Hills of Rock – Set your Inner Rock Demon Free

Elvira Dimitrova
Oct 11, 2017
5 min read

Rock fests. For those of us who are fans of that music genre, attending them is as rewarding as it gets. This summer, I finally had the privilege to go to a rock festival, and on top of that it was in Bulgaria so I didn’t have to spend too much to do it. The one I am referring to is called Hills of Rock and this was its very first year. Luckily, it will not be the last. If you want the opportunity to enjoy the performances of a number of bands that you might be a fan of and get a considerably cheap ticket for this amazing experience, then why don't you give going to this festival a thought?

Of course, what seemed to play a crucial role for this year’s kick-off start of the fest was its initial headliners, such as Evanescence and Guano Apes. Personally for me, it was Evanescence who clicked my inner rock demon and made me start plotting on how to make one of my dreams come true ASAP. As their fan, I already knew they were on a tour so once I actually saw that they were coming to Bulgaria, my first reaction was “That’s surely not possible. I won’t believe it until I see it announced by them.” Anyway, not long after that, it was already on their website and I had decided to buy myself a ticket as soon as they were open for purchase.

In the meantime, however, I had to make sure that I had someone to go with (even though if I hadn’t managed to, I probably still would have gone by myself), so I wrote to my best friend in Sweden and you cannot imagine my delight when she and her boyfriend agreed to come with me straight away. So it was already a sealed deal; we were going to attend my first rock festival ever where I would see one of my favourite bands.

I started trying to convince more friends of mine to join, especially considering that the price for a two-day ticket was cheap even for our standards. Regardless, most of them could not say anything six months in advance. Later on, a couple of more friends decided to join in as well. Not long after that, other headliners were announced. Three Days Grace were amongst them.

Imagine my thrill and delight once I heard that one more of my top 3 bands was coming to my country for the same fest which I had already bought a ticket for. Understandably, my hype was growing stronger and stronger as the event approached.

Since the festival was held in Plovdiv, we found a very pleasant apartment to stay at while we were there. It was a bit far from the stadium and the centre, but was definitely worth it. Nevertheless, the heat was quite impossible to handle at times. It was like 43 degrees but it felt like a 100. As soon as we got out of the apartment and away from the cooling air conditioner, it was as if we were stepping into an oven, heated up to the maximum temperature with its ventilation off. Still, the festival and the astonishing performances made us forget all about that for a while.

Once we found the stadium’s location, the real fun could begin. I have got to admit that considering this was only the first year of the festival, I had lower expectations about how everything there would be handled. Quite the opposite, though. Once you had entered, you could load up a festival card with money which you could use at all of the bars. There was also a toilet area zone which was easily accessible and kept clean. There were booths where you could get T-shirts stamped with the bands’ logos and other items. The three stages were located at an appropriate distance from each other so that disruptions would not occur and the festival timetable was strictly followed both of the days. So other than the annoying mosquitoes, I wouldn’t say there was anything else that I did not enjoy about Hills of Rock.

Anyway, to get to the real part of the story. Day number 1. When the stage for Evanescence was being prepared, I felt it hard to stay still at one place. It was darker outside so it wasn’t as hot and I was counting the seconds until they would appear in front of my eyes for the first time. Then the music for "Everybody’s Fool" started and soon after that Amy Lee appeared on the stage, her voice resonating across the whole stadium. Everyone around was jumping, their hands up, and singing along. You could feel the energy and the excitement that has inhibited the air and was spreading all around. For me, it didn’t feel like we needed oxygen anymore, just to listen to their lyrics, music, and voices. They did perform most of their greatest hits, such as "My Immortal", "Bring me to Life", "Going Under" and other songs that were part of their latest album. In the end of the night it felt like I was floating above the ground instead of stepping on it.

Day 2. Three Days Grace time. The thrill was extending more and more, expanding further and embracing the whole stadium in its sweet grasp. We managed to get closer to the stage. So worth it. It felt as if the stage exploded with their appearance and the hit they opened with (“I am machine”). It was one hour of unstoppable jumping, singing along, taking pictures of them. The moment they came to the stage, the excruciating heat didn't seem to bother anyone anymore. They were a hundred percent the centre of attention. I could barely hear Matt’s voice as everyone was singing there songs along with them so loudly. That’s what happens when bands like them come to Bulgaria. It was like we were all under their spell and we couldn’t stay calm for even a moment, not even after they had finished playing. I remember I didn’t want it to end. I wanted them to play more and more even though I knew it wasn’t quite possible.

I would gladly say that the weekend I attended Hills of Rock was the best and most worthwhile one in my life so far. Not only did I get to be present for the performances of two of my favourite bands, but I also got to witness an astounding sunrise (which I have to admit I had a very hard time getting up for) and walk around a historical city such as Plovdiv. Moreover, when you share all of that experience with friends, it adds to the unforgettable nature of those few days.

We already got our tickets for the next one, without even waiting for the headliners as we are certain we would still have an amazing time. No matter whether you are abroad, or in Bulgaria; whether you are a rock music lover, or you are just willing to do something exciting and spontaneous, I advise you to consider this chance. Look it up. Give it a go. Unleash your inner rock demon at the right place with the right people.