Czech band Druhá tráva is recording their upcoming album, Memphis, in the American city of Memphis under the direction of producer Matt Ross-Spang, with a slated September release and an anniversary concert at Prague’s O2 universum on November 7, 2026.
Thirty-five years into their existence, Robert Křesťan and his band headed to Memphis to record their new album.
The Bottom Line
- The Project: The studio album Memphis drops in September, followed by a concert at Prague’s O2 universum on November 7, 2026, where the band will celebrate thirty-five years of existence and christen the album.
- The Production: Recorded in Memphis and guided by producer Matt Ross-Spang, featuring guest contributions like instrumentalist Al Gamble and a borrowed banjo from Béla Fleck.
- The Access: The ensemble has launched a crowdfunding campaign via Donio to support the album’s creation, with rewards including limited editions, meet-and-greets, and tickets for the November concert.
Crossing the Atlantic to Capture Lightning in a Bottle
Druhá tráva decided to mark thirty-five years of their existence by recording in Memphis, Tennessee.
At the helm of these sessions is producer Matt Ross-Spang, who has collaborated with Elvis Costello, Jason Isbell, or Margo Price. He also participated in the past on an album by the band November 2nd.
“Memphis is a place where music is still a natural part of life. We wanted to record the record exactly where this sound originated. The atmosphere of the studio and the city was strongly imprinted in the recording,” says Robert Křesťan.
Deconstructing the Sound of Memphis
The album’s lead single is “Chryzantéma,” accompanied by a music video. The band selected it as an energetic and brisk entry into a new stage. Band member Luboš Malina points to the track “Rebeka,” as having the closest proximity to the bluegrass from which they emerged.
“Rebeka returns us in something to our beginnings. Out of all the new songs, it is probably closest to bluegrass, from which we emerged. It is energetic, there are instrumental interludes in it and especially solos, which are not heard as much in new work today,” says Luboš Malina.
The record features American hammond organ player Al Gamble. Meanwhile, Malina used a banjo at the recording that was lent to him by Béla Fleck.
| Milestone | Details | Key Collaborators / Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Production Hub | Memphis, USA | Producer Matt Ross-Spang |
| Special Guests | Guest instrumentation and gear | Al Gamble (Hammond organ), Béla Fleck (loaned banjo) |
| Crowdfunding | Donio campaign active for fans | Includes limited editions, meet-and-greets, O2 universum tickets |
| Release & Live Debut | September 2026 album release; Nov 7 concert | Prague’s O2 universum (35th Anniversary show) |
Crowdfunding the Milestone and Scaling Up the Stage
The group partnered with the crowdfunding platform Donio, allowing fans to support the creation of the album. The campaign offers rewards including limited editions, meet-and-greets, and tickets for the November concert in the O2 universum.
Now, all roads lead to November 7, 2026. Taking over the O2 universum in Prague, the band will celebrate thirty-five years of existence and christen the album. As Křesťan noted when discussing the project, after thirty-five years of the band’s existence, they wanted to do something special and go for it fully.
