Greek Music Express

TToday, we return to the songs of a renowned creator, who passed away exactly thirteen years ago, on July 24, 2013. A globally recognised avant-garde composer who also excelled in the art of songwriting, he collaborated with some top-class female vocalists such as Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Melina Kana,...

Today, we celebrate the massive legacy of a unique folk vocalist who passed away on Wednesday, at the age of 91. A long career with a rich discography, top live performances that shaped live music entertainment, notable collaborations with composers such as Mikis Theodorakis and Manolis Hiotis, an endless...

Today, we are taking a break from our week-long tribute to composer Nikos Mamagakis in order to remember another beloved creator of ours – one of Greece’s greatest poets and lyricists, who sadly passed away eight years ago, on July 22, 2018. Our destination: Eight years without poet Manos Eleftheriou – h...

“What attracts me to literature is language. I have written a lot of autonomous, stand-alone music. But what fascinates and troubles me is the Greek language, both modern and ancient”. Nikos Mamagakis Μνήμη Νίκου Μαμαγκάκη: Μελοποιημένη ποίηση «Αυτό που με ελκύει στη λογοτεχνία είναι η γλώσσα. ...

Today, and throughout the week that starts today, we shall be honouring the memory of a huge avant-garde and folk composer, who passed away thirteen years ago, on July 24, 2013. Our destination: Remembering Nikos Mamagakis, part 1: His music for classical guitar. Μνήμη Νίκου Μαμαγκάκη: Η μουσική του για ...

A graduate of Berklee College of Music’s Advanced Blues Guitar Program, where she earned a 4.0 GPA under Professor Michael Williams, Kaliopi has built a reputation as an artist of rare depth and command. Her voice moves effortlessly between tenderness and raw intensity, while her guitar work balances r...

Today, in the context of our week-long tribute to Greek blues bands, we are shedding light on the best of the best: Blues Wire. The band is widely regarded as one of the best blues bands in Europe and their gigs have been described by observers as one of Europe’s best kept blues secrets. Our destination: G...

This week aboard GME is dedicated to blues in the Greek context. We started our week-long exploration with Eliana One Woman Band and Blues Revenge, among others, while yesterday we listened to Daddy’s Work Blues Band, Blues Trackers and The Blues Side Band. Today’s destination: Greek blues bands, par...

Playing blues in Greece has something unique, as it is one of the few Western musical genres that has never been in fashion in our country. Exiled from commercial circuits, the blues played by Greeks, the Greek blues, continues to exist and breathe on the margins of musical developments Our destination:...

Today, and throughout the week that starts today, we shall be turning our attention to the massive legacy of the blues and the several Greek bands and artists that have been honouring this genre in our country. Our destination: Greek blues bands, part 1: From Eliana One Woman Band to Blues Revenge. Ελληνικά μπλουζ ...

Throughout the week that ends today, we celebrated four folk instruments that have coloured the complex and beautiful landscape of Greek music tradition. Today, a key instrument of the islands of the Aegean lands aboard Greek Music Express. Our destination: Greek folk instruments part 4: Santur, or...

The saz is a long-necked fretted lute used in the folk music of Turkey and neighbouring regions of the Balkans, including Greece, as well as the Middle East and Central Asia. It belongs to the wider family of long-necked lutes known as tanburs, a group of instruments historically distributed from Iran...

Giorgos Koros, Kyriakos Gouventas, Nicos Hatzopoulos, Nikos Kalaintzis, Nikos Moraitis – welcome to the very exclusive club of the soloists who cemented violin’s position in the Greek folk and traditional orchestra. Βιολί Γιώργος Κόρος, Κυριάκος Γκουβέντας, Νίκος Χατζόπουλος, Νίκος Καλαϊτζής, Νί...

Today, and throughout the week that starts today, we shall be turning our attention to four distinct folk instruments that have fuelled some of the brightest moments of Greek music tradition. Our destination: Greek folk instruments part 1: Laouto - Lute. Λαούτο Σήμερα, και όλη την εβδομάδα που ...

Today, June 5, we are celebrating World Environment Day, a day that highlights the need for ecological consciousness and collective action in support of green policies. Our destination: Songs celebrating nature, for the World Environment Day. Παγκόσμια Ημέρα Περιβάλλοντος Σήμερα, 5 Ιουνίου, γιορτάζουμε την Παγκό...

Today, we remember a largely unknown singer and songwriter who, however, left behind some moments of exceptional artistry in his short-lived career. Apart from collaborating with important composers, he presented some interesting personal albums, such as “Bureaucracy” and “Songs about the army”. Our des...

Today, we are remembering a superb poet – a symbol of the struggle for freedom and also an artistic bridge of solidarity and understanding between the peoples of Greece and Turkey. Our destination: 63 years without Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet. Ναζίμ Χικμέτ Σήμερα, θυμόμαστε έναν μεγάλο ποιητή – σύμβολ...

Today, we return to a unique genre of global significance, its history, and some of its best samples that appear in Greek discography. Our track list includes blues anthems by pioneering artists such as Loukianos Kilaidonis, Pavlos Sidiropoulos and Stelios Vamvakaris. Our destination: Greek blues. Μπλουζ Σήμερα, επιστρέφουμ...