The concert in Prague commemorated the Russian occupation, the Ukrainian band came from the front
Around 3,000 spectators attended a benefit concert called NeverMore 68 at the Prague Exhibition Center on Sunday evening. It was held on the occasion of the 54th anniversary of the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops and pointed to a parallel with the current Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian group Brunettes Shoot Blondes and singer Birdsy performed, as well as Lenka Dusilová, Jaroslav Hutka and the band Nylon Jail from the Czech Republic.
The evening was moderated by journalists Světlana Witowská and Jindřich Šídlo, and ended with her evening performance by Hudba Praha before ten o’clock. The event took place right in front of the Industrial Palace.
One of the biggest Ukrainian indie rock groups, Brunettes Shoot Blondes, is currently part of the militia, they came to Prague straight from the front. In the past, the band represented Ukraine at international competitions such as Eurovision or X Factor. Before the Russian attack, she managed a European tour, which also included performances at the Hungarian Sziget festival or the home events of Metronome and Colors of Ostrava.
“Russia’s war on Ukraine is absolute evil and a huge threat to the entire free world,” said members of Brunettes Shoot Blondes. “Unfortunately, the Czech nation knows how terrible it is, because they themselves were occupied by the Soviet Union, led by Russia, 5 years ago. We admire the huge support given to us by the Czechs, and I sincerely believe that this time we can break through,” they added.
The main motive of the NeverMore 68 concert was the commemoration of the occupation from 1968 and parallel to the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has been going on for half a year. Jaroslav Hutka released three new songs related to what is happening in Ukraine. “The only songs I wrote now were these three about Ukraine. It’s so in me that I can’t get rid of it,” he said on the evening broadcast of Czech Television.
“I was twenty-one when the Russians came to Czechoslovakia, I was already a singer and I lived in a barrack between the Czechoslovak Radio and the National Museum. I had everything first hand, the occupation of the radio, the smashing of the museum. At first it seemed to me that the war had started, ” recalled Hutka. Although it was obvious this year that the Russians were going to Ukraine, he was still surprised when the invasion actually began, he said. “One could not believe that Kyiv would be bombed, that there would be shooting at this time, that the Russians they are still as they have always been, as if there had been no development. Only the weapons are more perfect,” added Hutka.
Lenka Dusilová presented her solo project. The Russian invasion of Ukraine arouses “strong unhealed trauma” in her, she said. “I’m appearing here because it’s important to highlight that the danger is still imminent. I have a child and I would be happy if she didn’t have to experience some things,” stated Dusilová in the program Events in culture.
Admission to the benefit evening was voluntary. The organizers will donate all the profit after covering the basic costs to the Ukrainian Embassy for the current needs of the country.
The song You’ve Got To Move, as performed by the band Brunettes Shoot Blondes at the festival in Rzeszow, Poland. | Video: Brunettes shoot blondes