A memorable event: Kostas Mountakis Tribute Concert in Sydney hailed a success

The Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW, together with the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand, hosted a tribute concert for Cretan icon Kostas Mountakis, honouring his timeless music and longstanding impact on the Greek community.

The musical tribute, held on Thursday night at the Marana Auditorium in Hurstville, marked the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Kostas Mountakis in Australia in 1971, as the first Cretan artist to come to Australia, as well as the 30th anniversary of his death.

In presence at the event were Mr Konstantinos Giannakodimos, Communication Advisor at the Office of Public Diplomacy of the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney who represented the Consul General of Greece in Sydney Mr Christos Karras, and President of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand, Tony Tsourdalakis, as well as representatives of Greek community organisations.

“Mountakis was the first Greek artist who arrived to Australia to entertain the Cretans who had migrated to the country some years earlier… Today we are celebrating the memory of an artist who has left a legacy to the overall musical tradition,” said Mr Tsourdalakis.

The audience were treated to a performance by iconic Greek lyra performers and vocalists Sifis Tsourdalakis, Giannis Pollakis, Antonis Petrantonakis and Michalis Platyrrachos. These performers were accompanied by Angelos Goutzios (Lute), Manolis Karageorgiou (Lute), George Ganakis (Bass Guitar), Themis Ioakimidis and Fotis Lampis (Percussion).

“Kostas Mountakis not only wrote dozens of lyra songs… If anyone hears the words, ‘Kostas Mountakis’, they mainly think of the lyra and the type of music. He popularised Greek folk music and his legacy continues today,” Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW President Terry Saviolakis said.

The full concert can be watched on the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW’s Facebook page.