Municipalities today

“Bansko is not only a city of jazz, opera or, now, rock. Bansko is a city of music.” With these words, the Mayor of Bansko Municipality, Stoycho Banenski, outlined the resort’s vision for cultural development in an interview with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) ahead of the final evening of the five-day Bansko Rock Fest.

According to Mayor Banenski, this is not merely a promotional slogan but the result of the municipality’s consistent policy of developing a diverse festival programme and offering a wide range of musical events throughout the year. Alongside its well-established festivals, Bansko has recently expanded its cultural calendar with new events such as Bansko Rock Fest and the International Festival Academy, attracting different audiences and further enhancing the town’s appeal as a cultural tourism destination.

“Our goal is not for the festivals to compete with one another, but to complement each other. It is precisely this diversity that makes Bansko a place where music becomes part of everyday life throughout the summer, and one of the strongest reasons why people choose to visit us and return again,” Banenski said.

He noted that the success of this policy is reflected in the growing interest in the festivals and in the thousands of visitors who travel to Bansko specifically to attend these cultural events.

“The rich diversity of musical genres is establishing Bansko as a year-round festival destination. We strive to combine music, sport and culture in an attractive way to offer a complete experience that encourages visitors to return. And in just a few days, we will also open this year’s edition of the Bansko Jazz Festival,” the Mayor added.

Now in only its second edition, Bansko Rock Fest has already expanded into a five-day event and is becoming one of the highlights of the town’s summer cultural programme. This year’s line-up featured Hayes & Y, Stanley, P.I.F., Greesh, Caliberty, Casual Threesome, Johny Rymble & The Law 4000, and Blinded Through the Seasons, while the festival concluded with performances by Jeremy? and D2.

Just a few days after the end of the rock festival, Bansko will once again become a stage for music with the opening of the renowned Bansko Jazz Festival, which will take place from 31 July to 9 August, further strengthening the town’s reputation as one of Bulgaria’s leading festival destinations.

Source: Bulgarian News Agency (BTA)