Petr Lutka

"The songwriters later separated from Porta. Especially from the poetics and content of what took place at the festival. I would not like to evaluate it and say what is better or worse, but I must say that birds of a feather flock together. Šafrán was created as a reaction and an effort to separate from folk and country concerts, which often took place in Lucerna, for example. Swimmers, Greenhorn, Rivols and similar performers played there. However, over time, the songwriters gathered around Šafrán. We even named ourselves accordingly. We thought that there were a handful of us and that we were bringing a different type of message. Anyway, there was a kind of natural separation. Here and there, one of us played at Porta, but it was really rare. Later, people from the second folk wave, thus Nohavica, Plíhal, Dobeš and many others, went there."

"Each one of us was a completely different persona. We complemented each other very much and loved each other. It broke up little bit when someone left. After the revolution, the old relations could not be re-established. We each followed a slightly different path. Jarda Hutka tried to renew the association and also other efforts were great, but overall, it just didn't work out. Playing after the revolution was magical because we at least met in person. From time to time they release something and it is then an opportunity to play together, but artistically it has never happened. Our community was also defined by force. Of course, this also applies to the Charter, meaning that it brought together people of all kinds. However, after the coup, it was no longer connected, because what was common disappeared and lost its depth and strength."

"A couple of bands came, but also songwriters. Everyone who still could, performed there. The whole thing happened sometime in the middle of 1980s. So, for example Hutka was already gone. The audience numbered several thousand people, and one realized how the songwriter's words and the selection of lyrics could resonate when presented in the right way. For me personally, it was one of the peaks of my folk career. I think I hit the atmosphere there then. My performance was presented by Honza Rejžek. We passed some encouragement on to each other. It's hard to realize it today [pause] we got such wings. It was very beautiful and it was a relief. I think there was something that shook the people. During public appearances, one realized that his audience was waiting for something like this. From this point of view, the songwriter has to fulfill the role of a kind of conscience that truthfully names things. Unspeakably, a person cannot betray it, avoided it or filled important places with sauce. Many times, however, I realized that I was not very brave in these respects, and perhaps this is still true today."