Five years. That’s exactly how long the South Bohemian South of Heaven Open Air celebrated this year, having taken place on July 3 and 4, 2026, at the site of a former quarry in Zbytiny in the Prachatice region. In a short time, it has become one of the most enjoyable domestic festivals focused on rock and metal. This is not only thanks to its carefully curated lineup, but above all thanks to its atmosphere. In Zbytiny, you immediately lose the feeling that you’ve arrived at an anonymous mega-festival; instead, from the very first moment, you feel as though you’re returning after a year to a familiar place among good friends.
Friday: From Folk Songs to Hard-Hitting Metal
As is tradition, Friday’s program was opened by Zbytinské baby (a local village group). Their performance has become an integral part of the South of Heaven festival. For this year’s edition, in addition to folk songs, they also prepared a rock-inspired song with guitar accompaniment. It certainly wasn’t the most technically flawless performance of the festival, but it was definitely one of the most powerful. I admit that it personally brought tears to my eyes. It was sincere and simply human. And that’s what South of Heaven is all about.
After this traditional opening, the festival really got into full swing. Rosa Nocturna kicked off the first set of the festival, followed by the thrash metal band X-Age. The guys confirmed that last year’s tour of Brazil had transformed them into a metal machine running with absolute confidence. On top of that, at the end of their set, they invited the girls from Zbytiny onto the stage. What more can be said? You can only experience this fusion of folklore and thrash metal in Zbytiny.
The afternoon continued with performances by Sarkonie and Ador Dorath, who proved their quality, but for me personally, the biggest surprise came with Electric Lady. The international band led by the distinctive guitarist Tereza Rays focused on solid rock ’n’ roll with a touch of blues and, above all, tremendous musical energy. Tereza is a great guitarist and gave it her all on stage.
While the weather at the site was nearly ideal for a festival during the day, a rather drastic drop in temperature set in after sunset. People started pulling on their hoodies, but fortunately, the Moravian band Lautr kept us from getting cold and confirmed that hard rock still has its place on the Czech scene. Tortharry delivered their traditionally precise death metal set.
The Italian band Reverber delivered a solid dose of old-school thrash metal that made it impossible to even stand still and freeze. The Swedish band When Nothing Remains was originally scheduled to close out Friday’s lineup. But fate had other plans, and at the last minute, they were replaced by the Czech band Meredith. And it was a more than worthy replacement. Although only the most die-hard fans remained in front of the stage, the band put on an excellent show that reminded me in many ways of last year’s performance by the Spanish band Godiva. It was dark and theatrical, and they won over the fans who remained in front of the stage quite easily.
Saturday: A diverse lineup ranging from promising young talents to seasoned veterans
Saturday morning kicked off with an unplanned performance by the all-female trio Misanthropic Cynicism. It wasn’t listed in the official program at all, but these talented young women really got the audience fired up even at that early hour.
After that, the festival proceeded according to schedule. The start of the day belonged first to the Czech bands Horizont, Rasmane, and Odraedir. Each group added its own style to the colorful mosaic of this year’s festival. Horizont showed us their positive outlook on the world and also played their new single, “Neztratit vlastní tvář.” Rasmane showcased their intensity and the blend of a heavier guitar sound with the soft voice of singer El. Odraedir, on the other hand, are a prime example of a Czech folk band drawing inspiration from the Viking era.
One of the highlights of Saturday’s program was undoubtedly the concert by the local band Solar System. The band had chosen the South of Heaven festival to launch their new album, “Oumuamua,” and it was clear that this was a special moment not only for the musicians but also for their fans. We had the chance to see Solar System with three guitarists. Former member Žabák also showed up for the launch and played a set with them. The album was officially launched by Zbytiny Mayor Pepa and his daughter, Crystallion singer Tony, Jirka Kadlec, and a representative from the sponsoring company Decro.
This fantastic celebration was then seamlessly followed by the Bavarian band Crystallion. And they confirmed that they no longer come to Zbytiny as anonymous guests from abroad. This melodic treat fit perfectly into Saturday’s lineup, and the crowd rightly rewarded them with a fantastic response for their energetic performance.
Next up were the symphonic Shatterheart from Sweden. Their melodies filled the entire quarry, and the talented singer Aliki Kostopoulou warmed the hearts of many in the audience with her vocals.
For me personally, however, the highlight of the evening came with the Belgian band Boum Patat. If anyone were looking for a combination of industrial metal, humor, and explosive energy, they’d find it right here. A Belgian version of Rammstein? I’d definitely call it that. The audience had a blast from the first song to the last, and the whole wild show reached its climax when even Ota Gajdoš from Solar System got completely swept up in the moment and simply hopped up on stage to party right behind the band.
Alžběta once again proved why she is one of the stalwarts of the Czech music scene. For many attendees, she was one of the main reasons they came to Zbytiny, and this was evident in the packed area in front of the stage. The Swiss band Mind Patrol brought the fifth annual festival to a close.
A big thank you goes out to the organizers, the town of Zbytiny, the volunteers, and everyone involved in preparing the festival. It’s clear that South of Heaven isn’t just a music event, but a collaborative effort by people who invest a tremendous amount of time and energy into it every year. It’s thanks to them that the festival has such a unique atmosphere, which is why visitors love coming back here.
Complete lineup
Friday
Zbytinské baby, Rosa Nocturna, X-Age, Sarkonia, Ador Dorath, Electric Lady, Lautr, Tortharry, Reverber, Meredith (replacement for When Nothing Remains)
Saturday
Misanthropic Cynicism (unofficial performance), Horizont, Rasmane, Odraedir, Solar System (album release party for Oumuamua), Crystallion, Shatterheart, Boum Patat, Alžběta, Mind Patrol.
Written by Lenka Machuldová
Edited by Kerry Lynx
Photos by Lenka Machuldová, Vláďa Tobyška