A cult 90s wave is flooding Grebnata in Plovdiv this summer. The Smashing Pumpkins are the headliner on the third day of the festival.

This year, the HILLS OF ROCK festival has all the prerequisites to become a crossroads of generations, musical genres and eras from July 25 to 27 in Plovdiv. With the addition of The Smashing Pumpkins and Skunk Anansie, two mythical bands that shaped the sound of the 90s, the HILLS OF ROCK stage once again proves that it is the only one in our country where the history and future of rock and metal music meet. In three magical nights in Plovdiv, those who experienced the heyday of the 90s and 2000s and the new wave of fans for whom this is not nostalgia, but a discovery will stand side by side.

It’s unreal how late, but it’s extremely exciting that finally and for the first time in Bulgaria, The Smashing Pumpkins, one of those bands through which alternative rock not only exists, but shapes culture, are coming. With their melancholic yet powerful alt-rock, crystal-clear guitars, hypnotic riffs and Billy Corgan’s vocals that are capable of breaking down any emotional defense, The Pumpkins have always been more than just another grunge band, they are a symphony of sadness, anger and boundless ambition. 1995’s “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” achieved what few manage – a double album that not only exists in space today, but is the Bible of the lost souls of the 90s. From the anthems “Bullet with Butterfly Wings”, “1979” and “Tonight, Tonight” to the dark beauty of “Thirty-Three” – this is the generational soundtrack of an era. Breakups, reformations, new experiments follow – The Smashing Pumpkins have always been a band of contrasts, of tension between the past and the future. But today, when the band finally comes to our country, Billy Corgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin are back together, not only playing the old hits, but also proving with their new music that alternative rock still has its scale, brilliance and power. “We are still those kids chasing the perfect riff,” says Corgan himself.

Riffs, rebellion and eternal youth are on the menu in Plovdiv straight from the Island with Skunk Anansie. Led by Skin and the discontent, rage and desire for change, one of the most significant British bands of our time comes with a brand new album and for the second time in our country after their monumental participation in Burgas in 2011. The uncompromising energy of Skunk Anansie swirled in 1994 with an explosive mix of alternative rock, punk and dub, broken through the bold, fearless and provocative Skin – without a doubt one of the brightest icons in the history of rock. With strong lyrics, touching on social and political themes and an inimitable aesthetic, with hits like “Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)”, “Selling Jesus”, “Twisted (Everyday Hurts)” and “Weak”, Skunk Anansie quickly took over the world charts and became a headliner at Glastonbury. After a short break in the early 2000s, the band returned in full force in 2009 and since then has not stopped releasing new music and conquering world stages. Now Skunk Anansie are preparing the next chapter in their story with a new album, which will be released this year and will also be presented at our HILLS OF ROCK.

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 that’s not all. The full, extremely carefully curated, day-by-day program of HILLS OF ROСK 2025 is coming very soon – from legendary alternative and grunge greats to modern metalcore titans without nostalgia, but with pure, live emotion. Tickets are available on ticketstation.bg at prices from 140 BGN to 220 BGN for a three-day pass.

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

For more news, follow festteam.bg, hillsofrock.com and ticketstation.bg, social networks and the event on Facebook for the most up-to-date information.