Sofia Live Festival: Next Generation

27 - 28 June 2026 • Vidas Art Arena •

24 JAN

ALONE AT THE PARTIES

Alone at Parties is a five-piece band from Cluj-Napoca (RO). Their sound is an indie blend of soft-spoken synthesizers, playful electric guitars, which come together around subtle acoustic rhythms and warm vocals.

They made their debut in late 2021 via the Cirkular label with a live rendition of Board Games, followed by Another Car (featuring Adame Wolf), their first single. These releases were marked by a solo acoustic tour that introduced their music to Romanian crowds.

Their next singles, Oranges & Apples and Intensive Care, both center on relationships – the first reflecting on boredom & the second drawing a parallel between taking care of houseplants and nurturing healthy connections.

In 2023, Alone at Parties played their first full band shows, including performances at Electric Castle, Transylvania International Film Festival and a mini-tour in Bucharest, Cluj & the BuSH Showcase in Budapest.

A song about a dystopian wellness facility, Infinite Wellness Center, preceded their debut album Familiar Faces, released in autumn 2024.

Throughout 2024 & 2025, the band continued performing at local shows & festivals, as well as the MMB Bucharest & the SoAlive Sofia showcases.

In late 2025 they released Petals, featuring the Bulgarian artist Desi Latinova on vocals. Petals is the lead single from their new EP of the same name, released in November.

The EP marks a sonic change from the debut album – no acoustic guitars this time – as the band experiments with punk, lo-fi & electronic elements, while maintaining their melancholic sensibility. The songs drift through themes of pop psychology, impermanence, fading friendships & isolation. The EP featured on Bandcamp’s New & Notable.

24 JAN

LUNIKK

Lunikk is an experimental dark electro-pop duo from Eastern Europe, formed by Kristina Yordanova and Denny Popov. They met a few years ago when Denny was in a rock band and Kristina, once doubtful about pursuing music, discovered a shared creative frequency through many conversations. Fate intervened when Denny’s band broke up, and Kristina’s notebook of poetry, titled “Let’s Live on Mars”, became the foundation for their collaboration.

Committed to making music without compromise or ego, they converted a room in their apartment into a studio. Over two years and countless cigarettes later, their imaginary world began to take shape – a world rooted in the gray realities they experience, yet delivered in a way that resonates universally.

Shortly after their debut, Lunikk quickly gained local recognition for their unique sound and artistic vision. Their growing influence was reflected in three consecutive annual nominations at Bulgaria’s top underground music awards, where they were recognized in categories such as Best New Artist, Best Artist, and Best Music Video for their captivating single “Soda Pop”. Their rising profile also landed them a spot on the lineup of Sofia Live Fest – one of the country’s most renowned music festivals – showcasing their talent to a broader audience.

Following these milestones, Lunikk caught international attention and went on to sign with Cleopatra Records, a prominent Los Angeles – based indie label, they released a pair of acclaimed records – entirely on their own terms. The label never boxed them in, but over time it became clear that the band’s vision extended beyond what the label could realistically support. The split was mutual, rooted not in conflict but in creative divergence. Now fully independent, Lunikk is shaping their path with a clear artistic vision and an uncompromising approach to sound.

Lunikk released their debut album, Unreal City, in October 2023, followed by three singles, with their latest release titled ‘Mess Like This’. The duo gained further recognition with their nomination for the prestigious MME Awards.

Their name, Lunikk, is inspired by the Bulgarian word for Moon.

24 JAN

MONO & THE STEREOS

Song and dance tea club of five.

Even though they were formed at the beginning of 2025, Mono and the Stereos have already established a distinct sound that fuses folk rock and indie.

Their music balances raw emotion with cinematic arrangements, combining heartfelt songwriting and dynamic live energy. With their debut releases already gaining attention, the band continues to grow as one of the most exciting new acts on the scene. Boyscout magazine single out Yellow Dusty Road and added it to their top 10 releases of August.

25 JAN

DZINGOVIC

Thanasis Dzingovic is one of the most recognizable alternative guitarists in Greece. He is known for his collaborations with major names in the Greek music scene, as well as for the releases of the band Super Stereo, where he is active as a singer, guitarist, and songwriter.

The style of his solo albums is defined by a travel-inspired atmosphere and Greek-language, emotionally charged lyrics that leave a bittersweet, dream-like impression.

On Sunday, January 25, he will perform in Sofia for the first time in collaboration with “Music From Greece” presenting songs from his debut solo album, released in 2021, along with material from his upcoming album, scheduled for release in 2026.

25 JAN

JENYKA

JENYKA is a 16-year-old singer, songwriter, and musician from Sofia, bringing a fresh, emotionally charged voice to the European indie-pop scene. Her music blends modern pop production with cinematic sensitivity and poetic depth, creating intimate worlds where vulnerability becomes strength and silence turns into melody.

Known for her airy yet powerful vocals, JENYKA crafts songs that feel personal and deeply affecting. Her work carries an unmistakable honesty, shaped by quiet moments, inner battles, and youthful self-awareness. With 11 original releases to date, she is currently preparing her debut album, developing a signature sound marked by tenderness, atmosphere, and raw emotion.

JENYKA reached the finals of “Bulgaria’s Got Talent” at the age of 10 and has since won multiple Grand Prix awards at international competitions. In 2024, she gained global recognition with her singles “Hopeless” and “Everything,” which won second and first place at the worldwide contests “On the Music Waves” and “I Want Your Music” (Rome). Her music began receiving airplay on radio and TV stations across Europe and the United States.

In 2025, JENYKA won the award for Best Original Music at UKEFEST, performed acoustic concerts within the global SOFAR Sounds network, and joined the official live program of SoAlive Music Conference 2025 at Sofia Live Club. She has also been recognized with Next Artist 2025, Grand Prix for Jazz Performance (Evergreen Fest), and a Best Debut nomination at the “Golden Ducklings” Awards. Early in 2025, Brazilian media included her among “10 New Artists to Hear,” as part of an international initiative supporting emerging global talent.

On stage, JENYKA delivers an immersive experience — emotional vocals, stripped-back arrangements, and a cinematic atmosphere. Her performances are intimate, honest, and magnetic, often described as “music you don’t just hear — you feel.” She creates a minimalist sonic world filled with depth, tenderness, and light.

With her authenticity, emotional intelligence, and rapidly growing international presence, JENYKA stands out as one of the most promising young artists emerging from Eastern Europe today.

25 JAN

NEMEČEK

Nemeček puts forward a hypnotic noise rock interpretation of folk music, in an intense and atmospheric way. Imagine a love child of Lawrence English and Michael Gira, born and raised on the eternal flatlands of Pannonia.

Helped by the magic of the new age and Slavonian tambura, they erect a Balkan wall of sound which evokes ancient times, but also the ones that are yet to come.

Currently the band is working on a trilogy called Prokletije, a psychedelic tribute to the legacy of this part of Europe, drawn through a noise filter.

Sofia Live Festival: Next Generation

Two days, six projects and a look at the future of the contemporary scene

On January 24 and 25, 2026, Sofia Live Club will become a space for a meeting between audience, artists and new ideas with SOFIA LIVE FESTIVAL: NEXT GENERATION – a two-day concert program with free admission, which presents six projects from the new generation of the contemporary independent scene.

NEXT GENERATION is a natural continuation of the philosophy of Sofia Live Festival – a platform that does not just showcase established names, but invests time, attention and trust in the development of new voices, new sounds and bold artistic directions. The format brings together on one stage projects with different origins and genre identities, united by the desire to experiment, tell stories and seek their own place in today’s dynamic musical landscape.

Within the two concert days, the audience will have the opportunity to hear six different projects that reflect the breadth of the contemporary scene, from alternative and electronic influences to genre hybrids, experimental forms and a strong authorial presence. The program presents the new generation of artists and creates a space for meetings, exchange and open experience of music, with an emphasis on live performance and without barriers for the audience.

SOFIA LIVE FESTIVAL: NEXT GENERATION is not a contest and is not a competition. It is an invitation to the audience to discover new names, and to the artists to take the next step forward. The format aims to create a real context for development, visibility and future opportunities, by putting music and live experience at the center.

The project is funded by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU instrument, Sofia Live Festival.

This publication was created with the financial support of the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The entire responsibility for the content lies with Sofia Live Fest Ltd and under no circumstances can it be considered to reflect the official position of the European Union or the Ministry of Culture.

ALONE AT THE PARTIES

LUNIKK

MONO & THE STEREOS

DZINGOVIC

JENYKA

NEMEČEK

Sofia Live Festival: Next Generation

Two days, six projects and a look at the future of the contemporary scene

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