Rock for People, Day Four: Sofian Crowd-Surfed, Halsey Made Her Czech Debut, and Within Temptation Captivated the Audience

Here it is - the fourth day of the festival and, for many visitors, the final one. Officially, there is still one more day to go tomorrow, but just like last year, it is an additional bonus day, this time crowned by a performance from British legends Iron Maiden. Many attendees therefore head home after tonight's program, or first thing in the morning after one last late-night party in the tent, hoping to arrive at their offices fresh on Monday. But there are also plenty of rebels among the crowd - and we are sure many more will arrive tomorrow - who would never miss such a musical icon, even if it means not sleeping at all.

We certainly did not start our afternoon gently. Instead, we dove straight into the British metalcore storm that is Bury Tomorrow. The band visits the Czech Republic quite regularly and always delivers a powerful dose of aggressive energy that courses through your veins.

After that intense performance, we switched gears and immersed ourselves in the lighter pop sounds of young British singer Alessi Rose. She was given one of the festival's biggest stages, though at times she seemed a little intimidated by its size. Her voice was beautiful and her energy warm and friendly. Unfortunately, it was a shame that more people did not come to see her, as parts of the area in front of the Fat Lady stage remained noticeably empty. Still, she is definitely an artist worth watching. On a smaller stage, her connection with the audience would likely have been even stronger.

Meanwhile, another metalcore bombshell exploded beneath the Europa 2 tent, this time courtesy of Australian veterans I Killed The Prom Queen. The band delivered a nostalgic set aimed mainly at longtime fans, revisiting their roots. The performance radiated youthful energy that spread throughout the packed tent.

Sofian MedjMedj had already performed at Rock for People last year, but this year he was given a larger stage. He completely won over the audience, and surprisingly, there was a strong turnout of male fans as well - none of whom looked like they had been dragged there against their will. At one point, he even jumped into the crowd and let fans carry him overhead. He also claimed it was his first real mosh pit, though that was not entirely true - there were mosh pits during last year's set as well, just not quite as large.

Fans browsing the Rock for People app could discover that Dutch symphonic metal giants Within Temptation were holding an autograph session in a side tent near the main stage. Unsurprisingly, a substantial crowd quickly gathered there.

Back at the Fat Lady stage, British rockers Don Broco took over and absolutely ignited the audience. The crowd became so energized that one giant circle pit stretched across nearly the entire area in front of the stage. The performance was packed with drive and energy, and the fans loved every second of it.

We stayed at the stage for the following act, Nothing But Thieves. The British rock band is no stranger to Czech audiences and had already made their Rock for People debut in 2023. Their vocalist showcased his impressive vocal range, while fans sang along at the top of their lungs.

After their standalone show at Prague's Rock Café last year, California's Silent Planet returned to the Czech Republic. The metalcore outfit, whose name was inspired by C. S. Lewis's science-fiction novel Out of the Silent Planet, delivered a dynamic and energetic set that perfectly warmed up the crowd for the evening's headliner.

That headliner on the Fat Lady stage was American singer Halsey. This marked her very first performance in the Czech Republic. Despite somewhat limited interaction from the audience, she appeared to enjoy the show. Her genre-blending set attracted a remarkably diverse crowd and demonstrated the broad appeal of her music.

The final major-stage performance of the night belonged to Within Temptation. After a busy autograph session, the band returned with renewed energy. Their stage was designed to resemble an ancient temple, while extensive use of CO₂ effects created a spectacular visual experience. Vocalist Sharon den Adel stepped onto the stage dressed in white and immediately mesmerized the audience with her powerful voice.

To close out the evening, we headed to the ČT Art tent, where American band The Funeral Portrait made their festival debut. Although this was their first appearance at Rock for People, they had already visited the Czech Republic last year while touring with The Rasmus in Brno. Blending emo, post-hardcore, punk rock, and theatrical elements, the band delivered a memorable performance. Frontman Lee Jennings, with his unmistakable charisma, completely captivated the remaining audience and provided the perfect ending to the day.

It was great that, despite the cloudy weather, the expected rain never really arrived aside from a few brief sprinkles. The mud had not completely dried out, and puddles were still scattered throughout the grounds - but that certainly did not stop music fans from enjoying the festival. After all, they simply put on their rubber boots, inflate a flamingo or another inflatable animal if they are feeling particularly adventurous, and head straight for the puddles.

Šári