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Lilly of the West news: May 2012: New Video release news [click here]

Lilly of the West news: April 2012: 'Swings and heartaches' CD release party [click here]

Lilly of the West news: March 2012:
Lilly of the West will have the official CD release party for "Swings & heartaches" on Tuesday, 3rd of April at 18:30 in Studio 5 club, Sofia, Bulgaria. Special guests include: Michal Barok, mandolin (Slovakia), Milena Vuleva, violin, Toma Sprostranov - Master of Ceremony. The event is supported by the embassy of Slovakia.


Lilly of the West will play on Monday 2nd of April, 20:00, at the DADA Cultural Bar in Sofia, Bulgaria. Guest: Michal Barok - mandolin (Slovakia)


Lilly of the West will perform live on SKAT Bulgarian Television on Wednesday, 4th of April, 22:00. Guest: Michal Barok - mandolin (Slovakia), host and MC - Vasko the Patsch.

The band will play festivals in Holland (May), France (August), Ireland (January 2013). More info on facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lilly-Of-The-West/38509459167 Photos by Elizabeth Kolbl

Lilly of the West news: February 2012 Our brand new album is out now! Click to hear Lilly's album intro >>

	"Swings & heartaches" includes eleven songs, in two parts. The "swings" are lively, up-tempo songs from the 40s/50s, featuring two Patsy Cline hits ("Gotta lotta rhythm in my soul" & "Walkin' after midnight"), one by Hank Williams ("Lovesick blues"), two old western/swing standards ("My window faces the south", "I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter") and a modern swing ("Who knows what tomorrow may bring"). The "heartaches" are beautiful ballades with strong lyrics. One is a Johnny Cash/June Carter duet ("If I were a carpenter"), another is an Everly Brothers' classic ("Crying in the rain"); a modern nostalgic song by Jools Holland & Sam Brown ("Valentine moon") and two Bulgarian folk melodies ("Brala moma" & "Malka moma").
Musicians:
Lilly Drumeva - lead & harmony vocals, fiddle Yasen Vasilev - lead & harmony vocals, lead & rhythm guitars Michail Shishkov - lead and harmony vocals, Dobro, piano Svoboda Bozduganova - upright bass: pizzicato and arco With special guests: Michal Barok - mandolin, Milena Vuleva - fiddle

"Lilly of the West" was formed in 1996 by Lilly Drumeva in Sofia. Shortly after releasing a debut album, the band toured successfully throughout Europe and the US, winning European and international bluegrass music awards. "Lilly of the west" has a large repertoire, including country, bluegrass, swing, jazz, pop and Bulgarian folk music. The band has released 9 albums to date; the latter ("Swings & heartaches") is a collection of jazz & swing standards from the 1930s/40s. We hope you enjoy this collection of swings & heartaches, God bless and see you at the shows! Lilly Drumeva

Lilly of the West news: 11th November 2011 On 11.11.2011 Lilly of the West performed together with American bluegrass & old time dance band "Mountain Quickstep". The concert took place in the Studio 5 club, Sofia and was organized by the cultural department of the US embassy. "Mountain Quickstep" is currently on tour in Moldova, Macedonia & Kosovo. Photos by Sean O'Reilly

Lilly of the West news: 1st September 2011 Lilly of the West had a successful summer season, including appearances at two major festivals - "La Roche Bluegrass Festival", France and the "Bansko Jazz Fest", Bulgaria. The band also played a series of concerts in the Sofia parks, organized by the municipality. Dorian Ricaux, a young, talented French mandolin player collaborated with Lilly of the West on several occasions. He was invited to join the band because of Lilly's hand injury. She has been suffering from a "trigger finger" in the past two months. In October the problem will hopefully be relieved by a small surgery. In September the band toured in Bulgaria and abroad:- Lovech Bard fest 2/3.09, Asenovgrad, Plovdiv 16/17.09, as well as in Hungary, Slovakia and Austria. Recordings for the new album have been in process. It will feature jazz and swing standards, covers of Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Everly Brothers, two Bulgarian folk songs and Lilly's original compositions.

Lilly of the West news: 19th January 2011 Lilly of the West preparing for a Dolly Parton tribute concert On 19th of January 2011, country legend Dolly Parton will turn 65. To honer her role in country and bluegrass music, "Lilly of the West" will organize a tribute concert with special guests. The show will take place in hall 6 of the National Palace of Culture, Sofia. It will feature Bulgarian radio legend Toma Sprostranov as MC, musicians of "Lilly of the West" (Jasen Vasilev - guitars, Misho Shishkov - piano, pedal steel, Dobro, harmonica, Bodi Bozduganova - upright bass), supported by Rosen Hristov on banjo and Rumen Boyadjiev on drums. Vocals will be by Lilly Drumeva, with special guest singer from the Bulgarian pop music scene. The concert has the goal to educate and inform the Bulgarian public; it will feature Dolly Parton's most significant compositions, together with photos and information about her career.

Lilly of the West news: 10th November 2010 Lilly of the West recording a new album Bulgaria's one and only bluegrass/swing/country ensemble is currently in the studio, working on a new album. It will go back in time, featuring jazz & swing standards from the 1930s/40s. For this occasion the band has completed a photo shoot in black and white, to illustrate the mood of the music. All photos may be seen on: Group photos - Facebook The new album is set for release end of March 2011. It will be promoted with concerts in Sofia in Prague around this time. Lilly of the West is performing every week at different Sofia clubs ("Tea house", "Swinging hall", "Da-DA cultural bar", "Czech cultural center" and others), as well as touring throughout Bulgaria (Gabrovo, Razgrad, Bourgas). The band will be on tour in Europe, playing couple of gigs in the Czech Republic (March 2011) and Germany & Holland (June 2011). Since the past 2 years "Lilly of the West " has had a stable line up, featuring Lilly Drumeva on lead vocals, guitar and fiddle, Jasen Vasilev - vocals, guitar, Misho Shishkov - vocals, Dobro, harmonica, piano, Bodi Bozduganova - upright bass.

Lilly of the West news: 25th August 2010 Lilly of the West with international guests [Click Here]

Lilly of the West news: 21st August 2010 Lilly Drumeva plays Koszecin festival in Poland. [Click Here]

Lilly of the West news: 9th July 2010 Click to open page

News Archive October 2009 "Vagabond" Article "Vagabond" Article 27th Apr 2010 - Interview with Rick Townend Click to open pdf file


last updated : May 7, 2012 7:59 PM