Martin Dimov is frontman of the band Stockholm, and he says he believes that art must convey a message. That is the reason why, a few years ago, they launched a charity fundraising campaign at their concerts for the farm-“Four-legged friends” shelter in the village of Hotnitsa. That was how the plan to organize a concert in the village was born.

“We decided to do it on 18 May, 2018. We went over, put together a stage, found sound equipment. And it turned out a really good concert. That is how the idea for a follow-up event this year came into being, and we called it “Return”,” Martin Dimov says. “Most importantly, “Return” is a self-organized event, i.e. audience and performers can participate together. Anyone can sign up, there are no participation fees. Right up till the end people can join in if they have poetry they want to present or something else. The musical programme is full but if there is any time left then anyone from the audience can come up and present something. It is our wish to see the idea of self-organization, of helping the Bulgarian creative spirit and the Bulgarian village grow.”

The festival does not rely on sponsors, nor do the performers rely on royalties. Martin Dimov says that in art there is no room for calculating profits. “Money is a means, and it comes after a job well done. The artistes, the people who create any form of art, they must put art first, not think about money,” says the Stockholm frontman. There will be no entrance fee either, and the money raised from the sale of T-shirts and CDs will go to finance the festival. The beautiful nature and the sights of Hotnisa – just 20 kilometres from Veliko Turnovo - are well known to travellers around Bulgaria. The guests coming to the festival will be able to camp in the beautiful environs, take the Hotnitsa trail leading to the Kaya Bunar waterfall - that is why they are warned to wear sensible shoes.

“All artistes – off to the village” is one of the festival slogans.

“I personally am of the opinion that artistes must go back – if they have ever left – to creative work,” Dimov says. “Nature is the greatest artist of all, i.e. contact with nature will inspire artistes to be creative, and at the same time we shall inspire each other with the audience and the locals.”

At the second edition of “Return” there will be painters, writers, a comedian, rock bands, rappers. The festival does not aim to make a profit, its purpose is development, that is why the aim of the organizers, in the short term, is to build upon last year’s edition.

“In the long term, we want it to grow to other locations, i.e. other regions, whether rural or small towns, and to cover the whole of Bulgaria. To develop into a movement of sorts, I am not setting down any boundaries,” Martin Dimov explains. “To us, as artistes, that is what matters most and that is what we shall be promoting – humaneness, warm-heartedness and human contact. So that music and art may benefit the community.”

The second edition of “Return” starts in Hotnitsa village at 1 PM on 18 and will continue on 19 May.