The central beach in Bourgas, Bulgaria's second-largest Black Sea city, has been closed for August 15 to 17 for the music festival Spirit of Burgas, held in partnership with MTV. To compensate, the city of Bourgas provided 200 free sun umbrellas at the city northern beach, Bulgarian-language daily Dnevnik reported.

About 10 000 people are expected to visit Spirit of Bourgas daily. Many of the tickets were bought on the internet from abroad, but the local city hall said that by the end of the festival it would be hard to find vacancies in hotels in the seaside city. Some 1500 beds have been booked for the artists who are performing at Spirit of Burgas, and their crews.

The festival will be screened on nine MTV channels in 36 countries. The event's organisation cost two million leva, where Bourgas municipality took part with 250 000 leva, Dnevnik reported. About 110 policemen and bodyguards will provide security at the festival.

As previously reported by The Sofia Echo, on the specially prepared concert stages and dance areas performances will run from 7pm each day until sunrise. Legends such as The Sister of Mercy, Asian Dub Foundation and Kosheen will stage live shows. This will be the first show of The Sister of Mercy in Bulgaria, while the other two bands return for a second time.

The drum and bass group Pendulum, Pharoahe Monch, the DJ duo Groove Armada and the broken beats genius Bonobo are also scheduled to perform. The beach will be wired for sound by the early hours of the three days by local bands and DJs including Gravity CO, Wikeda, D2, Deep Zone Project, Panican Whyasker, Upsurt, and the DJs from Magrathea and Metropolis sound conglomerations.

A stage for the Latino fans will also not be missing, featuring Frankie Morales on August 15, Salsa show performance on August 16 and Kalin Veliov & Tumbaito on August 18.