Bulgaria’s first-ever World Music Showcase celebrates its 2nd edition on July 4-7! In an effort to support world music acts from the Balkans and beyond, the organisation expands this year’s event from 8 to 12 showcase slots, welcoming 4 more bands than during their 2023 debut. To accommodate this upgraded program, an extra showcase hall will be added to the schedule.
From January 15, 2024, acts are invited to submit an application through mother company A to JazZ’s website until February 9. Winners will be announced on March 11. Much like last year, selected showcase artists are awarded a small budget to support their travel costs, as well as accommodation for 3 nights in Sofia, access to the festival area and A to JazZ Conference, offering ample opportunities for networking with over 50 international delegates. The opportunities that World Music Showcase offers to artists are unique in more than one way, providing a serious platform to both showcase their music in front of a music-loving audience of festival visitors and international professionals such as booking agents, managers, festival programmers and journalists as well as a networking opportunity and educational panels to help budding artists to further their careers. Ana Vrbaski of Alice in Wonderband, one of 2023’s selected artists, elaborates; “Most artists had never been to Bulgaria until then. Yet, this brand new showcase in Sofia has brought us more success than some of the well-established ones in Europe.”
World Music Showcase, an A to JazZ Festival initiative, seeks to help emerging world music artists do just that: grow their audiences and successes while simultaneously shining a light on talent from the region. After a critically acclaimed first edition in 2023 featuring 170 applications from 32 countries, the festival partners with Upbeat, the European showcase platform for world music, again for a comeback that promises to be bigger, better, and even more exciting than its successor. In 2023, more than 10.000 people attended the showcases, and over 60.000 people attended A to JazZ Festival, including 35 international delegates hosting 64 speed meetings. In 2023, A to JazZ attracted nearly 50.000 visitors, promising solid attendance to showcase participants. These numbers make A to JazZ one of the most significant festivals in Bulgaria. With more slots than last year, improved conditions offer even more opportunities for (inter)national world music artists.
Terms & conditions + signup forms via atojazzbg/showcase
