The rock musicians from the BTR band are celebrating their 20th birthday marking the occasion in a series of concerts across the country.

The group composed of Atanas Penev (vocals), Kiril Bozhkov and Slavcho Nikolov (guitar), Ival Kalfov (bass guitar) and Ilian DIkov (drums) have so far released 10 albums. Over the years, their singles have turned into some of the best-loved rock hits and ballads here such as a Flower from the Moon:
“We are happy people because we managed to realize our dreams”, said for Radio Bulgaria Slavcho Nikolov. “Many years ago, when we used to go to concerts of Shturtsite, Signal, and FSB we imagined how one day we would set up our own band. Today, 20 years later, when I turn back in time, I say to myself that, yes, we were able to make our dream come true. It is no accident that the album we released in 1999 was called “Dreams”. Armed with these dreams, the BTR has been going along its path for 20 years now.”

In 1998, the song Salvation turned into a hit even before being included in an album. It was used on the soundtrack of the movies “The Enchanted Circle” and “I accuse”.
The rock musicians rehearse and record in their own studio, as sound engineer Emil Boyadzhiev has been invariably next to them for years. Slavcho Nikolov adds: “Until 2002, we were very actively releasing albums. There was a period in the late 1990s when they were coming out every six months. In 1997, we put an end to our gigs in night clubs and devoted to concerts solely. We gave some 200 concerts per year. It was like a race with ourselves and with time. We wanted to prove who we are and make better and better things and then we continued with travelling abroad. We performed to audiences in China, Vietnam, Germany, and Italy. In London, we have had several concerts in the Astoria hall that is sadly no longer existent. Overtime, the situation changed a lot musically in Bulgaria and also our standpoint changed. So in 2008 we released the album “Déjà vu” where we included cover versions of songs of our favorite bands with whose music we grew up. It turned into a magnificent album and it was very positively assessed by the authors of the original songs. They liked the modern arrangements and the professional performance on our behalf”.

The BTR band have been the opening act of concerts of world-famous bands who arrived for gigs in Bulgaria such as Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Europe, Glenn Hughes, and others.
For six years, the rock musicians have released only separate songs but in 2014 they are to come out with a new album. In March, the BTR are to make their first tour to the US and are now preparing for 11 concerts in front of the Bulgarian community there:
“We have now released two new singles – the first one won the radio pop song contest “Golden Spring 2013” and it is called “Why”. That’s why we decided to use it as the first single of our new project upon which we are now working. The song already has a video to it directed by Vasil Stefanov and featuring our friend, actor Assen Blatechki. The second single to which we also have a video is called “Forgotten Tenderness”. Both singles are received very positively by the audience, just as well as our greatest hits”.
On New Year’s eve, the BTR will have a concert in the town of Kavarna. The musicians will hit the stage together with Tim Ripper from Judas Priest who will be the highlight of the show.
Some of the band’s songs have been included in the music textbooks for high schools. One of these is the song “Koleda” (the Bulgarian word for Christmas), which is included in the selection of tracks in the audio show.

The audio file contains the following songs of BTR:
Flower from the Moon
Salvation
The Taste of the Times
Why
Christmas


English version: Rossitsa Petcova