On Sunday, 12 July, at 12:00 (Athens time), Voice of Greece’s program “Our Town” welcomes acclaimed Greek drummer, composer, and bandleader George Trantalidis.
Trantalidis reflects on a remarkable musical journey marked by enduring friendships, influential collaborations, and a lifelong commitment to artistic innovation. As Greece searched for its cultural identity during the late 1960s, he joined forces with Yannis Spathas and Antonis Tourkogiorgis to form the pioneering rock band Socrates Drank the Conium, whose groundbreaking work earned both critical acclaim and legendary status in Greek rock history. As the band’s drummer, Trantalidis played a key role in shaping its distinctive sound.
The conversation also explores the musical influences that shaped his career, from jazz legend Elvin Jones to the great Cretan traditional musicians Kostas Mountakis and Nikos Skordalos. Trantalidis also looks back on his years with the jazz group Sphinx, alongside Giorgos Filippidis and Markos Alexiou, and shares memories of collaborations and friendships with Pavlos Sidiropoulos, Dimitris Poulikakos, Tony Lakatos, and the late guitarist Dimis Papachristou.
The program features selections from his albums Hores and Mesogeios, both of which bring together leading Greek musicians and distinguished artists from the international jazz scene.
Produced and presented by Themis Rodamitis
Sound engineer: Kostas Kyriakakis
Broadcast: Sunday, 12 July 2026, at 12:00 (Athens time)
Repeat: Monday, 13 July 2026, at 01:00 (Athens time)
