Musicians bring Greek music back to the former Alexander the Great Club in Sydney

·

Folk tunes from the regions of Thrace and Macedonia filled The Great Club, formerly known as the Alexander the Great Club, in Sydney on Friday, February 26 as part of the Greek Fringe‘s ‘Thraki Showcase.’

The performance by Sydney based group, Banda Politika, was the first time a Greek band had played in the newly renovated club and the music was a huge hit with the large audience which gathered.

“I was blown away by the response we had on Friday. This experimental hybrid event attracted 150 patrons and was The Great Club’s first large scale live music event which sold out!” Co-Founder of Greek Fringe, Christina Bacchiella, tells The Greek Herald.

Credit: Sofia Yiannikas.

“It was particularly great to see lots of young people at this event from different backgrounds getting a dose of Greek culture! The owners expressed that they couldn’t think of a better way to inaugurate the space than with a Greek gig that paid homage to the Club’s former identity.”

READ MORE: Greek Fringe: The inter-continental movement showcasing Greek diasporic artists.

Banda Politika, a project put together by Mihalis Platyrrahos, played traditional instruments on the night such as the Laouto, Lyra, Gaida (bagpipes) and the Daouli. This was accompanied by powerful Thracian songs which embodied the interaction of cultures from the region.

This band was the perfect interlude to a live cross to Greece for a performance by Evritiki Zygia and renowned vocalist, Katerina Douka.

These musicians brought the traditional sounds of Greece to the showcase as they played near a river in Evros – a place which not only borders Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria, but is also of great geo-cultural significance to the folklore of Thrace.

“Greek Fringe was set up as a platform to showcase underrepresented artists that fall outside the mainstream and to give the diaspora a connection to the contemporary art scene in Greece. I firmly believe that traditional music has a place in the contemporary scene and that’s why we featured Evritiki Zygia and Katerina Douka – some of Greece’s top Thracian musicians,” Christina says.

It’s clear the showcase was a successful hybrid event which was enjoyed by all who attended!

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Keynote speakers announced for the 7th Annual Breakfast for Brain Cancer

The White Pearl Foundation is proud to announce the keynote speakers for the 7th Annual Breakfast for Brain Cancer.

St Basil’s NSW/ACT responds to court ruling after nurse wins $346k discrimination case

St Basil’s NSW/ACT has responded to a Federal Court ruling which found the aged care provider unlawfully dismissed a Chinese nurse.

National Schools Event Day One: Students clash in volleyball and futsal in Perth

The first day of competition for the 2025 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia National Schools Event officially commenced in Perth.

Stuart MacGill avoids jail over cocaine deal linked to Marino Sotiropoulos

Former Australian Test cricketer Stuart MacGill has avoided jail after being convicted of his involvement in a $330,000 cocaine deal.

Archbishop Makarios of Australia awarded Honorary Doctorate by University of Athens

Archbishop Makarios of Australia has been conferred an Honorary Doctorate by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA).

You May Also Like

2024 Odyssey Art Prize: GOCSA announces open call for visual artists

The Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia’s Odyssey Festival celebrates 17 years of presence in Adelaide's cultural scene this year.

2023 Greek Community Cup secures teams for quarter final

The group stage of the first Greek Community Cup was completed on Saturday and hosted at the Greek Cypriot club Mill Park SC. 

Turkish officials insist on two-state solution in Cyprus

A two-state solution for Cyprus was discussed during a press conference with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar in the occupied Nicosia.