Greek Music Express

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...

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...

Throughout the week that ends today, we offered a panorama of contemporary music production in Greece by focusing on the albums and artists that defined last year’s recording landscape. Today, we explore the hybrid encounter between the folk muse and a modern spirit of experimentation. Our destination: T...

From Apostolos Rizos to Rena Morfi, from Pavlina Voulgaraki to Vangelis Germanos, from Nefeli Fasouli to Violeta Ikari, the art song reveals its continuous relevance. Even though its peak, artistically and commercially, seems long gone, there are gems to be discovered that combine smooth melodies with...

Today, May 22, we are celebrating International Day for Biological Diversity, an important day for all citizens with environmental sensibilities. From Katerina Kyrmizi’s Goldfish to Arleta’s Wolf and from Eleni Dimou’s Fox to Yannis Parios’ Canary, the Greek song invites us to respect and appreciate nature ...

Today, May 21, according to the Greek Orthodox Church, it is the feast day of Saint Constantine and Saint Helena; in other words, all Helens and Costases have their name day today and …hronia polla to them. Our destination: Songs about Helen. Τραγούδια για την Ελένη Σήμερα, 21 Μαΐου, η Ελένη, η Έλενα,...

Today, we are celebrating the magical music of a great Polish composer whose soundtracks have accompanied some of the greatest moments of European cinema. The occasion? His birthday, as he was born on May 20, 1955. By the way, this is an artist who is in love with Greece, has appeared live in major...

Today, we are completing our tribute to a beautiful island and its fascinating music, which we started a few weeks ago but never had the chance to conclude. Our track list is dominated by masters of the lyre and of singing: Nikos Xylouris, Giannis Xylouris, Alexandros Papadakis, Nikos Stratakis, Antonis...

Some weeks ago, we explored the multiple ways in which tradition has inspired a younger generation of artists active in rock and beyond, and today we revisit this theme with some more beloved bands and tunes of ours: Thrax Punks, Balothizer, Banda Entopica, Darnakes, Kontrabando, Babo Koro, VIC, Martha...

The soothing ambient music that we have been listening to throughout this week reminds us of a scientifically established fact: Music has the ability to boost our health holistically and is an accessible resource to have in our well-being toolkit. So, do not hesitate to pump up the volume and if anyone...