"Klas" celebrate four decades with new versions of iconic songs and albums

One of the most significant Bulgarian bands from the late 20th century – "Klas" – celebrates four decades. The musicians are among the founders of the "new wave" in Bulgaria and the group remained in the music history with the deep messages that are still relevant today.

The events related to the 40th anniversary pay honour to this rich heritage with the vinyl reissue of the legendary albums "Gospozha Emilia" and "Slushai silno". But Boyko Petkov, Ivan Gradinarov and Momchil Kolev are here and now also as an active concert band – they have already confirmed their participation in the PHILLGOOD Festival, which will be held between July 17 and 19, 2026 at the Rowing Base in Plovdiv. There they will play on the same stage with world-famous stars The Cure. In addition, they are recording a new album, which is expected at the end of the year. The realization of a new version of one of the iconic songs of "Klas" – "Taguvam po teb", has become an important event for music lovers.

The great comeback of "Klas" actually began in the early years of the new century, when they gathered to participate in a concert in memory of Dimitar Voev, frontman of another emblematic Bulgarian "new wave" band -"New Generation". Momchil Kolev told us more:

"Then we saw that the hall was full of young people – a completely new generation who sang the songs of Klas and did not let us get off the stage, which was a great pleasure for us. This continuity in the generations made us very happy and we decided to renew the activity of the band again. We had a big concert in 2013, and since then we have been recording albums. The audience constantly asked us: ‘When will you play live?’ – and now the time has come for these events in the history of Klas."

According to Momchil Kolev, the current interest of young people in the aesthetics and music of the 80s is due to the elevated feelings characteristic of the creativity of that period, which are missing in our time.

This year, the band’s activity is increasing - concert appearances and the idea of re-recording the song "Taguvam po teb" with a new arrangement, which is as close as possible to the original, but with more guitar presence and in line with modern means of expression.

By the end of the year, we expect two more videos of familiar songs by "Klas" in new versions, followed by an album with new original material. The album will be particularly interesting because it will develop ideas from the original formation of the group - some of the songs are inspired by ideas that emerged 40 years ago, but developed in a new way. That is how the musicians return the "Klas" band to the spirit it carried back then.