The Mousik-i Festival is here to stay

A new festival which hopes to become an institution starts next Sunday in Melbourne. The Mousik-i Festival will host four of the city's most popular alternative Greek music bands in an unforgettable musical journey.

KEY POINTS

• Mousik-i Festival hosts alternative bands
• The festival takes place on Sunday 16 December
• Aiming to become an institution in the city of Melbourne

The Mousik-i Festival promises a night full of alternative Greek music sounds, will premiere on Sunday 16 December in Melbourne.

Four bands combining Greek melodies with contemporary rhythms and harmonies will take to the stage of the Corner Hotel, in Richmond, in a new festival that promises to become an institution.

Cats and the Canary the only Greek swing band in Australia that blends the melodies of Theodorakis, Tsitsanis, Chiotis, Hadjidakis or traditional Smyrna music with swing, jazz and even Latin sounds, Heirs of Apollo who combine Greek folk instruments with drums and electric guitars, Erinaki, which represents traditional Greek music with a modern twist, and Artemis, which redefines some of the most iconic Greek love songs with a jazz twist, promise an unforgettable musical journey.

Τα μέλη του συγκροτήματος Cats and the Canary Credit: Supplied/Cats and the Canary

Speaking to SBS Greek, Odysseas Kripotos, musician and creator of the band Cats and the Canary, spoke about the need that led to the creation of this festival.

"The idea of the music festival started after discussions we had among ourselves about the new generation of Greek-Australian bands, which do not fall into any of the known categories of Greek music that we know, namely traditional, folk, rebetika, which we all love and we basically wanted to give an insight to the community and not only about a new generation of bands. And we thought what better way than to bring some of these bands together in one night, so that this festival could be held and the audience could have the opportunity to see four of the most well-known alternative music bands," he said.

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At the same time, Mr. Kripotos referred to the recognition that these bands have, offering a different sound to the friends of Greek -and not only- music in Australia.

"Generally speaking, each band that participates in the Mousik-i Festival has gained fans and admirers because of the mix they make with Greek music and other genres of music and it is something that is missing. I mean all four bands for me play something very special and it's something alternative and that's why I think it has gained in recognition. The important thing for me is to remember that we are different people. We like different kinds of music, we like different colours, different tastes and so on. So for me it has to be there and it has to be embraced. And of course one does not exclude the other. That is, I can for example go to bouzoukia on Saturday and on Sunday I can go to see for example Artemis, Erinaki, Heirs of Apollo and Cats and the Canary. One does not exclude the other," he said.

Το μουσικό συγκρότημα Erinaki επί σκηνής Credit: Supplied/Cats and the Canary

Kostas Kalamaras, from the music band Erinaki, expressed his hope that this festival will become an institution and be loved by the music lovers of the city.

"We hope to do it every December. This will be nice to do this and change who's playing and will be like a snapshot of the music that's played in Melbourne every year," he said.

Tickets for the festival are available on the official website of the

Corner Hotel

, located in Richmond.

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