You know that chorus even if you've never held one of their albums in your hands. And here's a fun fact to win a round at the pub: the name CHINASKI has absolutely nothing to do with China. The name Chinaski has nothing to do with China; Bukowski used it to paraphrase his own German-Polish origins, because the surname sounds Slavic and deliberately out of place, just as he himself felt in American society. So when CHINASKI Hlučín comes up in conversation, it's not about any exotic flavour - it's about a band that has been driving the Czech pop-rock scene since the nineties. This article will tell you who is behind those hits, what makes their concerts different, and where in the region and online to watch for confirmed dates.

CHINASKI Hlučín: what you need to know about the band and their concerts

Chinaski are among the most-played Czech bands and their songs are known across generations by almost everyone. Before we get to specific dates, it's worth knowing who you're dealing with.

Under their current name, borrowed from the literary character Henry Chinaski, the group has been playing since 1994 and over three decades has become one of the most-played Czech bands of all time. That popularity is exactly why tickets sell out fast wherever the band heads. Chinaski's strength lies not in effects but in songs: catchy melodies, Czech lyrics you feel like singing along to, and often a pinch of irony and nostalgia. Frontman and main creative force Michal Malátný is considered one of the most charismatic Czech rock singers and lyricists of his generation. Anyone looking for CHINASKI Hlučín dates or a concert nearby should know that in summer this band is practically non-stop on the road playing festivals and open-air stages.

From Starý Hrady to Bukowski

The band didn't start out as polished pop-rock but as a punk outfit of schoolkids. The journey to the name Chinaski took nearly seven years and runs through one castle and one American book.

The roots go deeper than many would expect. The group's history stretches back to 1987, when two pillars of the band and future long-time friends, Michal Novotný and Pavel Grohman, met in fifth grade at primary school. As children they put together their first line-up. That same year their first proper musical ensemble was formed, Starý Hrady, and the name was inspired by the castle of the same name where the band rehearsed. The sound was completely different from today. Originally a punk band, they started under the name Starý Hrady and adopted the name Chinaski only in 1994, after the literary character created by American writer Charles Bukowski.

Fans spontaneously nicknamed Starý Hrady "Starý Hadry" and in the mid-nineties a pivotal turning point arrived. The group acquired its current name Chinaski in 1994, based on a literary character by Charles Bukowski; it released its debut album in 1995 and real widespread popularity came with the second record Dlouhej Kouř, whose title single was the most-played song on Czech radio at the time. The frontman also took on a new name then. Michal Novotný was born on 30 June 1970 in Jičín and in 1994, when he joined the East Bohemian Theatre in Pardubice where three other Novotný actors already worked, he changed his surname to Malátný as a joke. The trained actor from DAMU ultimately chose music, but he still returns to the theatre. And that band name? It wasn't Asia that inspired it, but literature - something many Czech bands were drawn to at the time.

Hits that all of Czech Republic knows

Chinaski's repertoire is a parade of songs the audience sings by itself. That's exactly why their concert works even for someone who thinks they don't know the band.

The breakthrough came with the second album and continued practically without pause. A fun fact for film fans: in September 1995 the first music video of the group was made for the song Pojď si lehnout and was directed by Jan Hřebejk. On the radio, Chinaski then essentially dominated. Practically every single landed among the most-played tracks and no other Czech band had such a quantity of hits known by almost everyone.

The band's strength is best illustrated by one album. In September 2005 the sixth studio record Music Bar was released, selling twenty-three thousand copies on the day of release alone, earning platinum status, and becoming the best-selling album in the Czech Republic within a week. By the end of the year, 57,506 copies had been sold. At a time when physical formats were beginning to retreat, that was a feat only a handful of domestic artists managed. Before that, one song had set the tone: the first single from Music Bar, Tabáček, became the most-played song on Czech radio within a month. Add to that the awards. In 2003 Chinaski won the Anděl award for Song of the Year for the track 1970 and released the compilation Premium 1993-2003, which closed out the first decade. On top of that, they won the Anděl for Group of the Year three times, in 2005, 2007 and 2014.

And what will you hear live? Songs like Tabáček, Klára, Vedoucí or 1970 are known even by someone who has never bought a Chinaski album. Add to that titles from the records 1. signální or Na na na a jiné popěvky, which include Klára and Drobná paralela. If you want to browse other artists and their concert pages, check out our artists section; a good example of how profiles are set up is the band The People, with dates and venues listed.

Line-up shake-ups and today's roster

Chinaski survived two severe tests: the tragic death of a founding member and the break-up of a long-standing line-up. They play on regardless, and in summer 2026 they are touring outdoor stages.

The first blow was a tragedy. Michal Malátný co-founded the group in the late 1980s with drummer Pavel Grohman, who died tragically in a motorcycle accident in July 2008. Grohman was not just the drummer but the engine of the band: the Malátný-Grohman duo contributed the most to the songs and drove the band from the very beginning, with Malátný bringing songwriting potential and Grohman ideas and organisation. Notably, he also wrote the big hit Klára for the band.

The second shake-up came a decade later. The band's history was marked by the death of drummer Pavel Grohman in 2008 and the break-up of the long-standing line-up in November 2017, with the last concert in that formation taking place on 18 December 2017. The transition to a new five-piece was not automatically accepted in the Czech Republic and part of the audience had to get used to the fact that "the real" Chinaski now play in a different line-up. The band regrouped, however, and the core remained. Today the line-up is Michal Malátný (guitar, vocals), Franta Táborský (lead guitar, vocals), Tomi Okres (bass guitar), Lukáš Pavlík (drums) and Honza Steinsdörfer (keyboards). And if you're wondering when there's even a chance to see them: the current five-piece is touring eighteen open-air stages in summer 2026.

CHINASKI Hlučín: chances to catch the band in the region and what's on in town

Our calendar doesn't currently list a direct CHINASKI Hlučín concert date, but the summer open-air circuit plays into the hands of readers from the Hlučín area. Those who follow the right channels will catch the band within reach, and in the meantime the town has something on almost every August weekend.

Why it's not a hopeless chase. In summer Chinaski don't play clubs but outdoor stages and festivals across the country, so for a viewer from the Opava and Ostrava area the question is usually "where to go to see them" rather than "whether they'll play at all". The surest way not to miss a date is through the band's official website and established ticket sellers, where tour dates and locations appear. At the same time, keep an eye on our concerts section, where we add confirmed concert dates as soon as they are announced; it is purely for tracking concerts, while a complete overview of events across genres and cities can be found in the events calendar. Bookmark both pages and no CHINASKI Hlučín news will pass you by.

And since you don't have to travel to Hlučín for just one event, take a look at what's on there in August 2026. Right at the start of the month, Pivní slavnosti & Gulášfest 2026 draws visitors to the Cultural Centre - a classic for lovers of beer and hearty food (7 August). The day after, the courtyard of the town hall hosts the 1st edition of the Kubb tournament, a quirky outdoor game for groups and families alike. A week later, Darkovičský odpust 2026 takes place by the water at the Hlučín gravel lake (14 August). And the end of the month belongs to adrenaline and tradition in equal measure: on 22 August the lake comes alive with the Flyboard na Hlučínském jezeře event, and nearby the Dožínky Darkovičky 2026 harvest festival takes place. Combining a regional concert with a trip to Hlučín makes perfect sense.

Practical tips before the concert

A few small things can turn a good evening into a great one. These tips apply to a Chinaski concert and to summer events in the Hlučín area alike.

  • Buy from verified sources. Get tickets only through the band's official channels or established sellers to avoid overpriced resale.
  • Factor in the journey to the water. Many Hlučín events take place at the gravel lake and by the reservoir, a fair distance from the centre. Leave extra time for parking and the walk from your car, and wear shoes suited to the terrain rather than heels.
  • Arrive early. At open-air concerts queues form at the entrance, and arriving earlier means a better view of the stage and a relaxed chance to grab food and drinks.
  • Check the forecast. An outdoor stage has no roof, so a rain poncho, or water and a hat depending on the weather, is worth packing straight away.
  • Combine the concert with another stop on your trip. Once you're heading to Hlučín, check the events calendar for what else is on at the same time and make a full day of it.

Frequently asked questions

When does Chinaski play in Hlučín?

Our calendar does not currently list a specific CHINASKI Hlučín concert date. The best approach is to follow the band's official website, established ticket sellers and our concerts section, where we add confirmed dates as soon as they are available. Given that the band tours open-air stages across the country throughout the summer, the chances of catching them within reach of the region are real.

Where does the name Chinaski come from?

The band was formed in 1987 as Starý Hrady, later nicknamed Starý Hadry, and adopted the name Chinaski in 1994 after the alter ego of writer Charles Bukowski. It has nothing to do with China; it is a paraphrase of Bukowski's own German-Polish surname.

Who is the frontman of the band?

The band is led by singer and guitarist Michal Malátný, formerly known as Michal Novotný. The creative core has from the beginning been shared with guitarist František Táborský. Malátný is the author of the vast majority of the lyrics and melodies, and his stage presence is often cited as one of the main reasons for the group's success.

What songs will Chinaski play live?

The setlist usually mixes old and newer crowd-pleasers. Expect titles such as 1970, Tabáček, Klára, Vedoucí, Dlouhej Kouř or Drobná paralela - songs that even a casual listener knows. It's precisely during those that the audience tends to turn into one big choir.

What else can you do in Hlučín besides a concert?

In August 2026 there's Pivní slavnosti & Gulášfest, a Kubb tournament, Darkovičský odpust at the gravel lake, a flyboard show on the lake and the Dožínky Darkovičky harvest festival. You can find a complete overview in our events calendar for Hlučín.

Sources