Adelaide is set for a Greek musical Christmas treat with Kostas Karafotis performing on live at the Arkaba on December 25, with Adelaide songstress Paraskevi Kontoleon as the support act.
Kostas Karafotis was born and raised in Trikala, Thessaly, in 1978. His keen interest in music began at the tender age of eight, when he had his father buy him his first bouzouki. He went on to study at music school, theory, bouzouki, and took up the piano at this time too. He left his hometown as an 18-year-old and moved to Sofia, Bulgaria to study medicine. In the meantime, he didn’t give up on his talent and joined bands in the Bulgarian capital for small periods of time. He graduated from the University of Sofia in 2003.
2004 was the year he became widely known to the Greek audience, when he participated in the reality talent show Fame Story 2. He managed to leave his mark, thanks to his exceptional singing skills and his knowledge on music theory. It came as no surprise when he made it to the top three winners of the music contest; both the audience and the teachers embraced his talent. He was one of the most popular among the participants in the talent show and appeared numerous times in Greek tabloids, due to his love affair with another participant in the talent show, Maro Lytra. It all started during their stay in the shared house of the reality show, while she was married in Canada and he was committed in a long-term relationship.
As soon as the reality program came to an end in 2005, Karafotis kicked off his music career, signing a contract with the Greek record company Heaven Music. He was fortunate enough to meet and work together with some of the most renowned artists of the Greek music scene. Famous composer Antonis Vardis worked on Karafotis’ first solo record, with Peggy Zina and Giannis Vardis featuring. From then on, he appeared numerous times in Athenian night clubs, and some of the popular singers he has worked with throughout the years are Giorgos Mazonakis, Stamatis Gonidis, Glykeria, Christos Nikolopoulos and Melina Aslanidou. In September 2006, while doing his military service, he gave concerts in South Africa, along with Helena Paparizou and later next year he toured in Cyprus, Canada and the US with Vasilis Karras. In 2009 he performed in Australia with Peggy Zina.
Kostas Karafotis will perform live at the Arkaba, Glen Osmond Rd, Fullarton on Wednesday 25 December. Tickets are $65 presold, visit www.trybooking.com/69528 to purchase.