VIC
TSIFTES LIVE
Rebetiko music, known as the Greek blues, emerged in Greece in the 1920s as the music of the poor and the outlawed. Early songs were written in prisons where inmates crouched in circles, singing and playing their shonkily made baglamas. Central to Rebetiko are the subjects of pain, heartbreak and comradery, themes relevant to the subculture of the time.
Eager to preserve this small piece of cultural history, the members of Tsiftes are known for their authentic renditions and vocal harmonies. Plate smashing is allowed only in a strictly metaphorical manner. The line-up consists of Con Kalamaras – Bouzouki/Vocals, Nikos Kapralos – Bouzouki, Stav Thomopoulos – Vocals, Alex Petropoulos – Guitar/Vocals, Jenny Dixon – Violin.
When: Friday, 28 April – Doors open at 6pm, show starts at 7.30pm
Where: Birds basement, 1 Singers Lane, Melbourne, VIC
Bookings: www.birdsbasement.com/show/1111/tsiftes
KIDS’ GREEK DANCE CLASSES @ the KAZZIE CLUB
An opportunity to have children learn the culture of their ancestors is opening through the Kastellorizian Association of Victoria in February. The classes will take place at the Templestowe Memorial Hall and are free and open for all.
When: Every Sunday, 3pm-5pm
Where: Templestowe Memorial Hall, 1-9 Anderson St, Templestowe, VIC
RSVP: Phillippa – 0409 100 155, Christine – 0414 822 234, Viv – 0411 433 121, Kathleen – 0415 921 590
KO WAI KOE? WHO ARE YOU?: ATHENS, AOTEAROA & THE ART OF MARIAN MAGUIRE
Who Are You?: Athens, Aotearoa & the Art of Marian Maguire showcases a selection of artworks by New Zealand artist Marian Maguire at the Hellenic Museum. Drawn from several of Marian’s series of works, including The Odyssey of Captain Cook, The Labours of Herakles, Titokowaru’s Dilemma, and A Taranaki Dialogue, Who Are You? seeks to open a discussion on identity and its intersection with history and myth. British, Māori and ancient Greek cultures collide in Marian’s works. This triad of cultures opens a visual conversation that touches on colonialism, memory, cultural interaction, history and myth, and invites viewers to consider how these factors contribute to the construction of identity on a personal, cultural and national level.
When: Now–Until May
Where: Hellenic Museum, 280 William St, Melbourne VIC
2000 YEARS OF JEWISH HISTORY IN THESSALONIKI AT THE MELBOURNE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
The Melbourne Holocaust Museum will present a lecture by Dr Leon Saltiel on the Jews of Thessaloniki on Monday, 24 April. Delving into the evolution of the thriving communities of Jewish life in the Greek city for over two millennia, Dr Saltiel will focus on key moments such as its creation in antiquity, the impact of the Inquisition, its incorporation with the Greek state, the Holocaust, and the life of Jewish people in Thessaloniki today. Leon Saltiel is a historian specialising in the persecution of Jews in Greece. Dr Saltiel is also a member of the Central Board of Jewish Communities of Greece and of the Greek delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. He currently serves as Director of Diplomacy, Representative at UN Geneva and UNESCO, and Coordinator on Countering Antisemitism for the World Jewish Congress.
When: Monday, 24 April, 7.30pm – 8.30pm
Where: Melbourne Holocaust Museum, 13 – 15 Selwyn St, Elsternwick, Victoria
Tickets and info: Cost $15 general admission | $10 concession/MHM volunteers via bookings@mhm.org.au | 03 9528 1985
NSW
APODIMI COMPANIA
The iconic masters of Greek folk and rebetika, Apodimi Compania return to Australia! This five-piece band from Greece features Yiannis Niarhos, Chrysoula Kechagioglou, Vangelis Votteas, Manolis and George Galiastos. The band have a strong improvisational disposition, that can take you from melancholy to exaltation in one breath. Whether it be through transcendental amanedes, a kind of improvised sung lament, in unmeasured time, or through meandering taximia, improvised preludes that bring us closer to the divine.
Originating in Brunswick, Melbourne and now resident in Athens, for the past 22 years, Apodimi Compania offers its listeners an unparalleled opportunity to experience the musical flowering of rural Greece with its various regional styles. Their repertoire ranges from tunes from the mainland, joyous melodies of the Aegean islands, fierce Cretan grooves, soulful laments from Asia Minor through to hauntingly beautiful pieces from the Northern region of Thrace. The group perform with grace and dexterity on a variety of traditional instruments, including the fiddle, six string bouzouki, tzoura, baglama, banjo, guitar, oud and lute.
When: Sunday, 23 April 4pm-6pm (AEST)
Where: 36/142 Addison Road, Marrickville NSW
Tickets: allevents.in/mobile/amp-event.php?event_id=200024206334144
GEORGE DALLARAS LIVE
George Dalaras is a Greek traveller, an extraordinary artist, a restless musician who firmly believes in the individual character of Greek music, in its power and competence, and at the same time in its global quality. His tireless aspirations made Greece travel to the ends of the world. Over 20 million albums sold, concert halls sold out worldwide, enthusiastic critics and collaborations with Sting, Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, Paco de Lucia and Al Di Meola and many others bear witness to the outstanding career of this artist. George Dalaras developed a passion for exotic sounds early on. His repertoire is influenced by rembetiko, the “Greek blues”, by Greek folk music and by Latin American colouring. The program includes selected classics from his enormous repertoire – an exclusive concert that shows the most important stages of this great Greek singer.
When: Friday, 26 May, 8pm
Where: State Theatre, 49 Market Street, Sydney, NSW
Bookings: bit.ly/3kBiXfr
QLD
PANIYIRI GREEK FESTIVAL
Brisbane’s most iconic Greek Festival returns to Musgrave Park on Saturday 20 May and Sunday 21 May. Picnic at Paniyiri and enjoy a day of Greek feasting, drinking and festivities! Expect traditional Greek dance performances, music, cooking demonstrations, and a variety of stalls selling everything from souvlaki to Greek wine and honey puffs. There will be plenty of activities for the family to enjoy. The Paniyiri raffle will have plenty of prizes to be won and of course the grand prize of two return tickets to Greece.
When: Saturday, 20 May and Sunday, 21 May 12pm-7pm
Where: Musgrave Park, 91 Cordelia St, South Brisbane, QLD
Tickets: www.concreteplayground.com/brisbane/event/paniyiri-greek-festival-2023
To list your event in Neos Kosmos’ What’s On please contact nelly@neoskosmos.com.au