Wickeda

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Wickeda


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Bulgaria
Genre = Punk
Ska
Reggae
Funk
Bulgarian folk
Years_active =
Label = | URL =
Current_members = Erol Ibrahimov
Rossen Grygorov
Deian Dragiev
Alexander Borisov
Sando Sandov Wickeda ( _bg. Уикеда) is a Bulgarian rock band. It is quite popular in Bulgaria, and has occasionally topped the charts. Its style comprises punk, ska, reggae, funk and some traditional Bulgarian folk music elements. The witty lyrics filled with wordplay dealing mainly with stories from everyday life and the danceable tunes with memorable hooks have largely contributed to the band's success.

History

Wickeda are one of the most well-known bands in Bulgaria, and have existed for quite a long time, given the unstable Bulgarian music market. When their first album "Революция" ("Revolution") appeared in 1999, it caught immediately the attention of musicians, journalists and music fans alike. The album was something of a turning point for the ailing Bulgarian popular music scene. It signalled the emergence of a new wave of Bulgarian rock and electronic bands on and around the label "Жълта музика" ("Yellow Music"). Bulgaria's leading music magazine at the time, "New Rhythm" chose it as one of the 35 best Bulgarian albums ever, and Wickeda won the prize for Best band and Best newcomer awarded by the music TV channel MM. The single " "А ние с Боби двамата пием кафе" ("And I and Bobby, We are Both Drinking Coffee") stayed in MM's Top Ten for 10 weeks and the album sold over 30,000 copies.

In 2000 Wickeda released their second album "Затова, защото..." ("That's Why, Because..."). The first single, "Уиски с фъстъци" ("Whiskey and Peanuts") again reached high positions in the Top Ten. At the yearly MM-awards they won prizes for Best band and Best album. The second album sold over 20,000 copies.

The third album "До тук" ("Until Here"), a retrospective of Wickeda's work, came out in 2001, including four new songs. During their European tour (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Hungary), they released a single out of their fourth album "Осъзнай се класово" (approx. "Realise your Class Membership") in advance. After the tour the album was completed and managed once again to make it into the Top Ten.

In the summer of 2004 came the fifth album called "1618". There were some new Balkan influences, while the style of the band was still varied and got even harder. In the autumn Wickeda made another European tour presenting their new album in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Germany, The Netherlands and Bulgaria.

Members

* Erol Ibrahimov (vocals, bass)
* Rossen Grygorov (guitar)
* Vladirim Georgiev - Popa(drums)
* Yassen Obretenov - Yashata (keyboard)

Discography

* "Revolution" ("Революция") (1999)
* "That's Why, Because..." ("Затова, защото...") (2000)
* "Until Here" ("До тук") (2001)
* "Realise Your Class Membership" (Osaznay se klasovo) (2003)
* "1618" (2004)

Tours and festivals

They have played numerous festivals and made several tours abroad, even overseas:
* USA Tour, 2001
* The Sziget Festival in Budapest, Hungary in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007
* The Taksirat Festival in Macedonia (2002)
* Croatia (Ska-/Reggae-/Dub-Festival 2002)
* Slovakia (2002)
* Greece (Agrinio Festival, 2002)
* Germany (Fusion Festival, Rockxplosion, Stadt Festival 2003, Waltroper Parkfest 2004)
* club tour across Germany in Cologne, Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Münster in 2002
* The Netherlands (Wantijpop Festival 2005, Elastiek Festival 2005)

They have also had their own successful gigs in Prague and Budapest.

External links

* [http://www.wickeda.net/ Home page]
* [http://www.wickeda.net/albums.htm Albums]
* [http://www.wickeda.net/info.html History and discography of Wickeda]
* [http://www.wickeda.net/live.html Concerts of Wickeda]
* [http://www.wickeda.net/sound/05_border_line.mp3 Music of Wickeda]
* [http://wickeda.hit.bg/ official site (in Bulgarian)]
* [http://wickeda.forumotion.com / official forum