Lineup 2026
Fara Zahar
Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for a high-energy dose of satirical rock and folk-alternative!
Straight from Dorohoi, Romania, please welcome Fără Zahăr (Sugar-Free)!
Founded in 2001 by the witty duo Bobi Dumitraș and Adrian Bezna (later joined by Bobo Burlăcianu), this band became a household name by blending clever, ironic lyrics with catchy melodies. Known for their signature Moldavian accent and “bitter” social commentary, they turn everyday rural and urban life into hilarious musical stories.
From their breakout hit “Sandu” to their award-winning debut album Episodu’ unu: Amenințarea porcului, they’ve been making audiences laugh and dance for over two decades.
Put your hands together for the masters of Romanian musical comedy—Fără Zahăr!
Robin & The Backstabbers
Formed in Bucharest in 2010, Robin and the Backstabbers are one of the most singular and celebrated voices in the Romanian alternative scene. Self-describing their sound as “melodramatic pop,” the band masterfully blends eclectic indie rock, new wave textures, and post-punk energy with cryptic, highly poetic lyrics.
Having burst onto the scene by winning the Public’s Choice Award at Stufstock Newcomers, they quickly rose to prominence, sweeping “Artist of the Year” and “Best Alternative Rock” honors at the On Air Music Awards. Known for their conceptual Bacovia Overdrive album trilogy (Stalingrad, Arhanghel’sk, and Vladivostok), they have shared festival stages with international acts like The Whitest Boy Alive and British Sea Power.
Mano & Gregor
Mano&Gregor are considered Romania’s first indie folk duo, blending acoustic folk traditions with modern indie influences. Formed in Cluj-Napoca by former high school classmates Botond “Mano” Ráduly and Gergő “Gregor” Petri, the project combines intimate songwriting, warm vocal harmonies, and cinematic instrumentation inspired by the duo’s musical journeys across Europe.
Mano is known to Romanian audiences as a contestant on X Factor Romania and Hungary and a semifinalist on The Voice Romania, while Gregor brings extensive live and touring experience from several previous bands. Together, they create music rooted in simplicity, emotional honesty, and human connection.
Their debut single, “Warm Freeze,” was released alongside a visually striking music video filmed in the forests near Cluj, including the famous Hoia woodland. The video tells a subtle Romanian–Hungarian love story and reflects the band’s message of coexistence, empathy, and cultural openness. Through both their music and public statements, Mano&Gregor advocate for understanding between communities, emphasizing that everyday people connect through kindness and shared humanity rather than division.
The duo’s live performances combine acoustic intimacy with expansive arrangements, making them equally suited for small atmospheric venues and large festival stages. Their appearance at the multicultural ProEtnica Festival reflects the spirit of their music: inclusive, emotional, and deeply rooted in the cultural diversity of Transylvania.
The Groovy Bastards
Get ready to move, because The Groovy Bastards are bringing their high-octane energy to the festival stage! Known for their explosive fusion of funk, jazz, rock, and pop, this Bucharest-based outfit is a powerhouse of rhythm and groove that refuses to let you stand still.
Formed by a group of incredibly talented, professionally trained musicians, The Groovy Bastards have carved out a unique sonic identity in the Romanian music scene. Their signature sound—defined by infectious basslines, razor-sharp horn arrangements, and a powerhouse vocal presence—seamlessly blends the nostalgia of old-school funk with a modern, eclectic edge.
Having recently dropped their highly anticipated album, the band is bolder and tighter than ever. Their live shows are a masterclass in musical chemistry, spontaneous jams, and pure, unadulterated fun. Whether you are a die-hard funk enthusiast or just looking for the ultimate festival party vibe, The Groovy Bastards are guaranteed to deliver a performance you’ll be talking about long after the final encore.
This Rromerican Life
Husband and wife duo, Antoni & Sam, aka This Rromerican Life, have been making music
together for over a decade. They met in college at The Boston Conservatory where they studied
opera and voice performance. Upon moving to Romania in 2024, they formed their folk music
duo. Since arriving in Romania, they have been featured on Românii Au Talent, Chefi la Cuțite,
Antena 1 Observator, Prima TV, and other radio shows and podcasts.
Antoni & Sam co-write all of their music together at their home in Sibiu and released their
self-titled debut album, This Rromerican Life, in the summer of 2025. Their sophomore album,
Half-Priced Paradise, was released in the summer of 2026. Both albums are currently streaming
on all platforms.
Follow @thisrromericanlife on all platforms.
Hypno Ceperco
If you are looking for a band that defines the raw, unfiltered energy of the underground scene, look no further. Hailing from Sibiu, Hypno Ceperco is the fresh face of a revived sonic rebellion. Defying rigid commercial labels, this five-piece powerhouse describes their unique sound as beautiful chaos—a high-octane cocktail that borrows chords from ska-punk, indie rock, hardcore, punk, and metal.
Formed in late 2021 by bassist Cristina Briscan, the band hit an explosive new stride in 2024 with the addition of powerhouse vocalist Amelia Nicola. Far more than just bandmates, Hypno Ceperco functions as a tightly-knit crew, drawing from their diverse individual musical tastes to create catchy, melodic, yet deeply penetrative tracks. They are already making massive waves across the country, with their standout debut single “O, Doamne!” dominating the top spot on Radio Guerrilla for five consecutive weeks, alongside heavily rotated tracks like “Orb”.
Known for their free-spirited, DIY attitude and absolute charisma on stage, Hypno Ceperco is here to tell a story, unleash youth culture, and get the crowd moving. Get ready for an unforgettable, high-energy set that proves punk is very much alive!
Hertzinger
The hertz indicates the number of repetitive processes in a periodic signal. Based on this analogy, the Viennese trio Hertzinger produces original and danceable techno- and electro sounds with guitar, flute and drums. Particularly striking is the innovative use of the transverse flute, which, with numerous effects, creates unexpected harmonic and rhythmic soundscapes.
Drums and guitar form a solid foundation with technoid to pop-like basslines and repetitive drum grooves.
Far away from Earth
Hailing from the Bucharest underground, Far Away From Earth (FAFE) carves out a sonic space where raw emotion and noise collide. Their sound sits somewhere between pure, unfiltered energy and immersive atmosphere—blending honest rock riffs with massive synth textures that give every track its own heartbeat. From heavy, gritty walls of sound to moments of fragile vulnerability, FAFE is all about real stories told loud. With one album under their belt and a second on the way, they arrive at the festival ready to push boundaries and connect deep. Get ready for an authentic slice of Romanian alternative rock.
Membra
Membra is the experimental pop songwriting project of Brooklyn-based composer, sound designer, and filmmaker Ned Porter. A multifaceted artist, Porter applies the full spectrum of his artistic faculties to his work as Membra. Found sounds and tape loops are stretched beyond recognition, transformed into billowing clouds and unplaceable timbres; synthesizers exude a honeyed sense of antique warmth. All are assembled into meticulously orchestrated arrangements with a documentarian eye for detail, while Porter’s measured vocal delivery, left-field pop sensibilities, and ear for rhythm create a compellingly catchy patchwork of color and sound.
Membra’s second album, Chem Grass, will be released in the fall, and his previous album, Blocks of Color Blocks of Sound, can be found on all streaming services.
Brainwasher
Brainwasher is a dance punk/post-hardcore band formed in Bucharest in 2024. Primarily associated with the new punk scene—which also includes bands like Pârnaie and Martalogii—Brainwasher’s sound lies at the intersection of several local and international trends: they draw their main influences from 1980s dance punk (Gang Of Four, Liquid Liquid), the indie-sleaze movement (Foals, LCD Soundsystem, Death From Above 1979), as well as from more conventional punk bands like Snooper or The Hives.
This blend of influences is evident on the band’s first release, the self-titled EP “Brainwasher,” produced by Matei Tibacu-Blendea (formerly of COMA). In their short career, they have performed with numerous renowned bands from Romania and abroad: Survolaj, COMA, Shame (UK), and toured nationally with Martalogii, quickly becoming one of the most promising bands in the current Romanian music scene. Returning to Holzstock for the second time, Brainwasher brings the dance and pogo energy they’re already known for.