A concert by Apodimi Kompania in Melbourne, Wednesday night, began with a traditional tune from Constantinople, present-day Istanbul, followed by an Acknowledgement to Country and a statement of support for the Yes campaign, which advocates for the establishment of a Voice to advise the federal parliament and government of Australia on issues affecting First Nations people.
The night began with a nod to tradition.
For over 90 minutes, the packed Brunswick Ballroom was treated to exceptional performances of folk songs, tunes, and rebetika not often heard in Melbourne, despite the city’s impressive folk and rebetika scene. The band also paid tribute to significant contributors to the Greek-Australian music scene and their fortunes who are no longer with us.
This included former band member Hector Cosmas, songwriter Costas Tsicaderis, and singer Rena Hatzilepou, as well as Retreat Hotel owner Con Trikaliotis, the waiter Bill, and regular Christos Lineas (Pahoumis), among others.
The audience was a mix of old-timers from the Retreat days of the late 1980s and early 1990s and the wider mainstream Australian folk scene. The band’s performances and music have been covered and promoted by not only Greek-Australian and social media outlets but also mainstream Australian media such as Radio National/ABC, RRR, and PBS.
The night ended with a standing ovation from the appreciative and mesmerised audience.
For those that missed out, Apodimi Kompania is set to perform again at the same venue tonight, Thursday, at the Brunswick Ballroom, as well as at Pontiaki Estia in Brunswick on 28 April.
This coming Sunday, they will perform twice at the Hellenic Arts Theatre in Marrickville, Sydney, and on the 30th of April, they will perform in Adelaide for a concert organized by Festival Hellenika.
