You might need a moment to place the band's name, but that punchy chorus from the bar, the one the whole room joins in on, you'll almost certainly recognise. And here's the thing most people don't know over a pint: the crew that wrote the most famous Czech anthem to pub life came out of thrash metal. Alkehol's founders used to shred guitars in the legendary Kryptor. That paradox is exactly what makes the Alkehol Velké Bílovice story so interesting: hard-edged musicians who dialled back the speed but not the energy, bringing a beer-soaked vibe to a corner of Moravia where wine has always been the drink of choice.
And one more detail that lands at any campfire: as early as 1993, barely a year after launching, the band managed to sell out Prague's Lucerna. Not everyone who sings about booze can pull that off.
Alkehol Velké Bílovice: why wine country of all places
The pairing of Alkehol and Velké Bílovice looks like a contradiction at first glance, because the largest wine-producing village in Moravia and a band that celebrates beer seem worlds apart musically. In reality, they meet on the local festival scene.
Velké Bílovice in the Břeclav district is the largest wine-producing village in the Czech Republic, with cellar lanes and open wine cellars setting the rhythm of the entire summer. That makes the contrast all the more striking when a stage goes up at the Křástelka venue and a rock band rolls in. Alkehol appeared here as part of the FerbyFest festival, where according to the programme they shared the bill with other big names from the Czech and Slovak scene.
For a fan from the area, it means one thing: this place is not just about winemakers and young wine. The region has a louder, guitar-driven side too, and Alkehol fits into it surprisingly well. Anyone who wants to plan a trip for music and a glass of wine will find both here. For what's currently on offer in Velké Bílovice, keep an eye on our events calendar.
From Kryptor to the bar: where Alkehol came from
Alkehol wasn't born in a rehearsal room but in a pub, and its roots go back to one of the hardest Czech bands of the nineties. The story is better than most made-up legends.
The idea of forming the group appeared as early as 1991, when Ota Hereš and Petr Buneš, at the time guitarists in the thrash metal band Kryptor, decided to write non-thrash-metal songs with pub-themed lyrics, and the central place where they workshopped their material was a Prague restaurant called "Na Slamníku". That venue later inspired one of their biggest hits. At first it was literally a side project for fun.
Kryptor was no fringe act, though. The band even staged a series of themed evenings at which they performed on their own and presented what amounted to three fully-fledged bands - Alkehol and Leprocide included - and the simultaneous mass success of Alkehol eventually led to Kuna and Ota Hereš being given an ultimatum, at which point they chose their solo project. The side project became the main job. The metal past never really left the band either. Ota Hereš and other musicians also played in the metal band Törr.
The start was swift. A demo titled "Hospodo, nalejvej", completed on 25 January 1992 already under the name Alkehol, contained twelve tracks and was offered to the record label Monitor, which accepted. And the very first shows were played in style. The first concert took place on 30 October 1992 in Duchcov, where Alkehol opened for Kabát.
The hits the whole room waits for
Alkehol has stayed on the scene for over three decades thanks to a repertoire that even people who would never consciously put the band on already know. Betting on simplicity and humour paid off.
The band's sound is easy to read. Alkehol became famous for straightforward, punchy hard rock and lyrics with a humorous take on beer, alcohol and pub life. Concert staples include tracks like "Na Slamníku", "Pivo dělá hezká těla", "Anděl strážnej" and "Na zdraví" - songs that the band itself highlights as its hits. Those are the ones that get the floor moving whether they're playing a club or an open-air stage.
Behind those years lies a solid body of work. The band has played hundreds of concerts, appeared at numerous festivals, completed several tours and released over fifteen albums, and as early as 1993 they managed to sell out Lucerna. Alkehol's footprint extends beyond concert halls too. The band recorded an anthem for football club Sparta Praha in 1992 and for ice hockey club Kometa Brno in 2008. So if you hear a walk-out anthem at an ice rink, there's a fair chance it came from the "Na Slamníku" crew.
What to expect from an Alkehol live show
An Alkehol concert is not about virtuosity - it's about shouting choruses together and the beer-hall atmosphere the band can fire up within minutes. That's exactly why they work so well at summer festivals.
The format is usually clear: no-frills hard rock, lyrics the audience knows by heart, and a setlist built from proven hits. At festivals like FerbyFest, Alkehol appears in strong rock company. The programme of the Velké Bílovice event featured names alongside Alkehol such as Harlej, Tublatanka, Gate Crasher, Zoči Voči and Civilní Obrana. That's a line-up that promises a sold-out venue and a loud evening.
The band also tours the whole country regularly, from clubs to beer festivals to large open-air events. If you're after more guitar-driven evenings in the area, browse our concerts overview, where you can catch other reliable rock acts too. One practical tip for the end: at summer open-air events it pays to arrive early, get the lay of the land, and not leave ticket buying to the last minute - for established names, pre-sale tickets go fast.
What to do in Velké Bílovice and the surrounding area when Alkehol isn't playing
Velké Bílovice and the surrounding area have plenty going on outside rock festivals, and our calendar lists specific events with dates and venues that you can head to right now. You can reach for wine or for music.
Closest to home is the town itself in its strongest discipline. Right here you'll find the Summer Festival of Authentic Wines (24 July 2026, Velké Bílovice, Břeclav district) - exactly the kind of event that gives the village its reputation as a wine centre. It's the ideal counterpoint to a loud festival: a slower pace, a glass in hand and local winemakers within reach.
A little further away, at Pole designu in the Egoé complex in Bílovice, you can tune into a completely different mood. The chill-out evening Leto s Monikou, DJ Mardoša (28 July 2026) offers a slower, summery atmosphere far from guitar riffs. The project is led by Leto s Monikou and singer Monika Omerzu Midriaková, so it will be an intimate evening rather than a beer-fuelled roar. Anyone planning a longer cultural summer around the region will find more tips in our events calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When does Alkehol play in Velké Bílovice?
The band's most recent appearance in Velké Bílovice took place as part of the FerbyFest festival at the Křástelka venue. Specific future dates change with each tour, so the best approach is to follow the band's official website and ticketing platforms, where current dates and tickets will appear.
Where does the name come from and who played in the band before?
Alkehol was formed in 1991, when Ota Hereš and Petr Buneš, at the time guitarists in the thrash metal band Kryptor, decided to write non-thrash-metal songs with pub-themed lyrics. What started as a fun side project became one of the most enduring Czech rock acts.
What are Alkehol's biggest hits?
Among those the band itself counts as its best-known are "Na Slamníku", "Pivo dělá hezká těla", "Anděl strážnej" and "Na zdraví". These tend to be the highlight of concerts and reliably get the whole room singing.
What is there to do in Velké Bílovice when Alkehol isn't playing?
Wine is the obvious answer. Right in town there is the Summer Festival of Authentic Wines (24 July 2026), and a little further away there is the chill-out evening Leto s Monikou at Pole designu in Bílovice. Both can be found with date and venue in our calendar.
Where can I buy tickets for an Alkehol concert?
Tickets for festivals and standalone concerts are sold through standard ticketing networks and the official channels of the event organisers. For large summer events we recommend buying in advance, as tickets are more expensive on the door and sometimes already sold out.
Sources
- Official Alkehol band website - biography and concert overview (alkehol.cz)
- Wikipedia: entry for Alkehol (history, discography, club anthems)
- Kultura.cz - Alkehol band profile
- Metalopolis.net - article on Kryptor and the origins of Alkehol
- Festiky.cz - overview of Alkehol festival appearances 2026
- kdykam.com: Summer Festival of Authentic Wines, Velké Bílovice
- kdykam.com: Leto s Monikou, DJ Mardoša, Pole designu, Bílovice
- kdykam.com: concerts overview and events calendar