It might not have boasted the numbers of previous years, but this year’s Lonsdale Street Greek Music Festival 2021 brought some light back to the Melbourne CBD. The numbers who came to take part in the fun were not restricted by lack of interest but because the COVID regulations in place that limited the number of people who could attend.
There were five musical sessions each day of the festival with a capacity of 250 people per session.
On Saturday, 20 March, the weather played ball and 838 people attended the festival held at the Golden Square Car Park on Lonsdale Street.
“The weather played havoc on Sunday, but people still came despite the rain,” said festival co-chair Jim Bossinakis told Neos Kosmos. On Sunday 459 people attended. He said that after the rain abated the last two sessions on Sunday were filled close to capacity.
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“We were very happy as most of the sessions were fully subscribed.
Mr Bossinakis said the programme of musicians was well chosen and represented a good cross- section of Melbourne’s community. A further 1,100 people around the world kept an online eye on the proceedings via a live stream set up by the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM)
GCM president Bill Papastergiadis said the event was a success despite the restrictions that were in place.
“After one year of COVID-19, it was heartening to experience the excitement and enthusiasm of this community event. The quality of the music was good and there was a high level of organisation.
“It was the first big cultural event (after the lockdown and restrictions) which was significant with the hope for larger events to take place during the year as the COVID-19 restrictions ease,” Mr Papastergiadis said.