Greek Music Express

Throughout the summer, watching ancient drama performances is a favourite activity for natives and tourists alike, in venues such as the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus. And, indeed, theatre construction remains a key achievement of Ancient Greek civilisation, reflecting a high level of intellectual and...

This week, we are returning, once again, to the imposing melodies that Greece’s leading composers wrote for ancient drama – for the tragedies and comedies that are performed every summer in open-air festivals. Our destination: Music for ancient Drama by Goran Bregovic and Giannis Zouganelis. Μελωδίες για το αρχα...

Both Peace and The Clouds are Athenian Old Comedies written and produced by the Greek playwright Aristophanes. Today, we are appreciating the intelligent music that Nikos Kypourgos and Stamatis Kraounakis wrote for performances of the former and the latter play respectively. Μελωδίες για τον Αριστο...

Throughout the week that ends today, we celebrated Greek summer, its glory, contradictions, and most directly associated melodies: the “popakia” – light, refreshing Greek pop. “Summertime vacations for ever”, with “Nights at Mykonos” and with friendly encounters “at Imerovigli”, on the island of San...

This week here aboard GME is an endless tribute to the Greek summer and to the songs that accompany it in our hearts and minds: pop hits of the 1980s and the 1990s. From Alexia to Michalis Rakintzis and from Vicky Haritou to Stefanos Korkolis, this is the closest one can get to the spirit of Greek summertime,...

Today, Andreas Mikroutsikos, Eleni Dimou, Constantina, Mando and many others will give us two marble kisses, will bet that we shall return to our ex-partner, and will make a wish for us to be together next year. Καλοκαιρινή ποπ: «Κι εγώ σαν άνεμος θα φύγω» Σήμερα, ο Ανδρέας Μικρούτσικος, η Ελένη Δήμου, η ...

Throughout this week, we are turning our attention to our much beloved Greek summer and its most immediate and natural soundtrack: good Greek pop. Sofia Arvaniti, Christos Kyriazis and Zig Zag band are just some of the names that feature on today’s track list. Our destination: Greek summer pop hits, p...

Do not be fooled by the lightness of Greek summer pop – it contains the same expressive voices, fragile melodies and powerful images that have made Greek song a unique form of art. The package might be different – seemingly more superficial and designed for entertainment – but the essence remains the s...

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...