The 2009 Lonsdale Street Glendi will be given a hit of pure blood by three musical acts direct from Greece.
Queen of song, Glykeria will be performing Saturday and Sunday as the headline act. The Festival will be using the Sunday night performance to raise money for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal, with all donations made on the night going directly to the fund.
The musical group Anagnostirion Agiasou, a traditional Agiasotiki “compania” will perform traditional songs and dances from Asia Minor and Lesvos at the Glendi.
The following mousikantes” musicians will be coming to Melbourne: Gabriil Panagiotis (bouzouki), Maistrellils Nikos (outi), Kazantzis Stratis (santouri), Konsolakis Christos (guitar), Christianos Nikos (violin) and Tybos Aristeidis (crust).
Their program will begin will begin with the “syrto”, continuing with “mpalo”, “karsilama”, “zeimpekiko” and finishing with “mazomeno” or “pidihto”.
Fotis Eliamos (santouri) and George Hatzipetrou (violin) are coming from Rhodes to perform the traditional music of the Dodecanese and Aegean islands. They will join local musicians and dancers on Sunday afternoon, for what promises to be a beautiful exchange of talent and passion.
Fotis and George will be conducting formal and informal exchanges and workshops with interested local musicians at the Glendi itself, and in the week following the weekend event.
The 2009 Lonsdale Street Glendi program also features over 300 local performers, art, craft and community stalls, roaming entertainers and local celebrities including Melbourne Greek identities, celebrity chef George Calombaris; Australian comic icon George Kapiniaris and Vasilis from the hit Channel 31 show Vasili’s Garden.
Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 March
Lonsdale Street Greek Precinct Melbourne (In between Russell & Swanston Streets)
Admission: Free
More information: antipodesfestival.com.au or phone 03 9662 2722.