Brno’s Kohoutovice.
At the beginning of the 20th century, this picturesque village in the hills above Brno was home to just a few hundred residents. After being incorporated into Greater Brno and especially due to the intensive construction of panel housing during the former regime, the population grew by several hundred percent.
But the local memory remained. And with it came a new community. Traditions live on. Summer is welcomed with festive “hody” celebrations, locals cheer on their football club year-round, and during the holidays, memories of the legendary Masaryk Circuit come alive.
The Poesiomat in Kohoutovice offers a cross-section of the past and present of this Brno district. Listeners can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of local “hody” celebrations and dance to a selection of festive songs. The poetic speaker also features the sounds of traditional Easter “clacking,” chants from fans of the local football club Tatran Kohoutovice, and reflections from former race car driver Josef Michl on the old Masaryk Circuit.
The Poesiomat also showcases Kohoutovice-themed music and literature. Passersby can listen to poems performed by children from Adélka Kindergarten, memories of legendary local teacher František Bašný, poetry about the Kohoutovice water tower by local author Květoslava Křížová, or songs by the well-known Brno band Budoár staré dámy, whose musical roots are tied to Kohoutovice.
Part of the Poesiomat’s programming includes a reference to the legendary article from the Brněnský deník Rovnost about a burning tree stump in 2012 — brilliantly performed by actor Jan Kolařík. Lending their voices to the Poesiomat alongside him are Libor Matouš of the Brno City Theatre and Czech Television presenters Ondřej Blaho and Aneta Fraj.
The Kohoutovice Poesiomat was made possible thanks to financial support from the Brno-Kohoutovice District Authority.