Music taste is a personal matter and there can hardly be found two people whose music taste would be identical. In Slovakia, the offer of home music is really rich.
The number of music styles and genres as well as their variety is increasing. Some styles go beyond our understanding and what we are able to accept in music (alternative and experimental streams) and it is up to everybody to choose what he prefers.
Various festivals provide the opportunity for the young beginning musicians to present themselves. The best known and the most important summer festival is Pohoda in Trenčín oraganised in July, which can boast of 25,000 visitors a day. This festival is far from being the only one in Slovakia. Among the most popular also rank Hodokvas near Pezinok, Rock Fest in Rimavská Sobota, the festival of folk and country music Lodenica in Piešťany or the Slovak Alternative Summer below the ruins of the castle Revište.
As far as singers are concerned, the stars of the previous decade are still popular on the Slovak scene. To the legends of steady qualities in Slovakia belong Richard Müller, the music band Elán, Miro Žbirka, Vašo Patejdl, Peter Nagy, Paľo Habera, Pavol Hammel, Marika Gombitová as well as the excellent lyrics writers (Daniel Hevier, Kamil Peteraj, Boris Filan…), who also contributed to their achievements in music.
At present the most successful of the younger musicians are the rock bands I.M.T. Smile, No name or Peha, the soloists are represented by Zuzana Smatanová and Jana Kirschner.
Punk music is also very popular with teenagers (Kontrafakt, Zóna A, Slobodná Európa, Davová psychóza…) as well as hiphop (Moja reč, Luza, Drvivá menšina…).
One of the best representatives of the jazz scene is Peter Lipa. The folk lovers can appreciate the work of Soňa Horňáková, Zuzana Homolová, Marián Geišberg or the bands Banda, Hrdza and Slniečko. The Slovak country scene also has a number of good quality musicians, for example Alan Mikušek or the band Tuláci. Very productive are gospel ensembles (Richard Čanáky, Mimicry, M. Masár, Tretí deň, Sion).
New young stars of the competition Slovakia searches for a Superstar, who have just begun their singing career, are very popular as well.
Beside Slovak, several singers sing and held their concerts in English. They also become more experienced and gather contacts in the neighbouring as well as more distant countries. Beside festivals, concerts or popular musicals, one can appreciate Slovak music in several town cafés or clubs.