On festivals

Czechia’s Brutal Assault just completed its twenty ninth cycle. And with festival season wrapping up, what better time to curse the nature of change by meticulously focusing on the gripes. 2026 was my fifth visit to Josefov, the 18th Century fortress in Jaroměř that houses Brutal Assault. It’s fair to say it’s changed a fair bit since my first visit in 2014. Naturally this has given me pause. Like the proverbial frog failing to hop out of the pan as the water is slowly brought to the boil, the outdoor music festival is morphing into a summer camp. And like the frog, each step to boiling point is gradual enough in isolation, yet taken together represents a slow march toward doom. Unlike Hellfest or Bloodstock, this quietly confident Czech operation seemed less susceptible to fanfare despite playing host to some big names. But this year a threshold was crossed. Non-musical activities have always been part and parcel of a festival. I’ve made use of Brutal Assault’s horror cinema during a…