Number of bands: 44
Number of visitors: 2300
BANDS
PERIOD REFERENCES
The Rock For People 97 festival was organized by Ameba Production in cooperation with the magazine Big Beng!, under the patronage of the town of Český Brod. For the first time it was organized as a two-day event, yet on one main stage at the athletic stadium. The proceeds supported the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havlová Foundation.
ARTICLES
FESTIVALS BE PRAISED, Rock&Pop, VIII/1997 – Petr Korál
…4.-5.7. in Český Brod took place the traditional ROCK FOR PEOPLE. The organizers were a little bit nervous about the occasional rain, but while Moravia was already starting to drown in a hundred-year flood and it was pouring like a can of water elsewhere, it was as if God himself was holding a protective hand over Brod. He probably knew why, because it was really worth it. It is difficult to point out the most interesting moments of the forty or so performers – moreover, the author was present only on the second day – but personally he was probably most attracted by the increasingly elaborate crazy show of the bizarre community Chaprál Crazy Plesk!, The extreme hype of Krucipüsk (with a guest brass section), Eleison and Mute Deafnes, standardní kvalita Dunaje, Vltava or Tony Ducháček & Garage, the unconventional songwriting of the international band The Fatal Shore with Phil Shöenfelt and Bruno Adams, and the absolute maximum of the almost life-like Nahoru po schodišti dolů band, as well as the incredible joy of playing emanating from Mňága a Žďorp, whose positive skepticism literally spread a beneficial warmth and pleasant tingling all over the body…
ČESKÝ BROD – TWO DAYS FULL OF MUSIC, Kolínské noviny, 8.6.1997 – Zdeněk Hejduk
Forty-one rock bands presented themselves to almost two thousand visitors of the two-day rock festival Rock For People held on 4-5 July at the athletic stadium in České Brod. It was opened shortly after 6 pm by the local band Mladý muž in the days of working calm and at the same time a storm swept over the venue, which even the tarpaulin protecting the stage could not withstand. Therefore, after a three-hour break, the band Etc… accompanied by Vl. Mišík and M. Prokop. From that moment on, the performers took turns according to the prepared schedule until six o’clock in the morning. From ten o’clock onwards, the marathon continued with the Saturday programme, interrupted only by a slight drizzle. Only three bands dropped out of the whole offer. The biggest audience success was achieved on Saturday by Znouzectnost, Divoký srdce and M. Prokop, and on Sunday by Chinaski, Garage with Tony Ducháček, Sluníčko and Mňága a Žďorp. The Český Brod scene was represented by the aforementioned Mladý muž, Václavek a já and Yage. The rest of the district was represented by Medvěd 009 from Úvaly, Kozičky from Kolín and Tři čutory z Kouřimi.They entertained with their humorous lyrics as well as Chaprál Crazy Plesk!, performing in bizarre costumes. From abroad came to Brod the American Calico Soul and the Australian The Fatal Shore with Englishman Phil Shöenfelt.
The genre spectrum of performers was united by perfect sound. In addition to the music, visitors could visit two tattoo parlours or piercings, jump rope or buy music, books, t-shirts or sandals. Food stalls offered classic (chicken, sausages, beer, wine) and less usual (trout) courses practically non-stop and with almost no waiting. The originally planned events at the adjacent swimming pool were cancelled due to the weather. The festival was also visited by the coordinator of international programs of the Committee of Good Will – O. Havel Foundation, Englishman M. Vallis, who said: “I am glad that such an event is held for the benefit of any non-profit organization and I am doubly glad that today it is held for the benefit of the Committee’s home in Kladno-Nouzov.” Comparing the difference between the one-day festival in the past and this year’s two-day festival, M. Thomes from the organizing association Ameba Production said, “It was better this year, although more challenging. For me personally, it was nice to see people having a good time and enjoying themselves. More challenging from the constant tension of what happens where. Whether we’ll do it again next year is a question I’d leave open.” Already today, however, P. Pobříslo, the secretary of the Cesko Brod town hall, who was present, pledged his support for the festival. This year’s festival will also be the subject of an episode of the TV music programme “60” on ČT2.
Festival Partners: Autopůjčovna Hertz; Rádio Bonton; Big Beng!; Telegraf; Diatryma; Radio 1; Radio OK; Radio Styl; Radio Egrensis; Radio Kiss 98 Hády; Radio Zlín; Radio Hellax; Radio Agara; Radio Vysočina; Radio Jih; Radio Děčín; Radio Metuje; Radio Life; Radio Rubi; Radio Limonádový Joe; Radio Crystal; Warner Music; Rock&Pop; Rock Report; Lucky Strike; HET; Rachot; Volvox Globator; L4; Baťa; Pivovar Nymburk; Black Point; Stavební firma Václav Novák; FAN; Coca Cola; Medea Kultur; Respekt; Oldring; Kupředu Press; Technické služby Č.B.; Dixi ADCO; Albro Č.B.; Kolínské noviny; Sony Music; Večerník Praha; Praha Music Center; Maxi magazín; Zoomedica; Ticketpro