and Srdce z kamene were complemented by graceful choreography by the dancers, Máša and Turmawen.

After the song, silence fell. Derias recalled the year 1168 and the destruction of the temple of the god Svatomír, and thus an era ended. He ended his speech with a sentence that was etched in the hearts of all present: "Better to burn than to submit." With the first notes of Arkona, the Lantern turned into a temple of lights - fans picked up their phones and their glow, together with Máša's leadership, created an image of fire - as if the gods themselves were watching the ceremony. The Lantern slowly enveloped itself in red light - Ragnarok had come. A horned witch, personified by destruction and prophecy, emerged from the darkness, passing among the members like a shadow of the end of time. A dragon, brought to life with the help of dancers, began to gracefully weave between the musicians. After the stormy Ragnarok, the hall turned into a forest where dryads roam. The song Dryad was played, the forest nymphs took over the space and Máša became part of the living forest. The silence and peace were interrupted by the arrival of Odin himself in the form of Spars. The song Odin – Lord of the Ravens was played. Normas came on stage, weaving the ropes of fate around the dancers and Máša herself.

Another new song, The Tavern at the Green Dragon, was released, and the Lantern turned into a cheerful pub full of laughter and dancing. This was followed by well-known songs, such as The King and The Witcher. The band had not even had time to leave the stage when the fans were already chanting: "One more!". 

Derias returned to the stage and introduced the most anticipated song of the evening - Sabbath. A composition celebrating wildness, freedom and connection with nature and pagan gods. The hall was enveloped in red light, and Máša, Turmawen and dancers from Blackout Paradox entered the stage in white dresses with lanterns. The chorus quietly carried through the hall: "Don't be afraid to dance naked now. Don't be afraid to jump into the darkness now.", which the entire audience soon began to sing. The Lantern turned into a ritual celebration - dancing, singing and pagan energy filled the space. Finally, Cernunnos himself appeared – the horned god of the forest, who closed the circle of the mystical sabbath. Encores by Silver For Monsters, Steel For Humans and Mabon rounded off an evening full of music and magic.

Deloraine once again showed that their concerts are not just a musical performance, but also a ritual that combines stories, dance and the power of pagan legends. Derias' narration between songs gave the whole evening depth and allowed fans to experience every moment to the fullest. Two hours of pagan magic transformed Lucerna into a place where time returned to the times of pagan gods – and where the quiet echo of the last ritual drum could be heard long after the concert ended. The Trouble Notes also gave a great performance, their instrumental music able to captivate the entire hall. The dancers from Blackout Paradox also contributed greatly to the magical atmosphere, enriching the concert with choreography and magical characters, including Morana and a dragon.

If you missed this concert in Prague, don't despair - Deloraine have announced that their next stop in Prague will be on April 28, 2026!