• What is your name?
  Antonio Velkov

• Which country are you from?
  Bulgaria

• What do you do in your daily life?
  I work as an IT professional and automation programmer in a large company. Meanwhile I'm drumming/singing with two bands, playing table tennis and soccer. Also huge hi-tech gadget fan. My weekends are usually spent in the rehearsing room (currently recording an album) or sporting.

• When did you visit PP Europe for the first time?
  It was in 2009 with my buddy Petko.

• What was the main reason to visit PP Europe for the first time?
  I've always been a huge prog fan, but in my small country there's no way I can see so many live bands from that magnitude, all at one place! Hell, that's 3 days pure progressive madness! So I called my friend Petko and told him we're going to this event no matter what. He had no choise, but to follow me. And so was it!

• How many times have you visited PP Europe so far?
  Four times, since 2009 and counting. Like someone said, It's like a personal contract. Once you go there you already signed for the next 20 years or so, haha.

• What was your first impression of PP Europe at your first visit?
  We arrived on Friday and immediately found Sjiwa (the show place), I recognized it by the pictures I saw in the website. I was fascinated by the beauty of the town and friendliness of people. All the metalheads who were staying in the castle knew each other and It's like joining a huge prog family of individuals thinking the same way as you do! Amazing feeling. Adding the joy of watching so many different progressive bands live, being able reach them for a beer and talk with them between performances, having fun at the basement afterparties...priceless!

• What is your overall impression of PP Europe?
  Festival takes place in a small hall, in my opinion enough for this type of music. At any time you can watch the bands in the back and when you decide go front stage with no hassle. This is not the case in Eastern Europe. As a musician myself I was amazed how well this festival was organized and executed. How is it possible to have 20 min. between band performances, have only line check and still perfect sound? These are progressive bands, no ordinary bands! There's a clock on the left stage wall and every band is taking it very seriously in consideration when performing, so no delays for the next performance. Happy organizers, happy tech-guys, happy bands, happy audience!

• Why should people visit PP Europe?
  It's the one weekend in the year where you can enjoy/meet so many known/unknown progressive bands like nowhere in Europe. Perfect organization, perfect sound, great after parties, amazing people!

• Tell us in 1 sentence what PP Europe means to you?
  Over the last four years it became necessity for me to have this weekend in the year where I can enjoy my favorite music, meet the PP Europe family again and just teleport in the different world of high musicianship and great stage performances!

• The last words are yours....
  I'd like to thank René, Christian and Martijn for making this festival reality, for all those world and european prog souls like me, eager to explore new great bands and find amazing friends! Here's some of my best memories:
  • Playing pool with Mike Anderson (Cloudscape) in the basement bar.
  • Playing table soccer with apples instead of balls in the castle garden because the balls were missing.
  • Taking the boat to the lonely island on the back of the castle, taking the risk of sinking and getting my only jeans wet.
  • That guy asking Chaos Divine (Australia) to play some AC/DC. Hilarious!
  • 2010 pre-Christmas basement after party. Unforgettable.
  • Having breakfast next to Ray Alder (Redemption, FW) and many other great musicians!

Carpe diem!