Lilly Drumeva heads the popular band known as Lilly of the West.

Lilly was born in Bulgaria, she was raised and educated in a number of European countries including Germany, France, Austria and the Czech Republic.

She was exposed to country and bluegrass music in Vienna in the early 1990s and upon her return to Bulgaria in 1996, formed her own group. Her first album was released not long afterwards and personal appearances were soon held in a number of countries: Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland.

An early career highlight was her appearance in the 1998 European World of Bluegrass gathering in The Netherlands. Significantly, her band won the "best European group of the year" award. Later that same year, she performed at the IBMA World of Bluegrass events in Louisville, Kentucky and was a presenter on the organization's awards show.

For several years she resided in London, she worked for the BBC World Service and organized a group with British bluegrass musicians Rick Townend and Rosie Davis. Lilly has worked with some of the best bluegrass players such as Jesse Brock (Lynn Morris band), Marshall Willborne (Lynn Morris band), The Nob Hill Boys (US), members of Druha Trava (CZ), Petr Brandejs Band (CZ), Fragment (CZ), Meantime (SK) and many others.

Since 2003 Lilly has been back in Bulgaria where she is part owner of a radio station and hosts a weekly country music show on Bulgarian national radio and TV. She continues to perform and record and is a well known figure in the international bluegrass scene.

Last updated January 2009