“It was all a coincidence, if there are ones at all. Some 4 years ago we met one of the bagpipe players that we plаy with now. We started to rehearse and we found out that the bagpipe, accompanied by the didgeridoo and Cajon sounded interestingly. Then the rest of the musicians appeared and now we are a big formation. All bagpipe players are from the town of Smolyan and have been playing together since their childhood years. Now they live and work in Sofia as a part of BonBog. We had five people with bagpipes at our latest performances, two with didgeridoos, two drummers and also our nightingale – folk singer Valentina Dobreva. She is our best musician that helps us with arrangements. We organize ourselves many of the concerts we have. Sofia clubs welcome us, people even start a chain dance at some point – that makes us go on.”

BonBog Drums & Bagpipes has an optometrist, a cook, a graphic designer, a fireman… people with different jobs play together.

“Bagpipe players play traditional melodies and we complete them,” Bunny goes on to say. “Our music is somehow alternative, since it has a didgeridoo and Cajon – instruments, which are not used in Bulgarian folklore. On the other hand, we perform songs, inherited from the grandparents of our Rhodope bagpipe players. That is the source of our ideas and music – that is why the melodies go deep into one’s heart.”

One of the tasks of BonBog Drums & Bagpipes is to get young Bulgarians back to their roots. That is why the band picks up outdoor spots for its summer renditions – its music feels best there. They play with all of their hearts and the magic works…

“In 2014 we have already been to many festivals,” Bunny says. “We really liked the Beglika area, also Uzana Polyana Fest. We also played at a festival in Macedonia. We haven’t seen a similar formation so far. The band is to participate in the Sofia Ethno Fusion festival, in its both parts. The first one is on September 25 – 26 at the Mixtape 5 club and the second – a month later. There will be also a workshop included, where anyone will be able to try the bagpipe. Craftsmen, who make Bulgarian traditional folklore instruments, will be presented at the event as well.”

We work hard at our rehearsals too, because we dream on the release of an album with our own music. Two of the songs are ready now. We find it harder to work in studio, since we are at our best among people - live performances are our natural environment…”

English version: Zhivko Stanchev