Following a sold-out debut, Estudiantina of Melbourne and the Mande Blues Ensemble return to the Melbourne Recital Centre on Thursday 23 July with an expanded program that deepens one of the city's most unexpected musical conversations, between Greek rebetiko and the blues traditions of West Africa
Following a recent sold-out debut at Melbourne Recital Centre, Mande Blues Ensemble (MBE) and Estudiantina of Melbourne return with an expanded program that deepens their evolving collaboration.
Τhis collaboration offers an opportunity to explore not only the music itself but also the shared histories, traditions, and emotions behind two seemingly distant musical worlds.Con Kalamaras is a Melbourne-based musician, events producer, composer and the founder of “Estudiantina of Melbourne” who says that "music really is the international language, and now more than ever we need music to bring people together."
For Stani Goma, PBS FM broadcaster and curator behind Mande Blues, says to SBS Greek that both traditions gave voice to the marginalised, from the dockside hashish dens of interwar Piraeus to the storytelling griots of Mali and Gambia.
The artists/musicians:
From Mande Blues Ensemble: Aboubacar Djéliké Kouyate (guitar) and Amadou Suso (kora).
From Estudiantina of Melbourne: Maria Antaras-Dalamagas (accordion), Vagelis Ginis (vocals), Alex Petropoulos (guitar, vocals), Paul Karalis (bouzouki, oud), Con Kalamaras (bouzouki), Rosco Heck (percussion), Christina Bacchiella (percussion).
A Crossroads of Rebetiko and West African Blues, presented by Con Kalamaras and Stani Goma, Primrose Potter Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre, Thursday 23 July, 7pm. Tickets $45 / $40 concession.
