Rock for People: Day Two Brings Mud Baths, Babymetal, and Papa Roach
Rock for People rolled on with its second festival day. While the afternoon kicked off with a light drizzle, the sun eventually broke through the clouds, and thankfully the thunderstorms that had been forecast never arrived. What did arrive, however, was plenty of mud. Despite much of the festival site being paved, countless shoes and outfits fell victim to the muddy terrain. We can only imagine the newly introduced Samsung laundry zone near the entrance had its hands full.
Our editorial team kicked off day two shortly before 2 PM with Ohio metalcore outfit The Plot In You on the main stage. The band last played Prague's SaSaZu during their autumn tour and returned to Czech audiences with the same explosive energy. Their performance had fans jumping from the very first songs, seemingly unfazed by the lingering rain.
Almost simultaneously, over on the Petra Svoboda Stage, sister duo The Pretty Wild were turning heads. Hailing from Las Vegas, the pair blend influences ranging from country and alternative rock to metal, describing their unique sound as "y'allternative" or even a "pop-metal requiem."
Next, we headed back to the Mastercard Stage - still affectionately known by many as the Fat Lady - to catch American rock veterans Breaking Benjamin. Although the band took the stage slightly later than scheduled, they more than made up for the delay. Despite their long and successful career, this performance marked their very first appearance in the Czech Republic, making it a special moment for local fans.
The energy shifted gears when American pop-punk favorites All Time Low took over the Rock for People Stage. Unlike some international acts, the band has built a strong relationship with Czech audiences and always seems happy to return. They last played Prague's SaSaZu earlier this year and even hinted during that show that fans would see them again at Rock for People. The crowd sang along enthusiastically throughout the set, which closed with their timeless anthem Dear Maria, Count Me In.
Then came one of the most anticipated performances of the day. Japanese phenomenon Babymetal stormed the Mastercard Stage with their signature brand of "kawaii metal" - a unique fusion of crushing metal riffs, infectious pop melodies, and synchronized choreography. Among the highlights was RATATATA, a song fans had already heard the day before thanks to Electric Callboy, who collaborated on the track.
Later in the afternoon, Barns Courtney appeared on the Petra Svoboda Stage in a surprisingly stripped-back format. Currently touring acoustically, he arrived armed with little more than a guitar. Yet the intimate setup lost none of his trademark charisma. The connection between Courtney and the crowd was undeniable, with constant interaction and a seemingly endless exchange of energy.
As evening approached, attention shifted to the festival's second main stage, where fans had already packed the entire area in anticipation of Papa Roach. The Californian nu-metal icons returned to Rock for People three years after delivering one of the standout performances of the 2023 edition. Back then, many felt they completely stole the spotlight despite not being the festival's headline act. This year felt remarkably similar. While Limp Bizkit may have been the official headliners, Papa Roach arguably matched - or even surpassed - that level of excitement. Flames erupted across the stage, frontman Jacoby Shaddix maintained constant contact with the audience, and crowdsurfers poured over the barricades throughout the set. At one point, even a wheelchair user was carried safely above the crowd. The performance reached its peak with the band's iconic anthem Last Resort, sending the audience into a frenzy.
The Mastercard Stage then welcomed the already-mentioned nu-metal legends Limp Bizkit. This was their first Czech appearance since the passing of bassist Sam Rivers, who sadly died in October last year. The set certainly had its moments, packed with energy and familiar hits, but it didn't quite live up to the expectations many fans had built up. Mosh pits still erupted near the front, yet the overall atmosphere felt noticeably less intense than during Papa Roach's performance earlier in the evening. It certainly didn't seem like the crowd had run out of energy. Classics such as My Generation and the emotional Behind Blue Eyes still had thousands singing along, but something felt slightly restrained.
We wrapped up our second festival day in the Evropa 2 Tent with American pop-punk veterans The All American Rejects, making their long-awaited Czech debut. Judging by the crowd's reaction, many attendees were transported straight back to their teenage years. When hits like Dirty Little Secret and Gives You Hell rang out across the tent, countless nostalgic hearts skipped a beat. It was the perfect way to close another packed day at the festival.
And just like that, day two of this year's five-day Rock for People is in the books. All that's left now is to see what surprises the rest of the festival has in store - and to hope the rain finally stays away long enough for the sun to dry out the mud.
Šári