Defy Them

Much of Prishtina's rock history can be traced back to the question: whose garage is free tonight? Enter Defy Them, an old wartime bunker in Bregu i Diellit (Sunny Hill neighborhood) repurposed into a recording studio, music school, rehearsal space and self-described Center of Alternative Culture.

By day, young musicians come here for lessons, recording sessions and band practice. By night, the same space becomes a stage. Defy Them feels like an important part of the machinery that keeps Prishtina's alternative scene alive.

While rock and metal is the name of their game, on the first Tuesday of every month, the volume shifts with Jazz Catz, an improvised jam session where well-known musicians from Kosovo's scene gather and play off one another. Those nights are always full and buzzing, so check ahead for reservation information if you want a seat.