The main idea of Bohemi festival is to combine the music, the culture and the traditional cuisine of the Balkan countries and create a feeling of freedom and true entertainment. Bohemi is a festival of irregular rhythm, drums and worm Eastern blood, where everyone can find a bit of himself, the organizers of the colorful ethno festival contend. The festival is held in Bulgaria's popular ski resort Bansko.

A series of cultural events are organized in that Bulgarian town during the summer and the autumn months, including the popular Bohemi festival. This year's program of the festival includes again ethno and folk musicians from the Balkans who are well known in that region, especially in the countries of former Yugoslavia. The legendary Serbian trumpeter Kristian Azirovic, who is a multiple laureate of the prestigious Prva Truba Guce award (award for most skillful trumpeter), will play together with his orchestra at the festival. Bosnia's composer, singer and songwriter Edin Dervishalidovic (Dino Merlin) is also among the stars who is to participate at this year's Bohemi festival in Bansko. His artistic nickname bears the name of his first band Merlin. It is interesting to note that Dino Merlin wrote the national anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina some time ago, together with many other music hits. A contest of little known Bulgarian bands will be also held within the frameworks of the festival. The winner will have the opportunity to warm Dino Merlin's concert. The audience in Bansko is also looking forward to the performance of celebrated and attractive Slovenian musician of Slavonic heritage Magnifico. He mixes ethno and funk in a brilliant manner and performs his songs in broken English, mixed with Balkan languages, French, etc.

Here is what Magnifico told Radio Bulgaria several days ahead of his performance in Bansko.

“I will perform the best of my most popular songs as usual. I hope that I will hold a good concert and the audience will enjoy it. My songs are written in English, because I love to play with the languages and because it is great fun. Moreover, that language turned into lingua franca-everyone knows a little bit of English and understands what my songs are about. Thus, I manage to reach the broad audience. I believe that this approach is very topical and I have been dealing with that challenge well. I am truly happy with my forthcoming trip to Bansko. I heard it is a very beautiful place and I am excited ahead of my concert.”

Pirinski Biseri, Glaznenski Napevi and Banska Mladost are only part of the local folklore groups which are to present the traditional Pirin song. All concerts during Bohemi festival in Bansko are free of charge and will be held on the central town square.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov

The audio includes also:

Music 2 Magnifico - Ya Mustafa (Radio Mix)

Music 3 Male Folklore formation Bansko - Rasti Bore