Folk Archives - Athens Music Week https://amw21.stix.gr/music-genres/folk/ Connecting Cultures. Inspiring Innovation Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:51:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo-size-100x100.png Folk Archives - Athens Music Week https://amw21.stix.gr/music-genres/folk/ 32 32 Melina (FR/GR) https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/artists/melina-fr-gr/ Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:10:06 +0000 https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/?post_type=artist&p=29756 Melina carries the musical heritage of her Greek origins through a voice rich in ornamentation andemotion. Born with musicians, oral tradition was central to her upbringing. She studied oriental violin in Greece and traditional singing, later deepening her vocal practice andlearning oud at the Conservatory of Oriental Music in France, graduating with honors. A lover […]

The post Melina (FR/GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Melina carries the musical heritage of her Greek origins through a voice rich in ornamentation and
emotion. Born with musicians, oral tradition was central to her upbringing.

She studied oriental violin in Greece and traditional singing, later deepening her vocal practice and
learning oud at the Conservatory of Oriental Music in France, graduating with honors.

A lover of literature, Melina studied at the Sorbonne but soon realized music demanded her full attention.
This passion for words now feeds her songwriting, while her connection to dance brings an embodied
presence to the stage.

Her universe blends tradition with poetry, creating music that feels both urban and magical, where
traditional sounds meet pop and wedding music. Her inspirations range from The Do to Rosalia.

She’s joined by Doğan Poyraz on percussion, together crafting a sound that is sensitive, powerful, and deeply original.

Website

The post Melina (FR/GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Christiana Soull (GR) https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/artists/christiana-soull/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:43:01 +0000 https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/?post_type=artist&p=29508 Christiana Soull is a musician and an active voice in Athens’ English-speaking music scene, shaping a distinctive artistic identity inspired by American folk traditions, the European indie landscape, and a subtle blend of Southern European and Nordic influences. Her debut EP “Timeless” captures this intersection through minimal arrangements, intimate songwriting, and a sense of quiet, […]

The post Christiana Soull (GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Christiana Soull is a musician and an active voice in Athens’ English-speaking music scene, shaping a distinctive artistic identity inspired by American folk traditions, the European indie landscape, and a subtle blend of Southern European and Nordic influences. Her debut EP “Timeless” captures this intersection through minimal arrangements, intimate songwriting, and a sense of quiet, enduring atmosphere.

With deeply introspective melodies designed for listeners seeking healing and connection, Christiana’s music explores the boundaries of existence through earthy yet fairy-tale symbolism, creating a sonic world that moves gently between the real and the dreamlike.

The post Christiana Soull (GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Kos K (GR) https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/artists/kos-k-gr/ Fri, 07 Mar 2025 02:34:56 +0000 https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/?post_type=artist&p=25556 Kos K is the musical persona of Theodoros Kontakos, an indie and rock songwriter and producer with a deep love for the D.I.Y. aesthetic. With a career spanning over a decade, Kos K’s music blends electric and folk elements, characterized by a unique guitar style, distinctive vocals, and evocative lyrics. His discography includes the albums […]

The post Kos K (GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Kos K is the musical persona of Theodoros Kontakos, an indie and rock songwriter and producer with a deep love for the D.I.Y. aesthetic. With a career spanning over a decade, Kos K’s music blends electric and folk elements, characterized by a unique guitar style, distinctive vocals, and evocative lyrics.

His discography includes the albums Repo (2020), 40 Meres (2015), Simata Kapnou (2013), and Edo Ine To Spiti Mou (2011), as well as the EP Kos K (2010), featuring tracks such as Mpam – Single Version and Koritsi Tou Mina – Radio Version. His journey of evolution and experimentation in music continues with a new album slated for release in 2024.

Over the years, he has performed selectively across Greece and Cyprus, sharing stages with esteemed artists and bands. He also plays guitar for Sillyboy’s Ghost Relatives and the psychedelic group Villa Boas, which is now exploring electronic music in its second full-length release.

As a producer, mixer, and sound engineer, Kos K has contributed to over 60 albums for artists and bands in the Greek and English-speaking music scenes.

Pou Pame Lege is the debut single from his highly anticipated upcoming album, an indie rock gem infused with folk elements, reflecting post-quarantine uncertainty through compelling vocals. Recently, he also released the acoustic singles Nero Ki Alati, En Kinisi, I Rota, and 8i Mera.

Currently, Kos K is finalizing To Mellon, a double album featuring eight electric and eight acoustic tracks that showcase the duality of his artistry.


Links:
Website: https://kyriosk.gr/
Bandcamp: https://kyriosk.bandcamp.com/track/an
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyriosk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thodoriskontakos/?locale=el_GR
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpF-ih2DD23cHgDkWol-G-A

The post Kos K (GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Jef Maarawi (BR/GR/SY) https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/artists/jef-maarawi-br-gr-sy/ Tue, 04 Mar 2025 01:06:06 +0000 https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/?post_type=artist&p=25366 Jef Maarawi, born in São Paulo and of Greek, Brazilian, and Syrian descent, began his musical journey in Athens at 17. His sound—a fusion of American folk legends like Bob Dylan and Sufjan Stevens, the raw energy of 90s bands such as Pixies and Nirvana, and the vibrant rhythms of Brazilian Tropicália icons like Jorge […]

The post Jef Maarawi (BR/GR/SY) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Jef Maarawi, born in São Paulo and of Greek, Brazilian, and Syrian descent, began his musical journey in Athens at 17. His sound—a fusion of American folk legends like Bob Dylan and Sufjan Stevens, the raw energy of 90s bands such as Pixies and Nirvana, and the vibrant rhythms of Brazilian Tropicália icons like Jorge Ben Jor and Caetano Veloso—sets him apart.

Having released three albums under the esteemed Greek label Inner Ear Records, he first introduced himself as Egg Hell with Once Part of a Whole Ship (2014) before adopting the name Jef Maarawi and releasing Comfort Food (2017) and Terra Papagalli (2021).

His latest album, Gospel, was recorded in just seven days and serves as a raw reflection on resilience—a bittersweet farewell before an extended stay in Brazil. Gospel draws inspiration from the raw intensity of Australian artists like Gareth Liddiard and Grace Cummings, while channeling the spirit of Brazil’s 1970s music scene.

Links:
Bandcamp: https://jefmaarawi-inner-ear.bandcamp.com/album/gospel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefmaarawi/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/egghell
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/73wlgDWvnqtPPJjKbr3DHA?si=10TyURxcSfKrbc4pZvT-qQ


The post Jef Maarawi (BR/GR/SY) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Alexander Mihaylov & His Patardia (BG) https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/artists/alexander-mihaylov-his-patardia-bg/ Mon, 24 Feb 2025 23:47:27 +0000 https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/?post_type=artist&p=25199 Alexander Mihaylov is a Bulgarian folk and jazz musician, who has found creative expression through two very distinct instruments – kaval (a traditional Bulgarian wooden flute) and saxophone. Drawing from his deep roots in both folk and jazz, he merges these influences to shape rich ethno-jazz soundscapes that flow effortlessly between tradition and contemporary expression. […]

The post Alexander Mihaylov & His Patardia (BG) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Alexander Mihaylov is a Bulgarian folk and jazz musician, who has found creative expression through two very distinct instruments – kaval (a traditional Bulgarian wooden flute) and saxophone. Drawing from his deep roots in both folk and jazz, he merges these influences to shape rich ethno-jazz soundscapes that flow effortlessly between tradition and contemporary expression.

His quintet, “Alexander Mihaylov & His Patardia” takes its name from his debut album, Patardia – a Bulgarian word meaning “noise and uproar” as well as the fusion of contrasting sounds. True to its name, the project thrives on unexpected musical combinations, intertwining the ancient tones of the kaval with modern influences. The result is a vibrant fusion that redefines the instrument’s possibilities, pushing it beyond its traditional roots into bold, new territories.

Mihaylov is joined by an exceptional group of musicians, each adding their own distinctive touch to the band’s sound – Ilko Gradev (keyboards, accordion) enriches the music with harmonic depth, Georgi Popov (percussion) provides intricate rhythmic layers, Georgi Uzunov (bass guitar) lays down dynamic grooves, and Viktor Radanov (drums) drives the pulse with both subtlety and power.

Links:
Website: https://www.alexandermihaylovmusic.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexander.mihaylov.music/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexanderMihaylovMusic
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexander.mihaylov

The post Alexander Mihaylov & His Patardia (BG) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Alkyone (GR) https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/artists/alkyone-gr-2/ Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:16:33 +0000 https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/?post_type=artist&p=21952 Alkyone is a multifaceted artist hailing from the picturesque mountains of Northern Greece. As a singer, songwriter, and musician, she navigates seamlessly between Greek and English languages, blending indie pop, cinematic, and folk elements into her unique musical tapestry. Drawing from her experience as a former choir member, Alkyone infuses her compositions with haunting choral […]

The post Alkyone (GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Alkyone is a multifaceted artist hailing from the picturesque mountains of Northern Greece. As a singer, songwriter, and musician, she navigates seamlessly between Greek and English languages, blending indie pop, cinematic, and folk elements into her unique musical tapestry. Drawing from her experience as a former choir member, Alkyone infuses her compositions with haunting choral arrangements, tapping into the primal and potent essence of collective voices.
Her musical journey began in childhood, inspired by her father’s love for folklore music. Learning to play the piano alongside him, she eventually pursued formal training, earning a degree in classical piano. However, it wasn’t until later in life that she embraced her own songwriting prowess, crafting introspective and evocative pieces that echo her deep connection with nature and birds, a theme that also inspired her stage name.
Alkyone’s performances are a fusion of her original compositions and innovative arrangements of traditional Greek songs. She has graced stages alongside esteemed musicians like Maria Farantouri and Thanasis Papakonstantinou, captivating audiences across Greece and Europe with her distinct musical vision.
In May 2023, Alkyone unveiled her debut full length album, “Exit Sign,” which garnered widespread acclaim for its artistry and emotive depth. Beyond the realm of entertainment, Alkyone sees music as a catalyst for change, fervently believing in its capacity to shape ideas and influence the world at large. Through her introspective lyrics and stirring melodies, she endeavors to weave a narrative that resonates with listeners, inviting them to contemplate and connect with the transformative


Links:

Linkfire: https://lnk.to/Alkyone

Websites: https://www.alkyone.net

The post Alkyone (GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Θραξ Πανκc (GR) https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/artists/thrax-punkc-gr/ Fri, 03 Jun 2022 09:07:32 +0000 https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/?post_type=artist&p=14781 Thrax Punkc are coming to prime us in their very own music style, combining Greek folk songs and melodies with modern psychedelic sounds and a street-punk attitude.Their every live appearance goes beyond the limits of a “standard” rock concert, and this one will be no exception: set to make everyone dance, whether they enjoy endless […]

The post Θραξ Πανκc (GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Thrax Punkc are coming to prime us in their very own music style, combining Greek folk songs and melodies with modern psychedelic sounds and a street-punk attitude.
Their every live appearance goes beyond the limits of a “standard” rock concert, and this one will be no exception: set to make everyone dance, whether they enjoy endless headbanging inside smoke-filled underground venues, or like to attend summer marathon festivities. Because, as Thrax Punkc say themselves, music is a way of creating our own worlds to live in.


What do traditional carols from Thrace and the modern psychedelic street-punk music scene have in common? Thrax Punkc have managed to combine Thracian lyres with electric guitars, establishing themselves to date as a case worthy of study in the contemporary Greek music scene. Drawing their influences from acts as diverse as The Clash, and Rage Against the Machine, but also from legendary
rebetiko (Greek blues) artists such as Markos Vamvakaris, the band improvises with an effortless mastery, and all the while making something, that until recently seemed unheard of, come across as the most natural thing in the world.

Armed with their gaidas (bagpipes), daoulis (davuls), bows, drums, and six-stringed instruments, they released their first self-titled full-length album in 2019, and a few years earlier christened their debut EP “Punkopanhgyropsychedeleia” (which roughly translates as “Punkfetepartypsychedelia”) – a name that also serves as a good description of what it is they do.
During the pandemic, the band worked with the Onassis foundation to come-up with the first of Stages A/Live sessions, a filmed concert (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlcyLXB2-
7g) behind closed doors, broadcasted internationally, aiming to keep the fire of live music burning, when all live venues were sealed.

They also set afoot creating the soundtrack for Evripidis ancient tragedy “Vakches”, a masterful epic which was presented live at the most prestigious ancient theatres in Greece, including the landmark venues of Epidavros and Irodion in Acropolis. Renown for their explosive live performances and socially-alert attitude, Thrax Punkc is probably the most energetic ambassador of Greece’s thriving neo-folk music scene.

YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp

The post Θραξ Πανκc (GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Chris Rozakis / Pentovolo (GR) https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/artists/pentovolo-gr/ Thu, 26 May 2022 16:29:52 +0000 https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/?post_type=artist&p=14416 In a state of diverse distractions, it is most decent for a musician to speak a solid language. Loving tradition makes tradition, Greek in its essence. Here is where rock, psalms, Balkan dreams, coexist with the polyphonic West and the gypsy karsilama, to form the many personas of Pentovolo. All five compositions serve a geometry, austere still leaving glades and paths […]

The post Chris Rozakis / Pentovolo (GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> In a state of diverse distractions, it is most decent for a musician to speak a solid language. Loving tradition makes tradition, Greek in its essence. Here is where rock, psalms, Balkan dreams, coexist with the polyphonic West and the gypsy karsilama, to form the many personas of Pentovolo. All five compositions serve a geometry, austere still leaving glades and paths to psychedelia and improvisation. The instruments (four-stringed accordion, percussion, percussion, caval, vocals) bear a contemporary mythology hence comes a sound unheard. Pentovolo defines itself as the virgin eye into the quasi known. Not belonging, addresses everybody. Unlimitedly Unconditionally.

Website | Youtube

The post Chris Rozakis / Pentovolo (GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Kolida Babo (GR) https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/artists/kolida-babo-gr/ Thu, 19 May 2022 10:46:40 +0000 https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/?post_type=artist&p=13916 Kolida Babo is the collaboration between two Greek woodwind musicians from separate regions – Socratis Votskos is from Pella, and Harris P is from Athens. Their self-titled debut album, was recorded in improvised live-take sessions beginning on the night of the “Kolida Babo” folk rituals of music and dance in northern Greece in winter 2013. […]

The post Kolida Babo (GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Kolida Babo is the collaboration between two Greek woodwind musicians from separate regions – Socratis Votskos is from Pella, and Harris P is from Athens. Their self-titled debut album, was recorded in improvised live-take sessions beginning on the night of the “Kolida Babo” folk rituals of music and dance in northern Greece in winter 2013. The sessions proceeded over three years, exploring the ancient music of Armenia and the folk traditions of northern Greece’s Epirus and Thrace regions alongside abstract electronics and free jazz.

Their aim is to express themselves to fully through music and art. Creativity and collective expression is a vehicle to a better understanding of life itself and music is a universal language that it must be accessible to everyone. The first presentation of their music took place in Athens (February 2017). Kolida Babo was chosen to participate at the 18nth Biennale of young Artists – Europe and Medditeranean in the field of music, where was the opening act at the Biennale in Tirana, Albania.

They released their first LP with MIC Records (London). They have also released a single with Jazzman Records jazz45 series ”Spirits of Mauronoros”. They have performed and recorded for Greek National Radio and presented their LP in Athens, Thessaloniki and Madrid , performing in Museo Reina Sofia.
In November of 2018 they composed the original score of ”Gospel of Michiel” documentary, presented in 21st Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. Their music is broadcasted via many Radio shows and received many positive reviews from “The Wire”, “The Guardian”, “thevinylfactory.com“. They also performed in Reworks festival, Cosmopolis festival (GR), and in Vinterjazz festival (Copenhagen, Denmark). They currently prepare their second LP release, while participating in Thessaloniki documentary film festival.

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube

The post Kolida Babo (GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> WERA (PL/GR) https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/artists/wera/ Fri, 21 May 2021 15:48:07 +0000 https://www.athensmusicweek.gr/?post_type=artist&p=8156 Weronika Amelia Kijewska, known as WERA, is a polish composer, cellist, singer, bassist and street performer, currently living in Athens, member of duo Wera&Nick and Road Duck band.  Weronika began studying music at the age of 7 at the Stanisław Moniuszko Music School in her hometown Wałbrzych. She has studied culture and history of art, […]

The post WERA (PL/GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]> Weronika Amelia Kijewska, known as WERA, is a polish composer, cellist, singer, bassist and street performer, currently living in Athens, member of duo Wera&Nick and Road Duck band. 

Weronika began studying music at the age of 7 at the Stanisław Moniuszko Music School in her hometown Wałbrzych.

She has studied culture and history of art, as well photography, but in the end, she chose music. She is the winner of the VII edition of Festival WSCHODY in Poland, has participated in many different projects like the polish folk band Saint Nicholas Orchestra and the instrumental post-rock cinematic septet SEKTA DENTA. 

Four years ago, while living in Iceland completely cut off from society, she began to create her solo project. She loves to create collages of sounds based on her looper and her voice. Weronika calls her project as an avant cello with a dreamy mixture of indie rock, jazz, folk classical and cinematic music.

The post WERA (PL/GR) appeared first on Athens Music Week.

]]>