What do clothes adorned with Picasso-inspired monster images and one of the most popular urban art and culture festivals in Bulgaria have in common? The synergy between streetwear brand What A Monstar and Kapana (“Trap”) Fest is what lends this three-day fair for music and modern crafts in Plovdiv its unique urban flavor.
For the fourth consecutive year, Plovdiv’s Kapana neighborhood came alive with the sounds of hip-hop and alternative jazz, which visitors from all over the world came to enjoy. The summer edition of Kapana Fest took place on June 1, 2, and 3 this year. There were a record 120 stands featuring original products and foods, as well as performances by musicians from the USA, Romania, Greece, the Netherlands, and Bulgaria, a literary program, film screenings, sports, and fun games.
The summer 2018 edition of Kapana Fest featured a truly international selection of urban music. Among the highlights were performances by LA hip-hop artist Gavlyn and James & Black, a duo from Austin, Texas, who visited Plovdiv and Kapana Fest with the support of the America for Bulgaria Foundation. The audience also enjoyed performances by Tin Men and the Telephone, jazz innovators from the Netherlands; Greek hard rock band Hidden in the Basement; Romanian indie pop duo We Singing Colors; Greek singer Σtella; and a number of amazing Bulgarian artists including P.I.F., Blues Traffic, and Zhluch/Gena.
Both the handicraft selection and the literary program, which included poetry and prose readings set to music, had a distinctly urban feel. Visitors could choose among several streetwear brands, buy graffiti prints, and sample various healthy foods and natural cosmetic products. The youngest visitors enjoyed a series of literary readings and screenings of Yassen Grigorov’s popular fairy tale film Lilly the Little Fish as well as films made by children. The festival also featured several documentaries about Bulgarians whose achievements have been recognized worldwide.
Kapana Fest organizers and What A Monstar recently announced a new joint project, a YouTube channel titled What A Monstar Concerts, which will feature collaborations between artists at Kapana Fest. The first one is “The Secret” by hip-hop artist Reverie, who performed at the festival in summer 2017. The song was recorded in a Plovdiv studio, and the video was shot in Plovdiv by graphic designer and 3D artist Minyo Kostadinov, who owns the company Film Factor.
