By Chris Spyrou.
The Greek Herald recently spoke with Nikos Xylouris, one-third of the Cretan folk trio Xylourides, ahead of their upcoming Sydney performance.
The ensemble comprises siblings Adonis Xylouris, Nikos Xylouris, and Apollonia Xylouris, who are the grandchildren of renowned Cretan musician Psarandonis (Antonis Xylouris) and the children of Giorgos Xylouris, also known as Psarogiorgis.
For the Xylouris siblings, music was never a conscious choice—it was simply part of life.
“We were just born straight into it” Nikos reflects. “My dad’s a professional musician, my mum kind of plays a bit of music, so do many of our family friends—there was always a rehearsal going on.”
Growing up in an environment filled with music, it was only natural that they followed the path laid out by their father and Cretan musical legends before them. Yet, despite this deep-rooted connection, their rise to prominence wasn’t necessarily part of the plan.
“We have the Cretan band back home… It just kind of happened. We played here and there, and then when my brother and I were serving in the military back in Greece, we found this little venue in Patra… We thought, since we’re going to be here, may as well play a show every now and then,” Nikos shares.
What started as occasional performances quickly snowballed into something much bigger.
“It just got busier and busier… people started coming all the way from Athens to see us,” he explains. “That venue was packed with maybe 100 people every week, and now the shows are huge… two, three thousand people.”
Keeping Tradition Alive with a Modern Edge
At the heart of Xylourides’ sound is a dedication to Cretan musical purity—one that respects tradition while embracing the energy of the present.
“We’ve always had a more pure, raw way of playing,” Nikos explains. “We never started incorporating any electric instruments or drums or anything like that, we just used the instruments that were available… It’s a pretty full-on pagan sound, so we like that.”
But while their instrumentation remains true to tradition, they are not afraid to innovate. Their meticulous attention to sound quality and stage presence sets them apart.
“The most modern thing we’ve brought to the table is making sure it sounds really, really good,” Nikos says. “We’ve got our own sound guy with a great PA system. When you’re doing a 1,000 to 3,000-person gig, you have to give the sound the respect.”
This dedication has undoubtedly contributed to their rising popularity, particularly among young audiences, an often surprising outcome for a genre deeply rooted in tradition.
“When young people see other young people do something with joy and effort and love, they’re drawn towards it,” Nikos notes. “The youth here is always so supportive and shows all their love.”
Expanding Their Reach
With a strong following in Greece and Melbourne, Xylourides is eager to expand their reach to Sydney.
“I really hope to see a lot of people attend the show in Sydney,” Nikos says. “We haven’t played that much there in the past, so I don’t know how much they know us yet, apart from the Cretan community. But this time around, in Melbourne, we had a lot of non-Greeks come just out of interest to hear something new, and I love that. I love seeing a diverse crowd who enjoy it in their own way.”
As they prepare for their Sydney show, one thing is certain: Xylourides is bringing more than just music—they are bringing a feeling, a tradition, and a piece of Crete itself.
Event Details:
- Date: Wednesday, February 12, 2025
- Time: Doors open at 7:00 PM; main act begins at 7:30 PM
- Venue: Factory Theatre, Sydney
- Tickets: Available for purchase through the Factory Theatre’s official website.
