The Ivan Milev Band
Bulgarian Wedding Music and Beyond

A musical genius and legendary performer, accordionist Ivan Milev has defined Bulgarian folk music throughout his 30-plus year career. Ivan is an accordionist of incredible virtuosity and technique, and his vision of combining multiple ethnic styles has produced tunes with daring key changes and dizzying tempos. Battling solos between the veteran accordionist and his apprentice, violinist Entcho Todorov, deliver energizing performances of Bulgarian and Balkan folk music. Ivan Milev's music was featured in the Hollywood film "Everything is Illuminated", starring Elijah Wood, and he has recently been opening for renowned soul singer Sharon Jones.

Though Ivan is able to play music from the Balkan countries, it is his innovation in Bulgarian wedding music that has earned him the recognition and admiration of tens of thousands of fans throughout Bulgaria. After learning accordion from his father and forming young bands, Ivan discovered Yuri Yunakov, another great wedding band leader whom he has played with for years. The pair went on to bring the intensity of Bulgarian weddings, which often lasted for days, to stages of the world. In San Antonio, the Ivan Milev Band will bring the frenetic virtuosity and the lusty joy of living that is the hallmark of the Bulgarian wedding music traditions he helped define. Bring your dancing shoes and prepare to be blown away!