Bouzouki player, Dean Georgalas, set to amaze in The Melbourne Rebetiko Ensemble

·

Dean Georgalas has been playing the bouzouki since the tender age of 9 but more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to adapt his musical talent for the online world.

Cue the second digital installment of The Melbourne Rebetiko Ensemble which is set to take place this Friday, June 26 at 7pm. The Ensemble will be streamed live on the Facebook pages of The Greek Herald and Rebetika in Melbourne, and Dean says he’s proud he gets to perform Rebetiko music from his favourite artists.

“I’ve been playing the bouzouki for 38 years. I was inspired by some of the great artists such as Georgios Zampetas and Manolis Hiotis. It’s that unique sound which resonates and draws you in,” Dean tells The Greek Herald.

The second Melbourne Rebetiko Ensemble is set to take place online this Friday, June 26 at 7pm.

“So when I play I’m in my own world. Away from everything! I can express my feelings through my music. It’s truly special. Rebetika allows you to feel the music and connect like no other style.”

But how does Dean feel about sharing his music and “his own world” with thousands of viewers who will tune in to the digital concert on Friday? Because let’s not forget, the first concert reached more than 19,000 people.

READ MORE: Melbourne group perform Rebetiko concert online for the first time ever.

“I’m extremely excited. Initially, I was quite sceptical but after the feedback and the difference we felt we had made, it has really made us appreciate our audience and our fans so much more,” he says.

“We are always looking at different and better ways to perform. We are constantly updating and adding to our repertoire. We also have a great choice of songs for this second performance.”

The Melbourne Rebetiko Ensemble can be streamed live on the Facebook pages of The Greek Herald and Rebetika in Melbourne.

Works by Vassilis Tsitsanis, Sotiria Bellou and Giorgos Mitsakis are expected to be performed, along with original music from the Ensemble’s upcoming CD, ‘To Monopati,’ which is available for digital purchase and download.

Taking part in the online performance will also be founding members of the Ensemble including Stavrina Dimitriou (vocals), Achilles Yiangoulli (vocals/guitar) and Con Kalamaras (baglama/vocals).

A grouping which Dean calls a “diverse bunch” who are excited to see where the future takes their magical music making.

“We all have a strong passion for what we do. We are all so very dedicated and every gig is an absolute buzz,” Dean exclaims. “So I think as long as we have the people’s support, we might have a third ensemble. Why not! Third, fourth…”

It’s clear there are some exciting times ahead.

The Melbourne Rebetiko Ensemble can be streamed live on the Facebook pages of The Greek Herald and Rebetika in Melbourne on Friday, June 26 at 7pm.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

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

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Golden Dawn member on the run from police after being sentenced to 13 years in prison

Police were searching Friday for Christos Pappas, officially considered a fugitive after a Thursday court decision ordering a total of 39 people to be imprisoned.

Yanis Varoufakis on Greece’s move to fine unvaccinated people aged 60 and over

Yanis Varoufakis has called the move a “draconian measure” and said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is “on confession of complete failure.”

SA man gets extra years in jail for importing cocaine from Greece

Tereapii Pokoina, a landscaper involved in the importation of $20m worth of cocaine from Greece, has had his sentence increased by two years.