The Lonsdale Street (Antipodes) Festival, one of the most prestigious events for the Greek community, is set to transform Melbourne into a huge and free street party on Saturday 14 and Sunday 14 February.
International performers Dimitris Basis and Zoi Konstandopoulou will take the stage on Valentine’s Day, sharing their songs with hundreds of thousands of people, alongside local and other acclaimed international performers.
“I’m excited to be travelling to Melbourne to perform at the 2015 Lonsdale Street Festival. To see such a large celebration of Greek culture so far away from Greece is a testament to the strength of the Greek community in sharing our culture with the rest of Australia,” said Dimitris Basis.
It is a great success for the festival to be hosting these two renowned Greek singers, who have collaborated with Christos Nikolopoulos and Lavrentis Machairitsas, as well as with some of Greece’s premium musicians.
The festival’s main stage will also feature performances by Melbourne’s Ravaisi band, an outfit made up of young Australians playing traditional tunes from all over Greece. Local bands Meraklides Group, Nea Vradia, Mojo Sisters, The Apocalypse Boys, Santa Tarabta, along with singer Anthea Sidiropoulos and Melbourne-born singer/songwriter Stelios Antoniou, will perform some of their popular hits as well. For those who wish to prove themselves on stage, Greek karaoke will be waiting at the Delphi Bank Stage.
The Lonsdale Street Festival is not only about the music but is bound to offer some of the most delectable mouth-watering Greek delicacies to its attendees with many food stalls spanning across the festival space this weekend, not to mention a great range of imported Greek beverages. Leading Greek chefs and cooks the likes of Phil Vakos, Kathy Tsaples, Angie Giannakodakis, Greek twins Helena and Vikki, and non-Greek contestants from My Kitchen Rules will meet at the Flavours of Greece Stage.
Nitrogen-based instant ice-cream, which is creamier and natural without any added colours, stabilisers or preservatives, and Greek-style frappe and freddo coffees will be waiting next to 100 per cent natural, hand-made gelato pops, kaimaki, gourmet fairy floss and a variety of frozen Greek yoghurt on wheels.
It doesn’t end there. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free, decadent fast food from a solar-powered food truck will compete with tasty seafood and traditional lamb, pork, chicken, even beef souvlakia, kalamakia and spit rotisseries. Since in Greece there is always room for dessert, a modern spin of traditional loukoumades and waffles will also be there to blow the minds of even the most eclectic visitors.
Moreover, Lonsdale Street Festival has plenty of activities to keep the little ones entertained, such as face painting, balloon sculpting and storytelling at the Kids Corner, whilst classic carnival rides and giant inflatables offer an adrenaline fix for the festival’s hyper young fans.
Last but not least, this jubilant congregation offers a chance to dance your way to Greece and receive a return economy flight to a Greek island with the courtesy of Qatar Airways and Touchdown Tours, if you ‘Zorba ’til You Drop’, on the Delphi Bank Stage on Saturday 14 February.