The Greek island of Syros, the birthplace of Markos Vamvakaris, the father of the rebetiko, will be hosting the 8th Rebetiko Festival from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1.
The annual event, which pays tribute to Vamvakaris and to the rebetiko genre, also known as the “Greek blues”, attracts hundreds of visitors and is a key event for the Cycladic island.
Song writer and bouzouki player Vamvakaris, born in Ano Syros in 1905, was instrumental in the establishment of the rebetiko as a Greek music genre.
The five-day festival this year focuses on the role of women performers, composers, musicians and as the muses who inspired many songs.
The festival’s artistic director Antonis Maragos (L), Syros’ Deputy Mayor for Culture Thomai Tomazina Mendrinou (R), and Cyclades Chamber President Yiannis Roussos. Photo credit: Syros Rebetiko Festival
The festival this year includes concerts, exhibitions, workshops, conferences, a traditional musical instrument exhibit, shadow puppet theater, and happenings and all events are free and open to all.
The festival’s artistic director Antonis Maragos joined Syros’ Deputy Mayor for Culture Thomai Tomazina Mendrinou and Cyclades Chamber President Yiannis Roussos to present the festival during a press conference this week.
The 8th Rebetiko Festival is jointly organized by the Syros-Ermoupolis Municipality and the Cyclades Chamber.
Events take place at various points in Ermoupolis including the Vrontados Steps, the Tarsanas (shipyard), Ano Syros, and Miaouli Square. Find more info here.
The rebetiko genre was included on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2017 for its songs which “contain invaluable references to the customs, practices and traditions of a particular way of life, but above all the practice is a living musical tradition with a strong symbolic, ideological and artistic character”.
