Iași, 9th of May 2025
Rocanotherworld celebrates its tenth anniversary edition in 2025, which will take place between June 19 and 22, in Iași. Launched in 2016, the festival has grown organically and brought together an active and involved community, guided by common values, and over the years, it has brought local, national and international artists to the stage, built a program that combines live music with recreational activities, cultural and social initiatives and has constantly supported a sustainable direction.
This year, Rocanotherworld brings its audience a new edition guided by the values that have established the festival: #becurious, #bedifferent, #beforothers and announces the following names confirmed in the line up: Bedouin Soundclash [CA], Zdob și Zdub [MD], The Mono Jacks, Partizan, Toulouse Lautrec, Pinholes, The Kryptonite Sparks, E-AN-NA, Cuibul [MD], Claro Que No, Charlie The Rabbit King. They will complete the line up already announced: Villagers [IE], Vița de Vie, byron & Classix Quartet, Omul cu Șobolani, Dl Goe and Gala [UA]. Other names will complete the line up of this edition and will be published soon.
Subscriptions and tickets for this year’s edition are already available on the official website www.rocanotherworld.com, where information about the edition’s program and all the news related to the festival will be constantly updated. Rocanotherworld maintains its commitment to accessibility and inclusion, through a series of ticket categories designed to meet the needs of its audience. To support the participation of young people in cultural events, pupils and students benefit from a 50% discount on tickets and subscriptions, based on a supporting document presented at the entrance. In the same spirit, people with disabilities and their companions have free access, by completing a form available online. Children under 12 years old can participate for free, accompanied by an adult ticket holder. Subscriptions are adapted to different categories of audience, and group tickets come with advantageous prices for those who choose to participate together. Day tickets have also been launched, dedicated to those who want to participate only in certain activities.
In the spirit of #beforothers and encouraging the involvement of young people in the initiatives they resonate with, registrations for volunteers for this edition of Rocanotherworld have also begun, and the form is available online, on the festival’s website, until May 30.
Vendors can register to participate in the festival by completing the online form. Food vendors, artisans, and creatives are welcome, and the deadline for submitting proposals is May 30th.
The new names in the Rocanotherworld 2025 line-up
The Bedouin Soundclash [CA] sound is hard to define and exists somewhere in the “global dance.” The global punk/folk ethos – that’s how singer-songwriter Jay Malinowski defines it: “I grew up listening to the Clash and the Asian Dub Foundation, along with my parents’ record collection of Paul Simon and Bob Dylan.” Malinowski mentions: “My hero was Joe Strummer and I wanted to emulate him when I was young. I loved how Joe took you to a familiar but strange place. That’s where I hope our music lives.” Those who have performed Bedouin’s music are testament to this, from electronic superstar Diplo to Grammy-winning country artist Sturgill Simpson to English punk-folk laureate Frank Turner and Los Angeles punk-ska saviors The Interrupters. Bedouin Soundclash has toured worldwide and shared the stage with the likes of No Doubt, Ben Harper, Damian Marley, The Roots, The Interrupters, Gogol Bordello, Bad Brains, Frank Turner and Thievery Corporation, among many others.
The band Zdob și Zdub [MD] is the most popular ethno-rock band in the Republic of Moldova. Zdob și Zdub combines hardcore and Balkan folklore in a unique and original way. With elements of hip-hop, drum’n’bass, jungle, punk and traditional flute or trumpet trills, the band has created an unparalleled musical crossover. Zdob și Zdub combines urban intensity with rural spirit. Zdob și Zdub have performed on the same stage with numerous world-renowned bands: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Emir Kusturica & No Smoking Orchestra, Biohazard, Rollins Band, Rage Against the Machine, Soulfly, The Garbage, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Linkin Park, etc. For over 20 years, the band has toured in over 30 European countries, performing on the stages of the largest festivals in Europe such as Sziget (Hungary), Roskilde (Denmark), Exit (Serbia), Krefelder Folkfest (Germany), Rock For People (Czech Republic), etc. In 2019, the band released their tenth album, titled Bestiarum. Zdob and Zdub represented Moldova three times at Eurovision, in 2005, 2011 and 2022. In 2022, Zdub performed on the Eurovision stage together with the Advahov Brothers. The song “Trenulețul” brought them 7th place according to the total score and 2nd place according to the score provided by the audience.
The Mono Jacks was formed in 2008, with Doru Trăscău as its founder – the soul of this project, a charismatic lead singer also known as the voice and image of the grunge band AB4 (which dominated the Romanian rock scene in the 2000s and won the MTV European Music Awards in 2003). The debut album, “Now In Stereo”, released in 2010, included the landmark singles “Maria” and “Come Back Girl” and was enthusiastically received by fans and critics alike. Shortly after, towards the end of 2011, the band released the EP “Fortunes”, the hit “Gândurile” quickly becoming a soul song for the public. Over the years, the band has gone through all possible phases – from line-up changes, to breaks and break-ups, spectacular retirements and comebacks – all the while releasing memorable songs such as “Tablou”, “Drumul”, or “Un Sfert De Secundă”. 2017 marked an important moment in the band’s evolution, with THE MONO JACKS releasing the album “Ușor Distorsionat”, in a new and energetic line-up: Doru Trăscău (vocals, guitar), Andrei Zamfir (guitar), Cristian Chiru (bass) and John Ciurea (drums). The new line-up quickly won over fans with the hit “1000 de DA”, opening a new chapter for the band. THE MONO JACKS continued to surprise, releasing two more studio albums – “Gloria” in 2020 and the most recent, “Norul Nouă”, in 2023 – and setting new records, such as selling 400 tickets in less than two minutes or performing in front of 50,000 people at Bucharest iMapp – an emotional moment that left them in tears of joy.
Partizan is a musical project formed in 2001 by Răzvan Moldovan and Artan, two childhood friends and founding members of the band Timpuri Noi in the early 80s. Combining social satire with surreal lyrics, Partizan can hardly be classified into any musical style. They claim to be a post punk/industrial/rock band, but the audience knows for sure that no concert is the same as the next. Although they have only released 2 albums (“Am cu ce” – 2002 and “București” – 2003 and an EP (“Timpuri Noi” – 2019), the band enjoys a very active and diverse audience, and at their concerts you can see representatives of each generation. They are currently working on a new album and promise some surprises for the next live appearances.
Toulouse Lautrec: Les ToulouseLautrecs descend from aristocratic families. They grew up on green and wide meadows in front of the castle and grew up with the sound of hunting horns and the smell of rosy countess perfumes on their cheeks. Although predestined for academic study and a chosen education, life threw them into the most patched-up layers of society. Initially influenced by Rene Pricetau and John Lewis Brown, they found their way in the midst of rebellious bohemia. They are regulars of nightclubs, they are passionate about women, absinthe and opium, they spit into microphones, gesticulate on strings in cabaret and, drunk with success, break the drum heads in bars and look under the girls’ crinolines.
Pinholes are an alternative rock band formed in Iași in 2011, united by the same obsession with their Moldovan roots and Eastern European aesthetics. They have been touring the country for over 10 years, convincing people that you can dance to sad music with your eyes closed. Drawn to metaphors and dramatic assumptions, Pinholes seeks to find the middle ground between alternative rock, post rock, post punk and Alexandru Andries, Marin Sorescu and Negură Bunget. Somewhere in the band’s discography, all these circles meet. Along the way, Pinholes also laid the foundations for a record label – Supersomnic Records, together with Nava Mamă and Fluturi pe Asfalt, through which they also released 2 vinyls – the 5th anniversary edition Sputnik and Flori de Mucegai Partea 1 (Best of Pinholes).
Sonic explorers, The Kryptonite Sparks are an incandescent power-trio, an eclectic combination of indie, hard rock and alternative. Influenced by the English currents of the 70s, to which are added modern vibes and groove delivered with determination, live is the environment in which the band reveals its full potential – live versions of the songs intertwine with visuals and scenography in a complete and engaging show.
Since 2015, E-an-na has conquered the Romanian metal scene, quickly becoming one of the most beloved young bands. After only two years since their debut, they managed to successfully represent Romania at the Wacken Metal Battle in 2017, taking 2nd place. In 2022, they obtained the most votes at Eurovision Romania with the song “Malere”, which quickly sparked controversy and became viral on Spotify and Youtube. With 5 albums released in 8 years, hundreds of concerts held and a reputation for complex and energetic live shows, E-an-na always manages to conquer the hearts and voices of their audience.
Cuibul [MD] – one of the most emblematic rock bands from the Republic of Moldova, celebrated over 30 years of activity by returning to the sound essence that established them. With a style that combines guitar crossover with grunge, funk and rock influences, the band continues its musical evolution. The new album, Vamos (translated from Spanish, “forward”), is a veritable anthology of the band’s favorite songs recorded over time. With the release of this album, Romanian rock takes on a new dimension. Recorded between 2022 and 2024 in the band’s own studio in Chisinau, the album contains 13 songs that pay homage to power-rock music, the style that inspired and motivated the band members in the early 90s. To date, 6 singles accompanied by videos have been released.
Claro Que No is an alt-rock combo from Bucharest, Romania, serving up a mix of heavy musical tricks and uncomfortable truths, featuring members of established Romanian bands and artists such as byron, Emaa and Valeria Stoica. The band burst onto the scene in 2024 with the release of their first four singles, quickly gaining attention for their signature dance rock style, reminiscent of bands like Queens of the Stone Age, Muse, and Royal Blood, but also drawing influences from electronica and R&B. Their first EP, “We Couldn’t Settle On One” (2025), brings together the results of their first year of studio work and offers a preview of the direction the Bucharest-based combo is heading as they work on their first full-length album.
Charlie The Rabbit King is a true player in the music industry. As a DJ and producer, he has a knack for creating electrifying beats and mesmerizing soundscapes that keep audiences on their feet. He is also a skilled radio host, with a keen ear for music and a charismatic personality that makes him a natural on the airwaves. In addition to his talents as a DJ and radio host, The Rabbit King is also the owner of a successful music label. With an eye for talent and a passion for discovering new artists, he has transformed his label into a respected and influential force in the industry. TRK’s skills don’t stop there, he also has experience as a promoter, organizing countless events and shows that have brought fans together to experience the joys of live music. He was also a former member of the band NOPAME, where he honed his skills as a musician and performer. But The Rabbit King’s greatest achievement is probably his role as co-founder of the band GOLAN. From the very beginning, he was the driving force behind the band, using his creativity and passion to create a truly unique and captivating sound. Golan has become one of the most respected and beloved bands in the industry, and The Rabbit King’s contributions have been essential to their success.
The ninth edition of the Rocanotherworld festival took place between June 20 and 23, 2024 in Iași. United by the festival’s three values, #becurious, #bedifferent and #beforothers, the over 18,000 participants enjoyed concerts, educational games, recreational activities, debates, artistic installations and many other experiences.
Organisers: Asociația Industrii Creative, Showberry
Main partner: Banca Transilvania
Sponsors: PENNY, Pepsi, Ness, Ciuc
Promotion partners: WINK Public Multimedia, Aeroportul Iași, IULIUS
Media partners: Radio Guerrilla, Viva Fm, BZI, Cărturești, Fashion Premium Magazin, Happ.ro, Iași în Oraș, Life.ro, Like5, Observator Cultural, Polifonic, Revista Biz, The Trends, Ziarul de Iași, Zile și Nopți.
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Rocanotherworld is an exploratory festival of music, art, thoughts, people and ideas, which was born in Iași in 2016, in memoriam Ioan Dan Niculescu, and is organized by the Creative Industries Association and Showberry. It represents a collective journey, a state of mind, a celebration of life through (re)connection to values, a cultural effervescence and a shaping of the way of being – curious, different and for others.
Asociația Industrii Creative is the organizer of the Rocanotherworld and Classix festivals in Iași, aiming at the cultural revitalization of the city, engaging creative communities and involving society in civil life through actions that promote a proactive, contributory and participatory spirit.
Showberry is a winning startup of the Invest in People program! Since 2015, it has been developing cultural and creative projects, being one of the main promoters of public concerts and thematic events in the northeastern region of Romania. Since 2016, it has been a co-organizer of the Rocanotherworld festival and since 2020 of the Classix Festival, together with the Creative Industries Association.
More info.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rocanotherworld/
Instagram: @rocanotherworld
Website: www.rocanotherworld.com & https://asociatiaindustriicreative.com/rocanotherworld/