This event has been ended!
Next edition: Zvuky demokracie: Nežná ·
Zvuky demokracie: Nežná
Sounds of Democracy: Gentle
Event by: Kultúrno-kreatívne centrum Hviezda, Trenčín 2026
Location: Cultural and creative center STAR, Kniežaťa Pribinu 3, Trenčín
Topics: History
About event
📅 When: November 14, 2025
📍 Where: Cultural-creative center Hviezda, Trenčín
💙 Entry: free
🎶 What did freedom sound like when it was being born under our windows?
The Sounds of Democracy project, which we implement together with the Pohoda festival, will bring a series of events that explore how democracy and civic courage manifested themselves in various corners of Europe – from Slovak squares to Estonian songs to Polish punk.
in November 2025 at KKC Hviezda in Trenčín we will return to the events of November ’89 by looking outside the main centers of action.
🌟 Come and experience an evening full of music, freedom and important memories.
🎤 PROGRAM:
17:00 – 22:00 – Workshop Samizdata '26
📖 Samizdat refers to unofficial, secretly disseminated texts - books, magazines, leaflets or other written materials that were created outside of state censorship, especially during communism in Eastern Bloc countries. Authors of samizdat wrote freely, outside official structures, often under a pseudonym, knowing that they were taking risks. The Samizdata '26 project continues this tradition - and at the same time turns it upside down. At a time when the "freest" expressions are spread anonymously and digitally, Samizdata '26 invites people to speak openly and under their own names.
🗣️ In the foyer, a lively sharing space will be created: an open recording booth where every visitor can record their personal statement, thought, poem, memory or future reference.
Each voice becomes part of the collective samizdat that will be continuously transcribe into text form and after the end of the event will publish as a digital copy of Samizdata '26 vol. 1 – freely distributable and open for further additions.
💬 17:00 – Discussion: Gentle under the window: How was November '89 in the Czechoslovak regions?
In November '89, the headlines of world newspapers were filled with images from Prague's Wenceslas Square and Bratislava's Námestia SNP. Crowds, jingling keys, Václav Havel on the balcony. But freedom was also born elsewhere - under the windows of our homes, in clubs, in schools, in small towns and in squares that the world's cameras never caught. The discussion will look at November '89 from a point of view outside the main centers of events - how the revolution took place in two smaller Czechoslovak cities, Trenčín and České Budejovice - which represent places that may not have appeared in the newspapers, but without which the change would never have happened. Simečka. Come see for yourself that even the small histories – personal, local, silent – are often what can move the country.
The discussion is moderated by Michal Havran. The guests will be representatives of the Public Against Violence movement from Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
🎸 18:00 – Karpatské chrbáty Concert
The band was founded in 1982 under the name VEGET, which was banned during the times of freedom and changed in 1986 to Karpatské chrbáty, which meant: Karpatské, a type of alcoholic drink, and Chrbáty, jump on our backs. The band is popular because of its humorous and recessive performance, which is mainly embodied by its co-founder and frontman Braňo Jobus.
🎥 19:00 – Screening: The Singing Revolution (2017, documentary, USA / Estonia)
Trenčín 2026 x Tartu 2024
Can music change the course of history? In 1991, after nearly fifty years of brutal Soviet occupation, the tiny Republic of Estonia declared independence from the Soviet Union. This event heralded the collapse of the USSR and the rapid liberation of all Soviet republics. Music played a key role in this historical moment. The film The Singing Revolution tells the story of the great desire of Estonians for self-determination and their unwavering faith in restoring their country's independence.
The Singing Revolution: https://youtu.be/4njksFKyycY
🔥 21:00 - Shame! (PL)
Polish band Hańba! was originally created as a fictitious street band in the working-class suburbs of Krakow in the 1930s and 1940s. According to them, punk was created right there and in these frenetic times, and not some forty years later, as the music textbooks say. The result is an exciting, rebellious sound that springs from the rich culture of a hectic time. Electric guitars replaced the banjo and accordion, and the bass guitar was replaced by a pulsating tuba.
They still work with this concept today, although, as they say, nowadays it is difficult to distinguish fiction, poetry and historical costumes from the sad and ugly face of today. And so they still play and sing about corruption, the suppression of democratic values and social inequalities.
🎵 The band has played on stages and festivals in the United States, Canada, Australia, and all over Europe – in Trenčín, they last appeared at this year's Pohoda. The partner of the project is the European Union.
🎥 Photo and video recordings will be made at the event, which will be published later.
#Thank youPartner #AjNasPodporujeTSK #AjNasPodporujeMestoTrencin #AjNasPodporujeMinisterstvoKultury #AjNasPodporujeEU #Trencin2026
📅 When: November 14, 2025
📍 Where: Cultural and Creative Center Hviezda, Trenčín
💙 Admission: Free
🎶 How did freedom sound when it was born under our windows?
The Sounds of Democracy project, created in collaboration with the Pohoda Festival, brings a series of events exploring how democracy and civic courage manifested themselves across Europe – from Slovak squares to Estonian songs and Polish punk.
On November 14, 2025, at KKC Hviezda in Trenčín, we'll return to the events of November '89 through the lens of places beyond the main centers of change.
🌟 Come and experience an evening full of music, freedom, and important memories.
🎤 PROGRAM:
17:00 – 22:00 – Workshop Samizdata '26
📖 Samizdat refers to unofficial, secretly distributed texts – books, magazines, leaflets, and other written materials that were created outside state censorship, especially during communism in Eastern Bloc countries. Authors wrote freely, outside official structures, often under pseudonyms, aware of the risks. The project Samizdata '26 builds on this tradition - and turns it upside down. In a time when the "freest" expressions spread anonymously and digitally, Samizdata '26 invites people to speak openly, under their own names.
🗣️ In the foyer, a live sharing space will emerge: an open recording booth where every visitor can record a personal statement, thought, poem, memory, or message to the future.
Each voice becomes part of a collective samizdat, continuously transcribed into text form and later published as a digital edition – Samizdata '26 vol. 1 – freely shareable and open for further additions.
💬 17:00 – Discussion: The Velvet Beneath Our Windows – How Did November ’89 Unfold in Czechoslovak Regions?
In November ’89, headlines around the world were filled with images from Prague's Wenceslas Square and Bratislava's SNP Square. Crowds, jingling keys, Václav Havel on the balcony. But freedom was being born elsewhere too – under our windows, in clubs, schools, small towns, and on squares that world cameras never captured.
🕊️ The discussion looks at November ’89 beyond the main centers – at how the revolution unfolded in two smaller Czechoslovak cities, Trenčín and České Budějovice – representing places that may not have made the news but without which the change would never have happened.
"We live in great history, but we're not neck-deep in it," wrote dissident and philosopher Milan Šimečka. Come see how the small stories – personal, local, quiet – are often what truly move a country.
The discussion will be moderated by Michal Havran. The guests will include representatives of the Public Against Violence movement from Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
🎸 18:00 – Concert: Karpatské chrbáty
The band was formed in 1982 under the name VEGET, which was banned during the time of oppression and renamed Karpatské chrbáty in 1986 – meaning Carpathian Backs. The group is known for its humorous and satirical performances, personified especially by co-founder and frontman Braňo Jobus.
🎥 19:00 – Screening: The Singing Revolution (2017, documentary, USA / Estonia)
Trenčín 2026 x Tartu 2024
Can music change the course of history? In 1991, after nearly fifty years of brutal Soviet occupation, the small Republic of Estonia declared independence from the USSR. This event foreshadowed the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rapid liberation of all its republics.
🎶 The documentary The Singing Revolution tells the story of the Estonian people's immense desire for self-determination and their unwavering faith in reclaiming independence.
🎞️ The Singing Revolution: https://youtu.be/4njksFKyycY
🔥 21:00 – Shame! (PL)
The Polish band Hańba! originally began as a fictional street ensemble from the working-class suburbs of Kraków in the 1930s and 1940s. According to them, that was when punk was truly born – not forty years later, as history books claim. The result is an exciting, rebellious sound rooted in the vibrant culture of those turbulent times.
🎵 Electric guitars are replaced by banjo and accordion, and the bass guitar by a pulsating tuba.
Their concept still resonates today. As the band says, it's now hard to tell fiction, poetry, and historical costume apart from the sad and ugly face of the present. So they keep playing and singing about corruption, the erosion of democratic values, and social inequality.
The band has performed on stages and festivals across the United States, Canada, Australia, and throughout Europe – most recently appearing in Trenčín at this year's Pohoda Festival.
🏛️ The Architecture of Community Building project is financially supported by the City of Trenčín, the Trenčín Self-Governing Region, and the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. The project partner is the European Union.
🎥 Please note: photo and video recordings will be made at the event and may later be published.
📍 Where: Cultural-creative center Hviezda, Trenčín
💙 Entry: free
🎶 What did freedom sound like when it was being born under our windows?
The Sounds of Democracy project, which we implement together with the Pohoda festival, will bring a series of events that explore how democracy and civic courage manifested themselves in various corners of Europe – from Slovak squares to Estonian songs to Polish punk.
in November 2025 at KKC Hviezda in Trenčín we will return to the events of November ’89 by looking outside the main centers of action.
🌟 Come and experience an evening full of music, freedom and important memories.
🎤 PROGRAM:
17:00 – 22:00 – Workshop Samizdata '26
📖 Samizdat refers to unofficial, secretly disseminated texts - books, magazines, leaflets or other written materials that were created outside of state censorship, especially during communism in Eastern Bloc countries. Authors of samizdat wrote freely, outside official structures, often under a pseudonym, knowing that they were taking risks. The Samizdata '26 project continues this tradition - and at the same time turns it upside down. At a time when the "freest" expressions are spread anonymously and digitally, Samizdata '26 invites people to speak openly and under their own names.
🗣️ In the foyer, a lively sharing space will be created: an open recording booth where every visitor can record their personal statement, thought, poem, memory or future reference.
Each voice becomes part of the collective samizdat that will be continuously transcribe into text form and after the end of the event will publish as a digital copy of Samizdata '26 vol. 1 – freely distributable and open for further additions.
💬 17:00 – Discussion: Gentle under the window: How was November '89 in the Czechoslovak regions?
In November '89, the headlines of world newspapers were filled with images from Prague's Wenceslas Square and Bratislava's Námestia SNP. Crowds, jingling keys, Václav Havel on the balcony. But freedom was also born elsewhere - under the windows of our homes, in clubs, in schools, in small towns and in squares that the world's cameras never caught. The discussion will look at November '89 from a point of view outside the main centers of events - how the revolution took place in two smaller Czechoslovak cities, Trenčín and České Budejovice - which represent places that may not have appeared in the newspapers, but without which the change would never have happened. Simečka. Come see for yourself that even the small histories – personal, local, silent – are often what can move the country.
The discussion is moderated by Michal Havran. The guests will be representatives of the Public Against Violence movement from Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
🎸 18:00 – Karpatské chrbáty Concert
The band was founded in 1982 under the name VEGET, which was banned during the times of freedom and changed in 1986 to Karpatské chrbáty, which meant: Karpatské, a type of alcoholic drink, and Chrbáty, jump on our backs. The band is popular because of its humorous and recessive performance, which is mainly embodied by its co-founder and frontman Braňo Jobus.
🎥 19:00 – Screening: The Singing Revolution (2017, documentary, USA / Estonia)
Trenčín 2026 x Tartu 2024
Can music change the course of history? In 1991, after nearly fifty years of brutal Soviet occupation, the tiny Republic of Estonia declared independence from the Soviet Union. This event heralded the collapse of the USSR and the rapid liberation of all Soviet republics. Music played a key role in this historical moment. The film The Singing Revolution tells the story of the great desire of Estonians for self-determination and their unwavering faith in restoring their country's independence.
The Singing Revolution: https://youtu.be/4njksFKyycY
🔥 21:00 - Shame! (PL)
Polish band Hańba! was originally created as a fictitious street band in the working-class suburbs of Krakow in the 1930s and 1940s. According to them, punk was created right there and in these frenetic times, and not some forty years later, as the music textbooks say. The result is an exciting, rebellious sound that springs from the rich culture of a hectic time. Electric guitars replaced the banjo and accordion, and the bass guitar was replaced by a pulsating tuba.
They still work with this concept today, although, as they say, nowadays it is difficult to distinguish fiction, poetry and historical costumes from the sad and ugly face of today. And so they still play and sing about corruption, the suppression of democratic values and social inequalities.
🎵 The band has played on stages and festivals in the United States, Canada, Australia, and all over Europe – in Trenčín, they last appeared at this year's Pohoda. The partner of the project is the European Union.
🎥 Photo and video recordings will be made at the event, which will be published later.
#Thank youPartner #AjNasPodporujeTSK #AjNasPodporujeMestoTrencin #AjNasPodporujeMinisterstvoKultury #AjNasPodporujeEU #Trencin2026
📅 When: November 14, 2025
📍 Where: Cultural and Creative Center Hviezda, Trenčín
💙 Admission: Free
🎶 How did freedom sound when it was born under our windows?
The Sounds of Democracy project, created in collaboration with the Pohoda Festival, brings a series of events exploring how democracy and civic courage manifested themselves across Europe – from Slovak squares to Estonian songs and Polish punk.
On November 14, 2025, at KKC Hviezda in Trenčín, we'll return to the events of November '89 through the lens of places beyond the main centers of change.
🌟 Come and experience an evening full of music, freedom, and important memories.
🎤 PROGRAM:
17:00 – 22:00 – Workshop Samizdata '26
📖 Samizdat refers to unofficial, secretly distributed texts – books, magazines, leaflets, and other written materials that were created outside state censorship, especially during communism in Eastern Bloc countries. Authors wrote freely, outside official structures, often under pseudonyms, aware of the risks. The project Samizdata '26 builds on this tradition - and turns it upside down. In a time when the "freest" expressions spread anonymously and digitally, Samizdata '26 invites people to speak openly, under their own names.
🗣️ In the foyer, a live sharing space will emerge: an open recording booth where every visitor can record a personal statement, thought, poem, memory, or message to the future.
Each voice becomes part of a collective samizdat, continuously transcribed into text form and later published as a digital edition – Samizdata '26 vol. 1 – freely shareable and open for further additions.
💬 17:00 – Discussion: The Velvet Beneath Our Windows – How Did November ’89 Unfold in Czechoslovak Regions?
In November ’89, headlines around the world were filled with images from Prague's Wenceslas Square and Bratislava's SNP Square. Crowds, jingling keys, Václav Havel on the balcony. But freedom was being born elsewhere too – under our windows, in clubs, schools, small towns, and on squares that world cameras never captured.
🕊️ The discussion looks at November ’89 beyond the main centers – at how the revolution unfolded in two smaller Czechoslovak cities, Trenčín and České Budějovice – representing places that may not have made the news but without which the change would never have happened.
"We live in great history, but we're not neck-deep in it," wrote dissident and philosopher Milan Šimečka. Come see how the small stories – personal, local, quiet – are often what truly move a country.
The discussion will be moderated by Michal Havran. The guests will include representatives of the Public Against Violence movement from Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
🎸 18:00 – Concert: Karpatské chrbáty
The band was formed in 1982 under the name VEGET, which was banned during the time of oppression and renamed Karpatské chrbáty in 1986 – meaning Carpathian Backs. The group is known for its humorous and satirical performances, personified especially by co-founder and frontman Braňo Jobus.
🎥 19:00 – Screening: The Singing Revolution (2017, documentary, USA / Estonia)
Trenčín 2026 x Tartu 2024
Can music change the course of history? In 1991, after nearly fifty years of brutal Soviet occupation, the small Republic of Estonia declared independence from the USSR. This event foreshadowed the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rapid liberation of all its republics.
🎶 The documentary The Singing Revolution tells the story of the Estonian people's immense desire for self-determination and their unwavering faith in reclaiming independence.
🎞️ The Singing Revolution: https://youtu.be/4njksFKyycY
🔥 21:00 – Shame! (PL)
The Polish band Hańba! originally began as a fictional street ensemble from the working-class suburbs of Kraków in the 1930s and 1940s. According to them, that was when punk was truly born – not forty years later, as history books claim. The result is an exciting, rebellious sound rooted in the vibrant culture of those turbulent times.
🎵 Electric guitars are replaced by banjo and accordion, and the bass guitar by a pulsating tuba.
Their concept still resonates today. As the band says, it's now hard to tell fiction, poetry, and historical costume apart from the sad and ugly face of the present. So they keep playing and singing about corruption, the erosion of democratic values, and social inequality.
The band has performed on stages and festivals across the United States, Canada, Australia, and throughout Europe – most recently appearing in Trenčín at this year's Pohoda Festival.
🏛️ The Architecture of Community Building project is financially supported by the City of Trenčín, the Trenčín Self-Governing Region, and the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. The project partner is the European Union.
🎥 Please note: photo and video recordings will be made at the event and may later be published.