In 2020, the Greekerbeek Festival will return to Muziekpublique under the name Grecomania. This time around, the music festival will focus on the Thessaloniki youth, which honors tradition but happily turns everything upside down. Four different and entrancing groups will delight your ears. Friday will be dedicated to new compositions and rebetiko, whereas on Saturday we will be invaded by the Balkan accordion and Kadinelia, the innovative traditional folk music revelation. Live music at the bar, along with dancing, joy and small Greek mezze will make you succumb to the Greek infinite culture.
Author and composer Nikos Christidis, along with Ria Ellinidou, one of today’s most important young singers, join forces to show us their point of view about yesterday’s and today’s Greek music. Christidis, a celebrated Thessaloniki author, is currently preparing his second solo album of original creations. Due to his folk music references, he’s considered a great representative of the contemporary Greek new wave. Ria Ellinidou is the lead singer of the famous Loxandra Ensemble. Thanks to her talent, she is regularly invited by well-known musicians such as Dalaras, Thalassino, Andreatos or Zikas. The duo is preparing a special program, with surprises that will enchant us, for the Festival.
Prigipessa (Princess), situated near the White Tower, the Thessaloniki emblem on the seaside promenade, is a well-known club. A place not to be missed, where all old and current Greek music is played, the club also has its own musical group. The Prigipessa Ensemble lovingly plays the popular song from Smyrna, the rebetiko from the ’30’s to present times. The ensemble formed around the bouzouki, another Greek emblem, and accompanies it with a guitar, a bass or an accordion. Of course, as tradition commands, these master musicians don’t forget to sing.
Ria Ellinidou : vocals, spoons, zil
Nikos Christidis : bouzouki, tzouras, vocals
George Vartsakis : guitar
Giannis Rizopoulos : percussions
Prigipessa
Christos Mastelos : vocals
Maria Fragouli : vocals
Triantafyllos Halkias : bouzouki, vocals
Dimitris Sfingos : guitar, vocals
Iraklis Vavatsikas : accordion