Photography by Nikolay Hristozov – Creative Intervention, Berlin
Booking & Events
Photography by Nikolay Hristozov – Creative Intervention, Berlin
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IRFAN is an ethereal world music band from Bulgaria formed in 2001. Their sound is an original electro-acoustic world fusion influenced by the sacred and folk music traditions of Bulgaria, the Balkans, Persia, the Middle East, North Africa and India, as well as by the musical and spiritual heritage of Byzantium and Medieval Europe. The integrity of IRFAN’s sound bears the depths of an audio-archeology that explores the lost prehistoric universal human musical heritage in the layers of time.
ORATNITZA are six young Bulgarian musicians who share a love for both folklore and contemporary bass genres. They hence call their unique sound “ETHNOBASS”. Ever since their birth Oratnitza has been driven by their curiosity to find out what lies beyond the musical status quo. This has made them take Bulgarian folklore on a wild journey. Over the years their repertoire has absorbed colors and scents from the local underground and distant continents alike. Bringing the treasures from their explorations home, they pass on the torch of tradition. Oratnitza’s music is a blend of Bulgarian folk melodies, orthodox-style chanting, world music elements, hip-hop, dubstep, trap, D’n’B, and irregular rhythms. Oratnitza interprets Bulgarian traditional songs in a way our generations can truly embrace.
Subcarpați, is a modern cultural manifesto. The music project began in 2010 and mixes elements of electronic music and hip-hop influences with Romanian folklore. The genre is called modern underground folklore. Subcarpați, a musical universe of its own, a language far beyond Romanian, will skillfully blindfold you, leading you through a labyrinth of emotions, symbols, and incantations. And when you open your eyes, you’ll wish to close them, just to be able to get there again and listen to more. Dive into ideas that heal and save. Look into mirrors that not only reflect, but make you change.
S.A.R.S. is one of the best known bands in the Balkans. The band became more and more popular in this region and in the past two years they have performed throughout Europe, The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and many other countries in the Balkans. In addition to their electric mix of pop rock, reggae, blues and ethno music, it’s mainly their Balkan beats and provocative texts, which made them famous way beyond the borders of Serbia. At a live concert, S.A.R.S. has amazing fun with its music and offers an unforgettable experience straight from the heart of the Balkans.
The Bulgarian alternative band OSTAVA formed in 1991 and brought in a handful of new songs and an unconventional approach to songwriting to the Bulgarian music scene. Over the last two decades, the band received overwhelmingly positive reviews, as their music alternates between melancholic, moody ballads and guitar-driven tracks.
P.I.F. (Patriots in Fashion) is, on the other hand, a band with a rather complicated history. The beginning is from the 90s with the grunge wave and the band Resemblance, when the musicians are very active and producing in Hungary. As soon as they decided to return to Bulgaria, the band fell apart and P.I.F. was born in 2000 with new powers. It constantly transforms itself with the release of each new album and on the question “Why?” The band members answer “for personal reasons and creative differences of opinion”.
The FONDATION is the first Bulgarian supergroup, founded in 2013. It includes some of the best-known legends of the most popular rock bands in Bulgaria: Kiril Marichkov (“Shturtsite”), Ivan Lechev (“FSB”), Doni (“Doni & Momchil” ), Slavcho Nikolov (“B.T.R.”) and Venko Poromanski (“Te”). The FONDATION became immediately popular and had two tours in the USA and Canada in 2013 and 2014 with a total of 27 concerts including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Toronto and Montreal. After numerous performances in Bulgaria, the FONDATION began its European tour in the spring of 2015 with performances in front of hundreds of excited rock fans in Vienna, Zurich, Munich, Madrid, Paris, Brussels, Milan and London. In autumn 2015, the FONDATION will continue its European tour in Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Berlin. The group unites the endless love of the classic rock songs of three generations of fans aged 20+ to 60+ years, people who have grown up with the melodies and lyrics of affection, freedom and eternal memories that the musicians of the FONDATION perform.
B.T.R. was founded in the years 1984-86 and after 11 albums, more than 30 years of successful international stage performances and a North American tour in autumn 2015, the band comes to Berlin for the first time. In 2015 the release “Why” became best album and B.T.R. – best music band in Bulgaria. Slavicho Nikolov (guitar, vocals), Ivan Kalfov (bass guitar, vocals), Iliyan Dikov (drums) and Atanas Penev (vocals) will play all the favorite classics in their typical Heavy Metal and Hard Rock Still.
GRAFA is undoubtedly one of the most successful and respected Bulgarian artists, a well-known composer, producer and writer. Over the years, he has written theater and film music as well as songs and lyrics for the most popular and famous Bulgarian artists such as Divna, Billy The Kid, Venzy, Mihaela Fileva, Maria Ilieva, Liubo, Rushi Vidinliev, Toma, Magy Djanavarova . GRAFA’s artistic career includes many awards and worldwide recognition, proving his position as a permanent participant in the formation of modern Bulgarian music. The results are eloquent – no empty seats, full clubs, thousands of accompanying fans and constant encores. GRAFA was also a support act for the concerts of George Michael, Seal, J Lo and Jesse J in Sofia. His success is growing continuously abroad – GRAFA is the first Bulgarian artist to get to a number one place on the MTV Worldchart Express with “Vanilla”, eleven more songs from him are aired on the program. VLADIMIR AMPOV – GRAFA is also the co-founder of the music label “Monte Music”, whose roster includes some of the most popular modern artists – Billy The Kid, Diva, Mihaela Fileva, VenZy, Nickname, Akaga, Preyah and many more yet to be heard of. BORISLAV BOYADZHIEV – DJ BORCHE /drums, DJ/ and VENTZISLAV TRIFONOV /saxophone and clarinet among others/, are going on stage next to GRAFA to complete the unique act that is GRAFA LIVE BAND.
UPSURT /ЪПСУРТ/ is undoubtedly the best rap group in Bulgaria ever. Between the second and third wave of native hip-hop, when the whole scene had shrunk to the size of a few cents, Hasarta, Butch and Bat Ventzi have been producing hit after hit. 17 years after their first studio recording, UPSURT remain true to themselves and instead of copying the trends in the sound and the themes in the texts, they’d rather sharpen their authentic style. As Bat Ventzi says, there’s nothing bad about the libraries with pre-made sounds and instrumental pieces, but the very first moment when your original sounds move people and inspire their minds is unique. Warm-Up and Afterparty will be under the supervision of the beautiful Resident DJ from Sugar Club in Sofia – CASS. The talented young singer MARIA DRAGNEVA, together with the pretty and gifted girls from BALLETT NOVA, will also be on the stage.
Itzo Hazarta is undoubtedly the best known and skilled rap artist in Bulgaria of all time. Between the second and third waves of native hip-hop, when the whole scene had shrunk to the size of a one-cent coin, his band Upsurt produced hit after hit. 23 years after their first studio recording, Hazarta remains true to himself and instead of copying the trends in sound and themes in the lyrics, he prefers to sharpen his authentic style and so in 2019 produced his first solo album “Nepravilen Rap” (translated – “Incorrect Rap”). Because, as Bat Ventzi (Upsurt) says, there’s nothing wrong with the libraries of ready-made sounds and instrumental pieces, but the very first moment when your original tones take effect on people and inspire their minds, is unique.
Mila: “It will be a great experience for the boys and for me, to be on stage outside Bulgaria. Not any place, but Berlin! It is a different energy. It will be an eventful evening for us, I hope it will be pleasant for the audience too. I visited Berlin some months ago, stayed for three days and was listening to some staggering good jazz music every evening. The last evening they did a jam session, I so wanted to jump in. I was finally about to do so but it turned out it was too late. It was over. I regretted it, though it looks like the time has come.”
TDK is a Bulgarian rock band established in 2012 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. TDK’s musical style can be defined as alternative rock with strong elements of new wave and stoner rock. Influences include bands like Sleep, Kyuss, Colour Haze, Porcupine Tree and Tool. The band’s music oftentimes includes motives from the Bulgarian folklore. All lyrics are in Bulgarian as well.
TDK is the cross section of the social experiment in Bulgaria which we call “the transition”. The band’s music is a complex composition which blends images of the tough desert and the mystical mountains. Some of the songs are deeply influenced by traditional Bulgarian music and others are crunched by the grasp of the Stoner sound. All the lyrics are in Bulgarian heavily inspired by the late new wave poet Dimitar Voev. Since its creation the band focuses mostly on live performances.
TDK’s music is one of paradoxes and extreme emotions, one to capture the senses and the mind alike.
Berlin’s psychedelic Hard Rock band REDLAKE CIRCUS will be the main act in the second edition of BERLIN-SOFIA:connected. People get to enjoy their theatrical performances, which have been igniting stages worldwide, becoming rapidly a must see live act.
Besides the original live music at both upcoming concerts, the audience in Sofia will enjoy a bondage ritual on stage by the Japanese artist COCO KATSURA as well as a live body suspension act by the Dutch PRINCESS TWEEDLE NEEDLE as a treat for all the senses.
Be sure to expect a magical atmosphere and a psychedelic trip alongside art acts never seen before at the Bulgarian nightlife scene.
smallman is a Bulgarian band creating heavy, experimental, ambient music, influenced by the “Balkans” folklore. Deep vocals and Bulgarian “gaida” and “kaval” instruments bring a hypnotic atmosphere to balance the aggressive environment of the guitar riffs, bass lines and outlined rhythms.The band is formed in 2001 in the foot of the “Rhodope” mountains which is one of the main inspirations for their work.
IAH MOONTRA is a live experimental trip hop project. On every show they will bring you a unique experience full of excitement, psychedelic atmospheres & improvisation, creating their music with the energy around, for the energy around. Meeting on the streets of Berlin, Fresh & Santana have created an unbelievable experience of sound. Waving from the combinations of Live Vocal Looping, Psychedelic Guitars, Trip Hop Beats, Reggae Melodies, Blues Licks & powerful Rock Riffs.
LEXODUS, born in London, is a live hip hop performer and surged onto the Berlin music scene in 2014. His stage name sounds like medicine, although we can’t decide if it’s an antidepressant or a psychotropic drug. Described by fans as “stinky sound”, Lex is a life-threatening combination of brit hop and electronic vibrations that instantly infect the audience.
The FUTURE SOUNDS OF SOFIA conquer Berlin! Especially for you, the dynamic and fast-developing drum’n’bass FUTURE SOUNDS OF SOFIA comes from Sofia to offer you an unforgettable party! Presize, Robustus and Phirah will immerse you in a “light but deep, clear and melodic drum & bass”. The guys are working hard on the fact that the Sofia DNB scene is as good as the European and will prove their skills right in front of you! The place was greatly considered – the famous Berlin club Subland! FSS (Phirah, Robustus, Presize) and Weaponized (special guest!) will rock you at the Mainfloor, and performing in the small bar/techno hall are Bears:Royals (Raine & Miladin) together with Chris Bau & Took.
GIBELIN was born on December 3, 2011 with its first ever DJ party with live performance by Peter Rogers and Andy Powell, the award winning London-based duo, TECHNIMATIC. Since joining forces in 2007 Technimatic’s discography has spanned the cream of the drum & bass scene, with releases on the likes of Technique, Viper, Critical, Hospital and Spearhead; in 2012 they signed exclusively to DJ Friction and K-Tee’s Shogun Audio label. Since then they have become one of the go-to acts for rich, emotive, musical d&b, epitomised perfectly by their bestselling debut album ‘Desire Paths’. This widely acclaimed long player was one of Mixmag’s Top 10 dance albums of 2014 and won ‘Best Album’ at the National Drum & Bass Awards. Alongside also performed the talented local heroes from FUTURE SOUNDS OF SOFIA.
“Emigrants” is a Bulgarian comedy play written especially for Bulgarians living outside Bulgaria. Asen Blatechki and Kalin Vrachanski are among the most popular actors of contemporary Bulgarian theatre and television series with more than 10 years of consistent television and theatre performances. The play deals with everyday life and daily routines of people without papers who flee Bulgaria because of the bad living conditions and unsatisfactory financial situation. There are many hard but very funny situations. The play “Emigrants” is characterized by an outstanding performance by Blatechki and Vrachanski and is very popular in various European cities and in the USA. The solid performances took place in sold out theatres in Stuttgart, Cologne, Berlin and Hamburg.
Put on your seatbelts! Guests should look forward to being taken on a boundless and timeless journey back into the future, pushing and pulling minimal, groovy disco house from the ‘90s that can very quickly get deep and dark, dropping some fat acid sequences, superimposed with ambient overlays from 2010, 2015 or of today, always sounding fresh.
But what’s even more exciting is ADRIAN LUZ’s very talented FEMALE DJ partner for the night. KAt KAt TAt is a character who is not easy to describe – writer, art curator, founder of STREET ARTE BA (Argentina), leader of the all-female DJ crew POST ACID DISCO ZOO, clearly a prominent figure in the art and music scenes in Berlin and abroad. With many years of experience, she will take us on a detour through another musical universe defined by sensual house rhythms and sexy techno beats, perfect for the dancefloor.
A life story that unfolds against the background of Antarctica. Relationships between a mother – 33-year-old Diana (Irmena Chichikova), her young son Niki (Simeon Angelov) and dad Simo – a scientific archeologist and researcher (Ivan Stamenov), who is not far from the South Pole as part of a polar expedition. A topic about how parents deal with traumatic situations when they have to report something tragic to their children but also want to protect their psyche. Developments are sometimes dramatic.
ELSIANE was formed in the year 2000, when singer/musician/composer Elsieanne Caplette met drummer Stephane Sotto in his hometown of Montreal. Their instant rapport belied musical and cultural backgrounds which couldn’t have been more different: Sotto, a gifted drummer, was self-taught and instinctive, where Caplette’s multi-instrumentalism and extraordinary keening voice emerged from a classical training in Lima, Peru. Yet for all their divergent experience, the pair’s shared sensibility was undeniable, with common influences passing through jazz, rock, electronic and world music, with an intriguing nod to the Trip Hop of Massive Attack, Portishead and Tricky—influences which, while pleasingly evident in the ethereal beauty of the music they continue to make together, would be constituted in an entirely unique way.
BATTLEME (USA) is the stage name and band of Lions singer Matt Drenik, an American musician. It was started as a creative outlet to other projects Drenik was involved in during 2009. As heard in “Sons Of Anarchy” Battleme first appeared in the season 2 finale of Sons of Anarchy on FX Network with the song, “Burn This Town”. Several Battleme songs appeared in Sons of Anarchy season 3, including a cover version of Neil Young’s “Hey Hey, My My,” which has received over 10 million YouTube views and an assortment of remixes by the likes of Stefan Biniak and others. Battleme Announces Cult Psychotica – Out October 6th, 2017 – via El Camino Media!