The medieval castle Helfštýn awaits a festival of light, music, and digital art

Přerov – The pilot year of the Hell Yes! festival will connect light installations, live music, and public space, taking place from Friday to Sunday against the backdrop of the medieval castle Helfštýn in the Přerov region. The stone walls will meet progressive electronic music, video mapping, and 3D installations, which, according to the event organizers, will transform the castle into a living and pulsating organism. Hundreds of artists from the Czech Republic and abroad will perform on four stages. The festival is a new addition to the castle's program, said its spokesperson Pavlína Jindrová.

"We see the Hell Yes! festival as an opportunity to reach a new group of visitors and present Helfštýn as a place where cultural heritage can connect with contemporary art, music, and modern technologies," said the castle's spokesperson, noting that the organizers expect more than 1,000 visitors.

The idea to incorporate a festival of light, digital art, and electronic music into the cultural program of Helfštýn Castle arose after a personal meeting between the castle's curator Jan Laur and creative technical innovator Pavel Röder, the organizer of the Light Valmez festival, which offers unique installations by leading artists from across Europe. "In a joint discussion, the idea emerged to transfer a similar concept to one of the largest castle ruins in the Czech Republic," the spokesperson added.

The event will blend the historical backdrop of Helfštýn with progressive electronic music, light installations, video mapping, and digital art. "Visitors can look forward to performances by artists and DJs like NobodyListen, OM Unit, Ventolin, or Ohm Square. The castle grounds will also be enlivened by a number of art installations," Jindrová added.

Among those showcasing their works will be Jan Slanina, Marek Šilpoch, and Felix Kiessling, who will present a monumental piece titled Antisonne, launched from the wide castle wall to the first entrance gate. The program will also include the interactive installation Silent Scream by Dan Gregor and the INITI studio, based on technology that converts the human voice into written text.

This year, the Hell Yes! festival will rank among the largest cultural events in the medieval castle grounds, which previously included the Military History Festival and the international gathering of blacksmith artists named Hefaiston.

The season at the castle is complicated by the repair of the access road, which is taking place from April 7 to the end of June. According to the castle administration, the main access road to the castle should be opened before the upcoming weekend. "The traffic restrictions have significantly affected the castle's visitation according to the castle administration. Compared to the same period last year, we are recording approximately 8,000 fewer visitors for the months of April, May, and June," the castle spokesperson added.