In 2025, ROCA CAMP became a space where emerging bands grew, experimented, and discovered new directions alongside some of the most dedicated professionals from Romania’s alternative scene. Five music projects — Fier Vechi, ENCORE, Liquid Wednesday, mizantrop, and Mădălina — went through an intensive journey spread across three cities, built around encounters with mentors, artists, and experienced industry figures.
Everything began in Iași, where the bands participated in a series of workshops that offered them the first tools for understanding their own artistic path. They worked on songwriting and musical structure with Dan Byron, discovered authentic communication with the help of Iulia Pop, learned about legal aspects explained by Olivian Moroșanu, and discussed booking and artistic management together with Bogdan Munteanu.
They explored sustainability in events with Patricia Roxana Brohanschi alongside members of the Creative Industries Association, delved into musical harmony and composition with Paul Pintilie, and worked on vocal technique with Eveline Buta, completing their experience with reflections on artistic identity led by Eduard Draude (Butucel).
During the same stage, the first panel, Growing a Scene, took place, moderated by Patricia Roxana Brohanschi, in which Bogdan Munteanu, Cozlac Andrei, Diana Niculae Grigorescu, and artist Andra Andriucă discussed beginnings, community, challenges, and the importance of mentorship within a scene that is still searching for its balance.
A few days later, Bucharest became the place where the bands worked in a hands-on way on what they had started to build in Iași. They entered the studio with Alexei Țurcan, worked on composition and sound together with Robin Proca, refined their visual direction with the support of Cristina Oltean, and practiced stage presence under the guidance of Codruț Dumitrescu. The media training component was led by Bogdan Șerban, who helped them shape their messages, talk about their projects, and find their voice in front of the camera.
Also in Bucharest, the panel The Artist’s Path: Independent or Signed? took place, moderated once again by Patricia Roxana Brohanschi, where Călina Maria Purje, Codruț Dumitrescu, Cristi Ochiu, and artist Vlad Corb discussed independence, creative freedom, labels, resources, and the dynamics of today’s music industry.
The program concluded in Cluj-Napoca, where the bands experienced the full process of preparing a professional concert, guided by stage manager Dan Vamanu and by the mentors invited specifically for this stage. Here, the artists went through every step — from advancing to soundcheck, from organizing the backstage area to shaping the way they present themselves live in front of an audience.
On the same day, the bands also took part in a workshop on event strategy and ticketing held by Constantin Covaliu, who spoke to them about the relationship between artist, promoter, and audience, the dynamics of the ticketing market, and the essential steps in organizing their own event. It was one of the key moments in which the artists concretely understood what it means to manage their own concerts, how the industry works beyond the stage, and which decisions can change the trajectory of a musical project.
In the evening, this entire process met the energy of the audience during the two showcase-style concerts, followed by open jam sessions. The bands performed in front of a real audience, testing in real time what they had built throughout the camp and having the chance to discover the community’s direct reaction to the music and artistic identity they had shaped over the past weeks.
Also in Cluj, the panel From Showcase to Spotlight took place, moderated by Patricia Roxana Brohanschi, where Codruț Dumitrescu, Dan Vamanu, artist Titus-Claudiu Vădan, and Alin Ghenghe discussed what comes after a showcase: artistic identity, visibility, professional networks, and the role of community in the long-term development of an emerging artist.
ROCA CAMP 2025 meant encounters, process, clarity, and confidence. For the artists, it was a visible leap forward. For the mentors, a reaffirmation of the importance of dialogue. For Rocanotherworld, yet another proof that be curious, be different, be for others is a real way of building community and shaping the future.
MUSIC PROJECTS
Roca Camp 2025 - Highlights
Rocanotherworld becomes more than a festival: a launchpad for fresh rock/indie bands. Curious to find out more?
ROCA CAMP 2025
An innovative cultural project dedicated to emerging indie and alternative bands from Romania.
Between August and October 2025, in Iași, Bucharest, and Cluj-Napoca, the selected bands will go through an intensive experience of mentorship, workshops, professional recordings, and showcase concerts.
You will work with top mentors from Romania’s music and cultural industry, build your media portfolio, and perform live in front of both audiences and industry professionals.
If you’re ready to grow as an artist and take your music to the next level, now is the time.
Apply now and join Roca Camp 2025!
Roca Camp is a mentorship, training, and artistic visibility program dedicated to emerging Romanian bands, organized as an extension of the Rocanotherworld Festival, with the support of the National Cultural Fund Administration (AFCN). The project addresses up-and-coming bands in the alternative, indie, and rock scenes who want to develop their artistic and professional journey in a sustainable way, alongside mentors, established artists, and industry specialists.
ROCA CAMP Calendar:
September 5, 2025
Application deadline
September 8, 2025
Announcement of selected bands
September 12–13, 2025
Iași
Introduction to the music industry
September 16–18, 2025
Bucharest
Studio Sessions & Media Training
September 26–27, 2025
Cluj Napoca
Stage Management & Live Concerts
Applications are submitted by completing the official form available on the website and sending all required materials in digital format. No application or participation fee is required.
What does ROCA CAMP offer?
Free participation in interdisciplinary training workshops led by mentors and established artists (songwriting, music production, booking, PR, legal, sustainability, etc.);
Individual mentorship sessions with industry professionals;
Studio sessions and recordings in Bucharest;
Media workshop and professional portfolio (interviews, photo/video sessions);
Participation in showcase concerts in Cluj-Napoca, in front of a real audience and industry guests;
Media visibility and support in building a coherent artistic brand;
Access to a national community of artists, promoters, journalists, and organizers.
ROCA CAMP Partners
Cultural project co-financed by The Administration of the National Cultural Fund.
The project does not necessarily represent the position of The Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the results of the project may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the beneficiary of the funding.