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Bulgarian pop, rock music supports the campaign "Let's be kinder”

БНР Новини
Special guest of the concert is Italian musician Francesco Bachini
Photo: courtesy of the organizers

Each year, the Day of Sofia, September 17th, is celebrated with various cultural events. Now among the rich program the Festival for Pop and Rock Music Sofia 2014 stands out. It will be held in two categories - Competition for new Bulgarian Pop and Rock Song on September 18 and an International Competition for Performers (19-12 September).

More about this charitable idea that develops over time along this holiday from Peyo Peev - rock musician from Sprint band and ideologue of this event:

"For five years Sprint Production along with the musicians from Sprint, Impulse and the late Peter Gyuzelev from Shturtsite founded a national charity campaign called Let us be kinder. It was created to help people who are in the state of a waking coma. Until now through concerts we have promoted this cause and we were able to raise funds. Sofia Municipality and Yordanka Fandakova - Sofia mayor designated a place that will become a rehabilitation hospital. With this musical event, we collect funds for equipment. All performers responded to the initiative and participate free of charge. The money raised from the concert on September 18 in Sofia will go to this center. This is a cause for which we have been working for five years and we hope to have a successful conclusion."

In its favor are many artists, performers, athletes and people who have been in contact in one way or another with this problem.

"On September 18, a Competition for new Bulgarian pop and rock song will be held," says Peyo Peev. In it, 14 songs written by Bulgarian authors will compete. They will be performed by singers from several generations. We have planned also a recital of eight musicians whose songs are in the BNR music chart, Escalator Top 20. Special guest of the concert is Italian musician Francesco Bachini."

The competition is national as the songs are written by professional writers and composers. All compositions which will participate in the music competition are selected by an anonymous vote by the music editors of several media, including the Bulgarian National Radio. For the concert in Sofia on September 18 a professional jury will determine respectively the first, second and third place. The audience will also participate in the contest by voting for the artist by sending text messages. Peyo Peev draws attention to the fact that this contest is for the best song, not the best artist. The idea is to encourage Bulgarian song writers.

“From 19 to 21 September again, an International Competition for pop and rock artists will be held”, continues Peyo Peev. “We have invited artists from eighteen countries. These include Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, France, Italy, Malta, and artists from the Balkan peoples. According to the regulation, all foreigners except for singing a song in their respective language must perform one in Bulgarian. So this is similar in a way to the former festival "Golden Orpheus". Bulgaria will be represented by Boyan Mihaylov and Preslava Mravkova. We have two prizes - one in the name of Peter Gyuzelev and the other is "Sprint Production". We choose young and still unacknowledged singers and produce them. One is Theodor Koichinov who is already part of Impulse band. It is our aim to support young talented people. Sofia Municipality and the mayor of Sofia once again stand behind us as the music event is dedicated to Sofia’s Day - September 17."

English Rossitsa Petcova



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