Interesting and new ideas have been developing as a result of COVID-19 restrictions around the world.

One such idea was born in Adelaide, by Greek Australian Musician and bass player Peter Stamatopoulos, who came up with the concept of the best Greek-Australian musicians playing across borders. The idea had been on his mind for a number of years, but COVID-19 restrictions and a lot of time spent at home, listening to music, propelled the project to finally be launched.

Unique virtual setting

Project Pot Pouri, is set to premier on 11 December on Facebook, where a group of talented musicians from Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney will release their first covers of Greek songs.
The unique aspect of this project is that the studio setting is virtual, allowing these musicians to see their music come together into songs, though separated from each other by hundreds of miles.

Each musician records their part from their home studios, and these recordings are brought together into one performance by Mr Stamatopoulos. These will be shared on the Facebook page on the 11th day of each month.

“The idea progressed through COVID-19,” Mr Stamatopoulos told Neos Kosmos, speaking about his unique project. “Obviously, you’re stuck at home, listening to music and you notice what other musicians are doing too. For example, Antonis Remos, had a virtual setting ‘Sto spiti me ton Antoni Remo’.”

Musicians and singers came up with various ideas to bring their audience and fans into their home setting, so that they can continue to play their music.

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A collaboration of the best Greek Australian Musicians across borders was an idea that was simmering in Peter Stamatopoulos' mind for a number of years. Based in Adelaide, Peter is a Greek Australian bass player performing with the band Oneiro for weddings and events. Photo: Supplied

A collaboration of the best Greek Australian Musicians across borders was an idea that was simmering in Peter Stamatopoulos' mind for a number of years. Based in Adelaide, Peter is a Greek Australian bass player performing with the band Oneiro for weddings and events. Photo: Supplied

A collaboration of the best Greek Australian Musicians across borders was an idea that was simmering in Peter Stamatopoulos' mind for a number of years. Based in Adelaide, Peter is a Greek Australian bass player performing with the band Oneiro for weddings and events. Photo: Supplied

“You can’t really do much, but you are a musician, a song writer, a singer and you need an outlet. So, COVID kind of made the idea come to the forefront.”

It has actually taken off, he adds. A lot of people are interested, “and when you speak to the musicians they immediately tell you that they’re in.”

“Project Pot Pouri is an idea I have had for a number of years, that of collaborating across borders with all musicians that work in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide. We all know of each other and have done gigs together. For example, if we go to Melbourne for a gig we might have used some musicians that are based locally but we haven’t really ever worked together across borders in a studio setting.”

In their first release which is going live on Friday, young talented singer, from Melbourne, Paul Kasparidis, will perform, accompanied by a band of musicians from different states of Australia. Amongst them are Fotis Lambis from Sydney (Drums), John Trikaliotis (Bass player), Jim Giannou (Guitar), Jim Kalatzis (Bouzouki), Theo Skaltsas (Clarinet) from Adelaide, and Andrew Koikas (keyboards) from Melbourne. One of the songs released will be ‘Min Thimoneis’ (Μην Θυμώνεις) by Petros Yiakovidis.

Project Pot Pouri aims to release new songs on the 11th day of each month, and they are already planning with Greek Australian singer from Sydney, Gia (Yianna Nicholas) to virtually record ‘Hamena’ (Χαμένα) by Kaiti Garbi and ‘Den ftais esy’ (Δεν φταις εσύ) by Stan.

“What kind of music do you mean by Pot Pouri?” we ask him.

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Jim Kalatzis plays the bouzouki. Photo: Supplied

Drummer Foti Lambis. Photo: Supplied

“It is basically a mixture of songs that are usually played before the main event. For example, when you go to the Bouzoukia in Greece, a singer will come out first to perform a selection of songs that are not for dancing. These are songs for you to sit back, enjoy and appreciate.”

Andrew Koikas (keyboards) from Melbourne. Photo: Supplied

Jim Giannou from Adelaide plays the guitar. Photo: Facebook

So tune in, on Friday, and by liking ‘Project Pot Pouri’ on Facebook, you will be able to enjoy some great Greek hits played by some of our best musicians across Australia. Who knows? Perhaps one day we will see them play live in Greece as well, as this seems to be a dream that many of these talented musicians share, having devoted their lives to reviving Greek songs and keeping alive the spirit of popular Greek entertainment, at the other end of the world.