Archives: Events

BABUSKA & PSYCHOTROPICA

Welcome to our planet for the last live of 2024!
This year, BABUSKA is back, inviting favorite bands to join them!

After their very successful performance with AFRODYSSEY ORCHESTRA, BABUSKA will also take the stage in December with the band PSYCHO TROPICA.

Babuska, a 7-piece band with a strong presence of brass and electric sounds, is ready for another wild celebration with reggae, afro, Balkan, and ska rhythms, and of course, plenty of dancing.

Always with an upbeat rhythmic mood, blending African-Eastern percussion over electrified basslines and vintage groovy drumming, topped with psychedelic guitars and a brass section full of bittersweet harmony.

Band Members:

• Oleg Dergatciov — Electric Guitar, Vocals
• Iraklis Tsopelakis — Percussion
• Vangelis Kritikos — Drums
• Spyros Mastoras — Electric Bass
• Panagiotis Kouktas — Baritone Saxophone
• Michalis Kampourogiannis — Soprano Saxophone
• Manos Chronopoulos — Trumpet

PsychoTropica [Cumbia Chichadelica] was formed in 2016, influenced by the psychedelic aesthetic of Cumbia Peruana. They have performed at various venues, festivals, and events, as guests of Instituto Cervantes and the Peruvian Embassy.
The genre they play is based on tropical music, including Chicha, Cumbia Amazonica, and Mambo, with sounds from fuzz electric guitars, Farfisa organs, and analog synths that create a mystical character and compel everyone to dance until the very end…

Band Members:

• Vangelis Emmanouil — Guitar
• Kostas Dimou — Congas, Percussion
• Danai Kostakioti — Keys
• Vaggos Cuervo — Timbales, Percussion
• Alex Monteiro da Silva — Bass
• José Fabian — Guiro, Percussion

TSIMENTO & PROFIL
This Holy Xmass, stop genocide in Palestine!

The idea for a joint live performance by Tsimento and Profil has been around for a long time, as the members of the bands share a long-standing acquaintance and mutual respect. These two bands from the Greek independent music scene have always believed that it is both a duty and a mission for artists to communicate and draw inspiration from socio-political developments.
During the planning meeting for the concert, and as the Christmas season approached—a time marked by rampant consumerism and superficial abundance—the main topic of discussion and concern was the horrifying genocide being endured by the people of Palestine at the hands of the state of Israel.
In this context, the least we can do is amplify the just demand of the Palestinian people for freedom through our music and lyrics.

Our joint concert is a small act of solidarity and an opportunity for a gathering—an exchange of ideas and actions in the struggle to support the people of Palestine.

Tsimento:
Concrete is everywhere.
Relentlessly dominant, it covers everything—from the neighborhoods we live in to the culture we coexist in. Hardened, impersonally cold gray, concrete symbolizes authority and every enemy we stand against.

As in every self-respecting fairy tale, so in reality: when you name your enemy, it loses power and substance. Our band is called TSIMENTO. We play haunted punk rock to exorcise fears.

Tsimento is:

• Iason Leontidis: Guitar, Vocals
• Michalis Semertzoglou: Bass
• Spyros Papakotsis: Drums

Profil:
Profil was formed in the distant year of 2000 by a group of school friends.
Profil has performed a significant number of live shows in well-known venues in Athens and beyond, such as: An Club, Kyttaro, Stavros tou Notou, Six Dogs, Temple, Ilion+, Underathens, and more. Whether as a cover band or presenting their own songs, Profil has built a small but dynamic audience. The group has also appeared as a support act with well-known bands from the local scene, such as Ypogeia Revmata, Endelechia, Magic de Spell. Additionally, they have collaborated with names and bands from the new Greek independent scene, such as Balantes gia Fonous, Salto Mortale, Gourounia sto Diastima, Rockamora, and others.

Discographically, Profil has released (exclusively hand-to-hand and at their concerts):

• Two demo EPs (2008 and 2010)
• One promo LP (Good Morning Lucky Man – 2007)
• Their first full album, Invisible Children, in May 2015

Musically, Profil moves within the realm of Greek-speaking independent rock, but their primary influences come from the international guitar-driven scene, with bands like Joy Division, Sonic Youth, Pixies, The Stooges, Pearl Jam, The Sound, Radiohead, and more. They are also influenced by Greek artists such as Trypes, Xylina Spathia, Diafana Krina, Endelechia, Ypogeia Revmata, and others.

Currently, the group is preparing the release of their second album (having already released five singles via their website and YouTube channel) and is performing in venues in Athens and across Greece.

Modern … Classical Musicians

Two young musicians, Michalis Stefanakis on piano and Michalis Gennadis on violin, present works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Benjamin Godard, Robert Schumann, and Sergei Rachmaninoff.

The two Michalises remain true to classical roots and dare to present chamber music in the multifunctional space PLYFA, addressing an audience with musical curiosity, even if they are not accustomed to classical sounds.

Believing that classical music is neither rigid nor distant, the two musicians perform works from the classical and romantic periods with the hope that their energy will touch the souls of their listeners.

Michalis Stefanakis began studying piano and theory in Heraklion, Crete, and received diplomas in harmony and piano from the Apollo Conservatory and Music Society (class of Patricia Arena). He continued his piano and chamber music studies alongside his law degree in Athens. He earned a piano diploma from the Athens Conservatory (class of Thodoris Tzovanakis) and continues studying under the guidance of Marina Lamprinoudi. He received recognition at the international Van Cliburn competition for amateur pianists in Fort Worth, Texas, in October 2022. Stefanakis is a graduate of the Law School of the University of Athens and the University of Michigan and works as a director in the International Taxation Department at Deloitte in Athens.

Michalis Gennadis began music at a young age, with the violin as his main instrument. He studied in Athens at the National Conservatory, earning his diploma with highest honors, a first prize, and a performance excellence award under the tutelage of Dimitris Angelidis. He has attended seminars with renowned violinist Bartek Niziol and continues his development with internationally acclaimed violinist Giorgos Demertzis, specializing in chamber music. In addition to violin, he studied advanced music theory with Giorgos Minas, earning a Fugue diploma with top honors.

His artistic pursuits have also led him to contemporary music through singing and electric bass, which he studied at the National Conservatory. As a violinist, Gennadis has collaborated with chamber music orchestras, contemporary music ensembles, and appeared as a young artist at festivals in Mezin, France. He teaches violin at the National Conservatory of Ilioupoli and the Attiko Conservatory in Kypseli.

Duration: 80 minutes, including an intermission.

GIORGOS KEHAGIOGLOU – PRESENTATION OF THE ALBUM “EKEINOS & EGO”

Giorgos Kehagioglou presents for the first time live his debut album “EKEINOS & EGO”.

It is a Greek-language album that brings traditional folk and alternative sounds into conversation with the rhythms of pop/rock and greek music. Through the 10 songs of the album, an internal conversation unfolds. A musical journey from the darkness of loneliness to the light of people and companionship.

The songwriter’s original material meets songs that have marked him and shaped his own personal world. Joining him on stage will be Kostis, Erophilie, and Christina Samara, three young songwriters who have just released their first albums as well, with their material already making its presence felt in music venues.

Alongside the presentation of the album “EKEINOS & EGO”, there will also be a screening of the short music film “City of Light”, directed by Alexandros Stamatiadis, which was created on the occasion of the album’s same title song.

Guests:
Kostis
Erophilie
Christina Samara

On stage:
Irini Alisa – Keys
Yiannis Papanikolaou – Drums
Ilias Pantazis – Bass
Alexandros Pouliasis – Electric Guitar

Nikos Angloupas – Sound Engineer

Production:
PâleSounds

Contact in the media – publicity:
Tina Pappa | City Owls Communications

Doors open: 20:00

DEPARTURE
Apostolos Kitsos
Guest: Sophie lies

“Amid the new love and within the new sound, I depart”
—A. Rimbaud

Mikri Arktos presents the first concert and musical performance for Apostolos Kitsos’ album Departure, taking place at PLYFA on Thursday, December 5, at 9:30 pm.

Following Something Strange, Apostolos Kitsos chose this verse by Rimbaud not only as the title of his new album but as a hallmark of the atmosphere and artistic intent of this fresh, intriguing work.

This collection of songs marks a “Departure” to a new sonic realm—vibrant, modern, with a distinct electronic flair and dynamic orchestrations, all crafted by Apostolos Kitsos himself, both on the album and in the live performance.

In this album, Apostolos Kitsos also makes his debut as a songwriter, setting the poetry of Katerina Gogou and Katerina Angelaki-Rook to music for the first time. He continues his collaboration with Michalis Kalogirakis (with whom he created Something Strange), who contributes songs inspired by the poetry of Jacques Prévert, Arthur Rimbaud, and Manos Petrakis.

Songs like Barbara, Let’s Start Early, Departure, as well as pieces from Something Strange, such as Love Me Somewhere Else and Good Moon, create a musical dialogue with reference songs from both Greek and international repertoires.

Joining him on stage is the multi-talented and versatile Sophie lies, bringing a live rendition of their recorded collaboration.

Mikri Arktos invites you to embark together, “amid the new love and within the new sound” of Apostolos Kitsos.

Performing Musicians:
Fanis Zachopoulos – guitars
Alexis Stenakis – keyboards, winds
Haris Paraskevas – bass, drums

Sound Engineer: Thanos Kaleas
Contact: Maria Tsolaki, [email protected]
Production Management: Vivi Gerolymatou, [email protected]
Produced by: Mikri Arktos, www.mikri-arktos.gr