"LAIKO PALKO"

Dimitris Kontogiannis and Anatoli Margiola at PERAN, Saturdays October 17 and 24, starting at 22:30. Dimitris Kontogiannis, one of the protagonists of the rebetiko music revival, meets the exceptional young performer Anatoli Margiola and a team of great musicians for two performances at PERAN – the city's cafe-aman. "Laiko Palko" presents some of the most representative Greek urban folk songs and follows their fascinating journey: from the rebetiko of the early decades of the 20th century to the post-war folk song. Rebetiko began to take its characteristic form with its first systematic recording on phonograph records in the early 1930s. Born amidst the unique social conditions of major urban centers, it initially expressed the lives, hardships, and experiences of people often on the margins of society. Along its path, it brought forth top creators and performers. Among them, Vasilis Tsitsanis managed through his songs to expand the thematic and musical language of rebetiko, making it beloved and accepted by broader social strata. After a creative journey of more than twenty years, rebetiko began, after 1950, to gradually transform into popular folk song. It retained the basic rhythms, melodic lines, and immediacy of expression, yet moved away from the limited themes of the older rebetiko life and turned to the experiences of a much wider audience. A central figure of this new era was Stelios Kazantzidis. His voice became linked with the anxieties of post-war Greece, work, poverty, emigration, love, and separation, turning the folk song into an expression of an entire society. Through this journey, an extremely rich artistic heritage was passed on to subsequent generations, which we enjoy today without unnecessary divisions between rebetiko and folk. These are different facets of a unified musical tradition that continues to move us because it speaks truthfully about people's lives. Playing with them: Dimitris Reppas – bouzouki, vocals Giannis Evangelou – guitar, vocals Dimitris Ginis – accordion The ideal place for this musical meeting is PERAN, a hospitable and quality venue that serves the folk music tradition and has already written its own history in the nights of Athens. Giorgos Kontogiannis Saturdays October 17 & 24 Start time: 22:30 PERAN – the city's cafe-aman 20 Dekeleias Ave, Nea Filadelfeia Reservations: 210 4444030 Entrance: 5 €