Slash ft. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, Skillet, Make Them Suffer, Left To Suffer, Die Krupps, and Atreyu are coming to the festival’s eighth edition, taking place July 23–25 in Plovdiv.

The eighth edition of Bulgaria’s largest heavy music festival will be held from July 23rd to 25th, 2027, at the Rowing Canal in Plovdiv. Nine months ahead of opening day, Hills of Rock 2027 has already secured its first six bands. Slash ft. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, Skillet, Make Them Suffer, Left To Suffer, Die Krupps, and Atreyu are the first names confirmed by Fest Team, setting the tone for next year. Fan interest in the festival—held beneath the hills of Plovdiv—has already been emphatically demonstrated by the rapid sell-out of promotional tickets; standard tickets are now on sale via the Ticket Station network, priced at €140 for a three-day pass and €99 for a one-day pass.
Ranging from the hard rock of Slash and the melodic heavy sound of Skillet to the metalcore of Atreyu and Make Them Suffer, the deathcore of Left To Suffer, and the industrial style of Die Krupps, these initial acts hint at the diverse directions the upcoming lineup will take. These six bands mark just the beginning, with the rest of the Hills of Rock 2027 program to be revealed in stages over the coming months.

Slash ft. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators combine the sound of one of music history’s most recognizable guitars with the voice of Myles Kennedy in a project that has carved out its own niche on the global rock scene for over a decade. The indispensable Guns N’ Roses guitarist—whose solos are a part of the DNA of millions of fans worldwide—joins Kennedy and The Conspirators to turn the Plovdiv stage into an epicenter of modern, powerful, and uncompromising hard rock. From their debut “Apocalyptic Love” (2012), through “World on Fire” (2014) and “Living the Dream” (2018), to their latest studio album “4” (2022), the band has made a massive impact with songs like “Anastasia,” “World on Fire,” “Driving Rain,” and “The River Is Rising.”

Skillet arrives with heavy guitars, powerful choruses, and songs about confronting one’s own fears. The band stands among the giants of the current rock scene, boasting a career spanning nearly three decades, nearly 22 million albums sold, and an audience exceeding 12 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. “Monster” remains one of the group’s most recognizable tracks, connecting the American quartet with fans across multiple generations. John Cooper, Korey Cooper, Jen Ledger, and Seth Morrison continue to explore a heavier sound with “After the Storm“, a six-song EP set for release in just a few days—on October 9, 2026. Their new single, “Scream,” has already garnered over 7 million global streams. Produced by David Cowell and Korey Cooper, their new record is both a return to the band’s heavier roots and one of the most personal moments in their body of work to date—music born from experiences of betrayal, loss, anger, and the arduous journey back to hope.

German pioneers Die Krupps have driven an industrial revolution spanning more than four decades. At the core are Jürgen Engler and Ralf Dörper—musicians who began breaking down the boundaries between electronic music, EBM, and metal back in the 80s, forging a signature sound that left an indelible mark on the evolution of the entire industrial scene. Having celebrated 45 years of history in 2025, Die Krupps are moving forward with a new chapter and new music. The band has signed a multi-album deal with Dependent Records, with their next studio record slated for 2026. Meanwhile, the limited-edition EP “Will Nicht – MUSS! / On Collision Course” demonstrated that the German machine is far from grinding to a halt. Today, Jürgen Engler and Ralf Dörper are reunited with guitarist Marcel Zürcher and drummer Paul Keller; more than 45 years after their inception, Die Krupps continue to prove why their name remains an integral part of the history of the European industrial scene.

From one of the world’s most isolated major cities to stages across the globe—the Australian band Make Them Suffer is set to perform in Plovdiv next year. Formed in Perth, the band has traversed various phases—spanning deathcore, melodic death metal, and heavy metalcore—evolving their sound with each step while retaining their signature intensity. Following four studio albums and “How To Survive A Funeral” (2020)—which reached No. 17 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart—Make Them Suffer embark on the most ambitious chapter of their career with their self-titled fifth album, released in 2024. This record brings together the various facets of the band’s history.

Left To Suffer bring the crushing energy of deathcore and metalcore to the Hills Of Rock 2027 lineup, blending dark atmosphere and unexpected melody with songs designed to incite absolute chaos in the pit. Heavy breakdowns and precision-crafted guitar work underpin a sound where aggression and vulnerability coexist, making Left To Suffer far more than just another extreme metal band.

The final name in this Hills Of Rock 2027 announcement is Atreuy. They bridge the gap between the early wave of American metalcore and the genre’s contemporary sound, defying easy categorization within a single genre. Few bands can claim that their music has soundtracked an entire generation of heavy music fans. Albums such as “The Curse” (2004) and “Lead Sails Paper Anchor” (2007) have left an indelible mark on the evolution of modern heavy music; along the way, the band has repeatedly cracked the Billboard 200 Top 10, achieved gold status for two albums, toured with Ozzfest, and shared stages with acts like Linkin Park, Avenged Sevenfold, Deftones, Slipknot, and Bring Me The Horizon. The band describes their tenth studio album, “The End is Not the End“, as both their heaviest work and their boldest musical experiment to date.

Hills Of Rock 2027 will take place on July 23rd, 24th, and 25th, 2027, at the Rowing Canal in Plovdiv. Tickets are available via the Ticket Station network, priced at €140 for a three-day pass and €99 for a one-day pass. For further information, please visit festteam.bg, hillsofrock.com, and ticketstation.bg, or follow the festival and organizers on their official social media channels.

Hills Of Rock 2027 is organized by Fest Team Ltd. as part of the “Legacy 2023” program of the Plovdiv 2019 Foundation and with the support of the Municipality of Plovdiv.