Bez ladu a skladu to Celebrate Their 40th Anniversary at Pohoda
In July 2025, legends of the domestic underground and alternative scene, Bez ladu a skladu, will perform at Trenčín Airport. The band, known for its metaphorical and critical lyrics as well as its signature look—black suits, white shirts, and slim black ties—is preparing a special set for this year's Pohoda Festival. Together with festival goers, they will celebrate their 40th anniversary on the scene.
25. February 2025
Bez ladu a skladu formed in 1985 and received their first positive response at their debut concert, where they played alongside another legendary band from Trenčín, Chór vážskych muzikantov. This performance earned them a spot at Prague’s RockFest 86, leading to gigs in Czech alternative clubs and festivals. One of their most memorable performances took place at the Lipnice Festival in 1988, following a speech by Václav Havel. However, their lyrics criticising the regime in socialist Czechoslovakia led to performance bans, and they were only able to release albums after the Velvet Revolution. Years later, their critical songs from the communist era were recognised by The New York Times, which in 2009 listed them among the “bands that helped bring down the Iron Curtain” and described them as “musicians who stood out from behind the Iron Curtain.”
Though Bez ladu a skladu disbanded shortly after performing at the very first Pohoda Festival in 1997, the festival has remained their favourite "meeting point," where they have played several times since. But now, Bez ladu a skladu are back on stage, and not just in Slovakia. Over the past two years, they have performed in the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and most recently twice in Kyiv, where they even filmed a new music video for “Píšte všetci modrým perom” at the Olympic Stadium.
"The whole world is full of joy, hippos dive headfirst into the water, fish sing arias by the shore, and nearby, a cat dances with a mouse," goes the lyric of one of their legendary songs. There may not be cats and mice dancing at Pohoda, but we certainly will. And we hope you’ll join us, perhaps even in white shirts and black suit jackets. Bez ladu a skladu’s 40th anniversary concert will be one to remember.