It all begins with the handsome Englishman who happens to be one of the greatest pop artists of our times: he will visit Hungary as part of his "25 Live Tour" and will step on the stage of the Puskás Ferenc Stadion on the 23rd of May. Celebrating a carreer of 25 years in music, George Michael began his tour last autumn, after almost 15 years of absence, the shows of this summer being added to his schedule later, after the concerts were acclaimed by both fans and critics. 

Then the 6th of June will be a happy day for the lovers of progressive metal - one of the most commercially successful bands of this genre, Dream Theater will also mark an anniversary, its 20th, in Budapest, on the stage of the Petőfi Csarnok.

The annual event called Kapcsolat Koncert will have a famous guest again - the concert held in the open air is free of charge and gathers hundreds of thousands of local and tourists each year on the 30th of June. This year a beloved Canadian singer and songwriter will appear before the audience - Bryan Adams will surely be the star of the evening, but before the main guest there are usually several performaces by local artists, so there will be music for all tastes.

On the 19th of July The Papp László Sport Aréna will host a very special show: four old-timers of the Buena Vista Social Club joined by a band of eleven members will show the European public what Cuban music and the Latin spirit is about.

The main musical event of the year will happen on the 20th of July, again at Puskás Ference Stadion. A legend, alive and kicking for more than 40 years will make another stop in Budapest on its "Bigger Bang European Tour". The group, as popular as ever during its long career, will probably give a breath-taking performace, as the tour has been unanimously praised as one of their best.

Other well-known international artists present in Budapest this year will be Tori Amos (the 24th of June), George Benson & Al Jarreau (the 17th of July), Michael Bolton (the 9th of July) - tickets can be bought online through: www. ticketpro.hu, the website of the Ticketpro agency.