Majáles 2009 (source: Majáles at Facebook)

Student festival Majáles looks like a nice way of spending Friday afternoon and evening. The open-air event takes place at a velodrome this Friday from 1 p.m.

The lineup is dominated by Czech bands, however some of these (Support Lesbiens) have English lyrics.

There will be several rounds of an election of “the king of Majáles” between concerts. This tradition started in Prague in the 1960s; Allen Ginsberg was elected the King of Majáles in 1965. I think the election is not particularly funny anymore but most of the thousands of people coming to velodrome tomorrow would disagree with me.

Tickets cost CZK 270 (€10.30).

Parking lot next to the Moravian Archive in Lískovec is always empty

If you are travelling to Brno by car, just print this article and have it always in your vehicle.

Parking in the centre of Brno

The very centre of the town between (Masarykova st. and Česká st.) is closed for cars. You can leave your vehicle in several places around, but I recommend two: a roof of Vaňkovka shopping mall and a parking house at Moravské náměstí sq. They both have closed circuit TVs which makes the parking somehow secure.

Special tip: Parking at Vaňkovka is free during weekends.

(The only) park & ride solution

If you want to leave your car somewhere outside the inner town and travel there by public transportation, I recommend leaving your car at a large parking lot near the Moravian archive. It is not an ideal solution, as you have to take a walk to a bus stop at Netroufalky st. or a tram stop at Osová st., but it is free and the parking lot is located close to D1 highway.

Parking at the exhibition ground (or at Velodrome)

The streets around the exhibition ground get really crowded during big expos, so it’s a pretty good idea to use some of the parking houses around. You only have to prepare about CZK 100 for a day. The same works for concerts at Velodrome or at Riviéra venues, which are located in the same place as the exhibition ground.

Airport parking

If you fly from Brno and need to get to the airport by your own car, you can park it there for approx. CZK 200 per day (depends on the total time, see a machine-translated price list). Taking a taxi is way cheaper and you can also use a bus connecting the airport with main train station (the ride takes 20 minutes), so think twice about spending your money for parking.

Parking at Automotodrom Racing Circuit

There are huge parking lots around the racing circuit at Brno-Žebětín (Automotodrom or Masaryk Circuit), but during races of Superbike WC and MotoGP, it’s pretty hard to find a free place. Park your car in the centre and take a free bus from Mendlovo náměstí sq. or leave your car in a camp or in a nearby village and take a walk to the circuit.

Parking in suburbs: rent a garage if you can afford it

It’s complicated to find a parking place at late evening in most of suburbs. If you don’t want to walk 3 blocks from your car to your flat, rent a garage via a real estate agency for approx. CZK 1,500 a month.

How can the police punish you for wrong parking?

Especially constables, who should care more about citizens’ safety and lost dogs, are obsessed with punishing drivers for wrong parking, no matter how absurd the situation may be. I know people whose cars were towed away for standing 10 centimeters outside the very parking place etc. – these people swear that the police is financially connected with the tow-away companies.

Connected or not, just don’t give the cops reasons to harrass you. The fines go up to CZK 2,500 (€100).

A bass guitarist Lemmy, born Ian Fraser Kilmister (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Motörhead are a British heavy metal band formed in London in 1975 by bassist, singer and songwriter Lemmy, who has remained the sole constant member. The band was part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, which re-energized heavy metal in the late 70s and early 80s by adding influences from punk rock such as speeding up the tempo and toughening up the sound. (source: Last.fm)

Motörhead will be supported by Czech hard rock band Arakain and AB Band and a legendary slovakian rock group Tublatanka.

The concert starts at 8 p.m. Tickets cost CZK 790 (€30).

Lenny Kravitz, popular american rock guitarist and singer, will perform a concert at Velodrome venue on Friday, June 19.

Cover of "It is Time for a Love Revolution"

Tickets cost from CZK 790 to CZK 990 (EUR 29 to 36.50) and can be bought via Ticketportal (it seems that the better tickets have already been sold out).

The concert starts at 7. p.m. Parking is possible (even though not easy) close to the venue.

Mr Kravitz is known for songs “Fly away”, “American Woman”, “Are You Gonna Go My Way” and “Let Love Rule”. He is currently promoting his new album, called “It Is Time For A Love Revolution”.

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…and I am the King of May, which is Kraj Majales in the Czechoslovakian
tongue…

Allen Ginsberg, King of May

Flyer of Majáles

Spring break-like festival “Majáles”, taking place on Thursday, May 7, at Velodrome venue, will bring many interesting artists to Brno.

BrnoNow picks:

Majáles stage (open air)

• 5:20 p.m. – Skyline
• 10.55 p.m. – Monkey Business

Euro stage (Favál club – located right at the Velodrome)

• 6:20 p.m. – Please the Trees
• 10:00 p.m. – The Prostitutes

Check the complete line-up at the official website.

Pre-sale tickets cost CZK 190 (€ 7.10) and can be bought in Palace Cinemas at Dominikánské sq.
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