14 new bands join the festival this year

Machine Head are joining HILLS OF ROCK 2025. With each new name the festival adds, it becomes clearer – this summer Plovdiv will gather some of the most desired by Bulgarian fans world bands. The Californian band, led by the charismatic Rob Flynn, are the headliners on July 26, the second day of the festival. Machine Head, The Smashing Pumpkins, Skunk Anansie, Gojira, Sepultura, Extreme, Static-X, While She Sleeps, Landmvrks, Rise Of The Northstar, As Everything Unfolds, Wolfmother and Vukovi and more – from July 25 to 27, the HILLS OF ROCK stage will bring together musical greats whose influence is felt in world music history, as well as contemporary leaders who define the new sound in heavy music.

Ruthless, innovative and always ready to raise the bar, Machine Head bring with them years of uncompromising riffs and an unadulterated energy that has no equal. Their fans have been waiting for this moment for a long time – Machine Head are finally returning to the Bulgarian scene, and HILLS OF ROCK 2025 is the place to feel the full power of the legendary band. Absolute masters of killer riffs and ferocious grooves since 1991, they don’t follow the rules of metal – they create them. Since their debut album Burn My Eyes (1994), the Oakland band has been ruling the scene, and their songs are not just fan favorites, they are one of those rock anthems that create new standards for the genre.

In a world where trends are constantly changing and sound is becoming increasingly blurred, in a world where social media has the power to raise and lower stars, Machine Head continue to be a stable force – raw, uncompromising and true to their roots.

In addition to Machine Head, The Smashing Pumpkins, Skunk Anansie, Gojira, Sepultura, Extreme, Static-X, While She Sleeps, Landmvrks, Rise Of The Northstar, As Everything Unfolds, Wolfmother and Vukovi and more on the main stage, HILLS OF ROCK 2025 will also offer two additional stages. On July 25, 26 and 27, 2025, the Rowing Base in Plovdiv will once again welcome the traditional partner stages – Na Tamno and Stroezha. They will present a selection of favorite Bulgarian artists and impressive international performers, adding more colors to the festival atmosphere. The crowd favorites, the New York industrial band Dope, return to the Stroezha stage, while Na Tamno adds a whole dozen new names to the program. Dub Pistols, a veteran of the festival scene with an explosive mix of reggae, breakbeat and jungle, whose dizzying history sounds like an epic rock and roll lesson for any artist, Reaven – the French indie band, whose name bears a mix of the French word “rêve” (dream) and the English “heaven”, the cult for Bulgaria Smallman, the classics Wickeda, Frankie, the dreamy soft-rock lady Árika Adams, Lost in Reverie from Macedonia, blues, a drop of reggae and crazy afrobeats by Taraleshta, Varna alternative rock with KSHMR, theatrical funk and curious psychedelic with The Lefties, thrash metal by Axez and the dynamic funky trio GREESH.

Some events simply cannot be avoided. Tickets are on sale on the ticketstation.bg network at prices from 140 BGN to 220 BGN for a three-day pass.

Follow the official HILLS OF ROCK channels for the latest news and exclusive announcements. HILLS OF ROCK is organized by “Fest Team” OOD, is part of the “Heritage 2023” program of the “Plovdiv 2019” Foundation and is implemented with the kind support of the Plovdiv Municipality.