It's summer once again, which also means the season of music across Bulgaria. In recent years, the music scene here has livened up and there are many events worth visiting all over the country.
While some of the most recognizable festivals - like Plovdiv's Hills of Rock and Velingrad's Arte - will not take place this summer due to various issues linked to the problematic organization of large-scale events after the Covid pandemic, there will still be some great shows to attend - especially in Burgas and Plovdiv. All of these will happen, to a large extent, because of Fest Team - one of the biggest event organization companies in the music sector.
So, in chronological order, this is your ultimate guide for a summer of music in Bulgaria:
12 June - Sofia and Plovdiv
Hollywood VampiresJohnny Depp, Alice Cooper and Joe Perry, together with guitarist Tommy Henriksen, will be playing songs by The Who, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie and Motorhead, as well as original tracks at Arena Sofia. Ticket prices range from BGN 90 to 170.
Omara Portundo
If you are not into the old-timer rock genre, on the same day you can attend the farewell tour of the Cuban star from the legendary Buena Vista Social Club in NDK's Hall 1. Tickets range from BGN 66 to 144.
Kool & the Gang
But that's not all on the 12 June - the famous funk band, famous for hits such as "Celebration" and "Jungle Boogie" will be playing under the stars in Plovdiv's Amphitheatre. Prices range between BGN 120-140.
16 June - Plovdiv
After a three-year hiatus, the largest Francophone festival in the world, Francopholi, returns to Bulgaria and will take place in Plovdiv's Rowing Canal on 16 and 17 June. The headliner will be Imany and other gigs will include LP, Helena Paparizou & Bon Entendeur, Maitre Gims, Shouse and La Caravane Passe.
19 June - Sofia
The prolific Welsh jack-of-all-genres will visit Bulgaria as part of his Ages and Stages tour. The concert will take place in Hall 1 of NDK and tickets range from BGN 99 to 180.
21 June - Sofia
Fans of indie and alternative rock will have a field day this summer, and the band that will kick it off are the US band Interpol. They will play at Yunak stadium and tickets are BGN 70.
23-25 June - Sofia
The third edition of the award-winning music festival will take place in Arena Sofia (the velodrome in Borissova Garden) and will feature bands and performers such as Me and My Devil, Nocktern, UNKLE, Alina Pash, Chet Faker and Wax Tailor. Tickets range between BGN 35-45 for a day ticket to BGN 80 for a three-day pass.
30 June - 2 July - Mogilovo
The fest returns with its 2023 Classic Rock Marathon. The full programme for its main stage includes Scorpions, Dynazty, Iron Savior and Plamen Bonev (De La Bona) on Day 1; Day 2's main band is Europe, with Blind Guardian, Lacuna Coil, Black Sonic Pearls and Amalgama playing first. On the last night the headliner is Helloween, and before them Epica, Battle Beast and Fortress Under Siege will give a performance. Tickets start at BGN 100 for one day and BGN 150 for a three-day pass.
5 July - Sofia
The wonderful Bosnian ethno-punk band will rock the Velodrome in Borissova garden at the beginning of July - they are not to be missed, and tickets are only BGN 48.
6-9 July - Sofia
The urban classic, one of Sofia's favorite events - which is also free - will take place in the beginning of July and will have an extra day this time around. Guests will include Grammy-decorated performer BILAL, The Big Bang, Petya Stancheva and a host of world jazz bands from Hungary, Greece, Serbia, Romania and, of course, Bulgaria.
14 July - Sofia
One of the most recognizable hip-hop artists of the past few years - will be spitting down at Maimunarnika's open stage in the Borissova Garden. Tickets range from BGN 49-59.
27 July - Burgas
The end of July is reserved for the heavy metal genre, and in particular - the metalcore machines from the ARCHITECTS, who will rock the port of Burgas on July 27 as part of the Burgas Summer Live concert series. Ticket prices kick off at BGN 66.
28-29 July - Sofia
The fans of metal can rejoice - after the ARCHITECTS, there will be an entire heavy metal festival taking place in the capital. Guest bands include the Welsh band Bullet for My Valentine on 28 July and Amon Amarth, Kreator, Bleed From Within on the following day. Prices are in the BGN 88-99 range.
30 July - Sofia
Imagine Dragons will be the second indie headliner visiting Bulgaria this summer with a major concert at the Vasil Levski Stadium.
4-5 August - Burgas
SPICE music festivalAnd we move to the seaside, where the new musical capital of the country - Burgas - will host the first part of its long series of concerts and festivals. This is the SPICE music festival that will take you back to the 90's with artists such as SNAP!, C-Block, NANA, Alexia, Apache Indian, Culture Beat, DJ Quicksilver, S.T.S.B. FKA Fun Factory, Kate Ryan, Lucenzo, and more. Tickets range from BGN 70 for 1 day, 130 for a 2-day pass and 200 for a VIP pass.
6 August - Burgas
Burgas Summer Live -The music never stops at the port of Burgas. Australian diva Roisin Murphy, the trip-hop legends from Morcheeba, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Bulgarians Phuture Shock will kick off the second major event in the seaside town this summer. Price: 79 BGN.
11-13 August - Burgas
Burgas Summer Live, part 2
And if you didn't have enough the first time around, there will be more: indie legends Franz Ferdinand and Nothing But Thieves, accompanied by the rising Bulgarian stars Hayes&Y will rock the port on the 11th, followed by Years&Years and Oscar and the Wolf on the 12th and ending up with the Editors, Temple and Shame on the 13th. Each day's pass is BGN 99 and a VIP pass is BGN 220.
It's summer once again, which also means the season of music across Bulgaria. In recent years, the music scene here has livened up and there are many events worth visiting all over the country.
While some of the most recognizable festivals - like Plovdiv's Hills of Rock and Velingrad's Arte - will not take place this summer due to various issues linked to the problematic organization of large-scale events after the Covid pandemic, there will still be some great shows to attend - especially in Burgas and Plovdiv. All of these will happen, to a large extent, because of Fest Team - one of the biggest event organization companies in the music sector.
