VIC
Return of the Centaurs: a Field Guide
Join internationally renowned writer, artist, and cultural heritage specialist Paul Carter for the launch of his new book, Return of the Centaurs.
Nikos Papastergiadis will also help for the free launch of the new book of writings and drawings.
What about bringing the Centraurs back?
They fascinate poets, archaeologists, inventors of video games. But, to judge from the old stories, when Centaurs meet humans, they are usually killed. With this violent history, why would Centaurs want to come back?
To welcome the Centaurs (and not to kill them), we need to see them differently. Perhaps we need to see ourselves as the centaurs see us.
Return of the Centaurs is a ‘field guide’ to looking at the world as it looks back at us. It is an affectionate parody of empirical science’s lack of self-reflection.
When: Thursday December 5, 7pm-9pm
Where: The Greek Centre | Mezzanine, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 3000
Bookings: www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1324244
‘Makriyannis’
A theatrical monologue based on the ‘Memoirs’ of General Makriyannis.
General Makriyannis is one of the leading figures of the 1821 Greek revolution. He played a prominent role in battles as well as in the political scene of the newly established Greek state. In his memoirs (1800 – 1850), he references historical events, critical battles, and critiques the politicians and military leaders of his time.
The memoirs hold both historical and literary value. He writes in a language of his own invention, without periods or pauses, based on spoken language. However, through his simplicity, he manages to capture the Greek soul with his disarming words.
The performance follows the significant events of the Greek Revolution, from the birth of Makriyannis and his first mission in Patras in March 1821, to the ‘conspiracy’ for the signing of the Constitution by Otto in September 1843.
When: Friday December 6 and Saturday December 7
Where: Doncaster Playhouse, 679 Doncaster Road, Doncaster 3158
Bookings: www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1311006
Pallaconian Youth Arts & Culture Night
The Pallaconian Brotherhood Youth are holding a Greek Youth Arts & Culture Night.
There will be food, drinks, traditional Greek music and dancing, and a pop-up art gallery showcasing the work of a handful of young local Greek-Australian artists.
Tickets are priced at $40 per person, includes entry and dinner. Drinks will be available for purchase at the bar.
When: Saturday December 7, 6pm-11pm
Where: Laconian House, 253 Albert Street, Brunswick 3056
Bookings: www.tickettailor.com/events/pallaconianbrotherhoodofmelbournevictorialeonidas/1450275
Stef Mendesidis
Greek artist Stef Mendesidis returns to Australia.
Stef has been producing and playing music for over a decade. He spent his early years immersed in the realm of sound by studying the architecture and engineering behind analog instruments.
His sound can be described as dynamic minimalism with an abundance of complex sound design. His unique musical style has made an undeniable imprint in modern electronic music culture, with his tracks supported by some of the top DJs in the scene and frequently heard on the some of the most famous dance floors around the world.
Stef continues to work on his craft and never deviates from his chosen trajectory, giving him a one-of-a-kind aesthetic as an artist. He is one of the busiest producers in electronic music, with his ever-evolving, long format live performances, which have been known to last more than four hours.
When: Saturday December 14, 7pm-2am
Where: The Third Day, 290 Macaulay Road, North Melbourne 3051
Stef will also be in Sydney the following week, with limited tickets remaining for that show.
Bookings: www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/undisclosed-57-0-w-stef-mendesidis-live/173776
XYLOURIDES
Xylourides return to Melbourne for one night only at the end of December.
This group are the youth brigade of Cretan Folk. Descendant of Cretan legends Nikos Xylouris, Psarantonis, Psaragiorgis and hailing from the epicentre of the movement in Anogeia in the mountains of Crete.
Xylourides is Adonis, Nikos and Apollonia Xylouris. Young trailblazers of an ancient art form, steeped in rigid discipline and carried down generations.
They are not just caretakers of Cretan folk music, they are perhaps its finest working exponents. As they have matured from the children of legends and students of the craft, Nikos, Adonis and Apollonia have made it their own, infusing the modes and patterns of their father and grandfather.
Australian Greeks know and love Cretan Folk also and Xylourides immediately sold out both their shows in Melbourne in 2024 and closed the Antipodes Festival to a packed Lonsdale Street where thousands circled the asphalt of an intersection in place of the ancient stone of a village square.
An opportunity to see what happens when the old world collides with the new.
When: Sunday December 29, 6pm
Where: Brunswick Ballroom, 314 Sydney Rd, Brunswick 3056
Bookings: www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/xylourides%C2%A0frenzees-greek-folk-band/173444
NSW
Greek ’04 Legends Tour
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Greece 2004 Euro win, Football Brilliance Academy presents George Karagounis, Theodoros Zagorakis and Aggelos Charisteas.
Meet Karagounis, Greece’s most capped player of all time; Zagorakis, the captain and the MVP of the Euro 2004 tournament; and Charisteas, the golden scorer – the header that cemented Greece’s place in the European Championship.
There will be a legend match to see them in action and a training clinic with meet and greet on December 8 and a charity gala dinner on December 13.
Bookings: www.footballbrilliance.com.au/legendstour
WA
Club Meraki: Celebrating Five Years
Perth’s signature modern Greek nightclub celebrates five years featuring modern Greek music, Eurohouse, and live instrumentalists as well as local and interstate guest DJs. Headliners include klarino/saxophone player George Svolos (Sydney), Chris Evripidou (Sydney) on the bouzouki and vocals and Nickos Karagiannis on vocals and toumperleki. On the decks attendees can enjoy Dj sets by TikTok sensation DJ Pkkay from Sydney and resident Meraki DJs Mikonic and Sal. Elysian Creative Dancers will also give performances.
When: Sunday December 29, 8pm to late
Where: Butterfly 73, 73 Francis St, Northbridge 6003
Bookings: megatix.com.au/events/clubmeraki5years
Aus Wide
Fotis Vergopoulos
Hailing from Greece, Fotis Vergopoulos will make his return to Australia.
Leading an exceptional ensemble of local and interstate musicians, Fotis represents the new generation of Greek talent, renowned for his remarkable musicianship and deep affinity with rebetika (Greek Blues).
Having toured extensively across Europe, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, Fotis is currently based in Athens. He has collaborated with prominent artists such as Agathonas Iakovidis, Martha Fritzila, Babis Gkoles, and Manolis Pappos.
Joining Fotis on stage will key figures from the rebetika scene in Melbourne, Kostas Papapanagiotou, Maria Antaras-Dalamagas, Con Kalamaras and Niko Papadimitriou.
When, where and bookings:
