New steel stage and fan zone to open at Colours of Ostrava festival
Visitors to this year's Colours of Ostrava festival, due to open next week, will be able to explore a brand-new venue. Alongside the more laid-back Steel Stage, organizers are also introducing a new fan zone called Steel Town.
One of the country’s most popular music festivals Colours of Ostrava takes place at the Dolní Vítkovice grounds, a spectacular former ironworks area in Ostrava, in the eastern part of the Czech Republic. The industrial complex is a European Cultural Heritage site with 16 stages scattered among imposing old blast furnaces, gas holders, and historic steel structures.
This year the popular festival is offering visitors a brand new space - a miniature steel city created by artist David Žyla using products and recycled industrial materials supplied by the Třinec Iron and Steel Works. Jaroslav Stebel of Třinec Iron and Steel Works, which co-sponsors the festival, says the company is proud to be associated with the event
"We selected two rolled steel tram rails for the entrance installation, We were inspired by a photograph of workers standing on a beam, so we wanted to incorporate one of our own products into the festival's photo spot."
After consulting with the artist, the company supplyed a range of materials for the new stage –highlighting its own production.
"The Steel Stage will be made from our steel wire products, which account for around 40 percent of our production. The wires will be illuminated in different ways and will form the central visual element of the stage," Stebel explains.
Steel Town gradually took shape in David Žyla's workshop. Among sculptures made from chains, gears and pipes stands a large drum kit built from industrial barrels. There will be several different drum sets for five drummers to play and there is also a bar welded entirely from Třinec steel. Žyla says the diversity of the components will make the new stage and fan zone truly unique.
"They supplied us with leaf springs, chains, large nuts, pipes and many other materials. Everything comes from the steelworks, complemented by smaller metal fragments."
One of the main landmarks of Steel Town will be a large illuminated dome.
"It will have two towers, one four metres high, the other five. It will have windows and the whole structure will be lit from within, so it should also work as one giant lamp," says the artist.
The Steel Stage will mainly host alternative and more intimate performances, including Dutch sister duo Sarah Julia.
This year's Colours of Ostrava festival takes place from July 15 -18 and will feature 110 artists from 33 countries. One of the biggest highlights will be the festival's opening performance by Twenty One Pilots. Headliners include Teddy Swims, Lorde and Moby, who last performed in Czechia 17 years ago.
