The Greek historian Poli Roumelioti was featured on the show and spoke about the music event “The Bouzoukia,” which will take place (free of charge) at Paul’s Square (Sint-Paulusplaats) in Antwerp over the weekend of October 5 and 6, 2024. This event is part of the long-term cultural heritage project IN SKIPPERSTREET, dedicated to the presence of Greek sailors in Antwerp. It was designed by the artistic duo Kris Kaerts and Poli Roumeliotis.
It is worth recalling that from the 1960s to the 1980s, many Greek live music venues existed in the “Captain’s District,” as the neighborhood was called, which helped popularize Greek music. About 30 musicians will participate in the event, performing from a wide range of Greek traditional music. In this way, the memory of the once-vibrant Greek nightlife district, where sailors felt at home, will be revived.
The show also featured 87-year-old well-known musician Polis Efthymiadis, who will perform at the event on Sunday, October 6. Polis Efthymiadis discussed his career, starting with Trio Tempo in Greece, his migration to Paris where the group became Trio Hellenique in 1960, and their subsequent professional journey in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden. His last band was Polis et les Helleniques.