“Akaga” is one of the most popular Bulgarian groups, mainly because of its original music – a combination of fusion jazz, funk, Bulgarian folklore, reggae, soul… After four albums, two participations in the prestigious jazz festival in Montreux in 1998 and 1999 and successful concerts in Bulgaria and abroad, the musicians continue to surprise us. As of this season they are again on the TV stage as a live band in the “Dancing stars 2” show. The next minutes on Radio Bulgaria are devoted to the “Akaga” group and their music.

The song “July” has long been in the repertoire of the group. They also sang it on the stage of the summer theatre in Sozopol in the retro show they gave on September 3rd this year during the Appolonia Festival of arts.

Students from the National Music Academy formed the “Akaga” group in 1992. The musicians quickly became known as the creators of an exciting new modern Bulgarian sound. From its formation its front man has been Krasi Kurtev – bass guitar.

“We started as a fusion formation 18 years ago. With time not only we but our music changed as well. At present we are far more commercial. Over 20 musicians have passed through the group. Many of them now live and work abroad. At present we are all classmates in the group – I, Ivo Kazasov, Georgi Velev and Krasi Kirilov. The four of us are together from the very beginning. A few years ago Kalin Petrov, Dimitar Mitev (Dundee) and Pepi Glavanov, who are also classmates of ours, joined us. We have known each other from children and there are rarely questions among us. We are all in our 40-ies. We try to think as 40-year-olds but prefer to play music like 20-year-olds.

The “Akaga” group performed the song “Believe” together with Hilda Kazasian. She is often on the stage with them. She was also with them at their big concert “Akaga and friends” in Hall number one of the National Palace of Culture on October 28th.

Among the successes of the “Akaga” group in 2009 was their participation in the gala concert on the occasion of the Days of Bulgarian culture in Russia. The song they sang and which you will now hear was performed together with the Sofia Philharmonics and the “Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices” choir.

English version: Ivaila Bozhanova