The Municipality of Blagoevgrad, under the patronage of Blagoevgrad’s mayor Lazar Prichkapov, organised the second edition of the international festival ‘Macedonia Folk’ from 21 to 24 September 2006.

The festival is a competition in four categories.

More than 400 groups and individual performers took part in the frames of the festival. They all represented their artistic skills on the three stages: in the area of Bachinovo, the open air theatre in the Varosha quarter and the main square George Izmirliev.

24 September 2006 - Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria Boris Dimitrov

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Balkanalia’s tenth edition was held this year from 24 to 27 August in Camp Angelos, near Portland, USA.

It was a three-day incredible gathering of campers, musicians, dancers and singers in the idyllic atmosphere of Camp Angelos, a superb way to share your love of Balkan music and dance with other people.

1 September 2006 - Camp Angelos, Portland, USA. Vera Genova

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The village of Guca in the Dragacevo district, peaceful and colorful part of western Serbia, has gained world fame owing to its Assembly of Trumpet Players, the largest trumpet event on the planet.

About 500,000 people of varying ages visit every year the Festival in Guca. Among the foreign visitors there have been individuals from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Poland, Macedonia, USA.

6 August 2006 - Guča, Serbia Balkanfolk site

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Българският музикален фолклор има много приятели по света. Те създават групи и разучават български песни и танци. Музикална къща „Гега Ню” вече представи един такъв състав – оркестър „Тополово” от Франция (GD 148). Продължаваме с още една група – БАЛКАН ТРАНЗИТ от Дания. Групата е основана през 1988 г. в гр. Аархус. Петимата музиканти с голяма любов и старание изучават български песни и мелодии, а от 1993 г. работят с Янка Рупкина, Манол Михайлов и кавалджията Стоян Величков.

7 July 2006 - София, България Gega New

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Each year Turquoise presents a colourful concert in the convention/culture centre in Kadikoy, Asian side of Istanbul. The group consists of 38 skilful dancers and is under the direction of art directors/choreographers Ayhan and Gulcin Uncuoglu.

24 June 2006 - Istanbul Anna Travali

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A big fair was held on 3 June 2006 in the Rhodope village of Lilkovo. The gathering started as of the early morning and went on until late evening. Two bands had the important role of entertaining the people – Brestovitsa, led by the clarinet player Yashko Argirov and, Slavcho Angelov’s band from Brestovitsa called Slavey.

5 June 2006 - Lilkovo, Bulgaria Anton Gardev

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For years on this area takes place the International Folklore festival "Bojurite", in which have participated folklore ensembles from Greece, Macedonia, Turkey, Rumania, Sweden and Bulgaria.



In the 2004 edition of the International Folklore festival Bojurite took part ensembles from Rumania and Macedonia, as well as the municipalities, that have participated in the earlier editions.

1 June 2006 - Kubrat, Bulgaria Boris Dimitrov

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The Saturday before Palm Sunday, a week before Easter, is Lazaritza. In Bulgarian folklore, Lazarus carries an axe аnd the elderly believe he is the master of timber and bushes and helps people clear them so the land can be used for ploughing and planting.
St. Lazarus’ Day is also connected with 'lazarouvane', an old spring ritual for young girls who dance, sing and dress in wedding costumes.



This year St. Lazarus’ Day fell on 15th April and Zornitsa folklore ensemble, Sofia, traveled to the nearby township of Pernik where they had been invited to present a concert.

15 April 2006 - Pernik, Bulgaria Anna Travali

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This year's 41st anniversary Spring Festival will be headlined by superstar folk singer coming directly from Bulgaria, the renowned IVAN DYAKOV, as well as other top artists who will perform and teach traditional music, dance, and culture from every corner of the Balkans, including Bulgarian, Greek, Macedonian, Rrom (formerly known as Gypsy), Serbian, and Turkish genres. All events will take place at the International House, 1414 E. 59th Street, Chicago. The Spring Festival will begin 8pm, Friday, March 17, 2006, and conclude 5pm, Sunday, March 19, 2006, and artists and enthusiasts are coming from Bulgaria, New York, California, Seattle, Canada, and all points between.

14 March 2006 - Chicago, USA John Kuo

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On the 2nd of March 2006, in the Filip Kutev hall, in the The Union of Bulgarian Composers, was presented the book “Zlatoprystia from Strandja” by Mihail Bukureshliev, who described the life and the work of his friend and famous kaval-player Stoyan Velichkov.



On the presentation, in Stoyan Velichkov’s honor the Orchestra for Folklore Music to the Bulgarian National Radio performed three pieces. The concert finished with a performance of Folklore Formation “Stefan Kynev”, who, under the guidance of their choir-master Mihail Bukureshliev, have performed the songs, arranged by Stefan Kynev “Nedo, biala Nedo”(Nedo, white Nedo), “Ia chujte, chijte (Listen, Listen), and “Gankino horo”.

2 March 2006 - Sofia, Bulgaria Ema Konova

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