Melbourne’s dynamic Greek music scene is set for a memorable occasion as Estudiantina of Melbourne unveil their debut album of Rebetika at Brunswick Ballroom on Sunday, March 9.
As part of this year’s Brunswick Music Festival, the event, titled Journey to Rebetika, will honor the rich and expressive sounds of Rebetika and Smyrneika, two deeply historic Greek musical traditions.
Formed in January 2024, Estudiantina of Melbourne is a dedicated group of musicians committed to preserving and reviving traditional Greek music. Specializing in Smyrneika—a genre shaped by Greek, Turkish, Jewish and Armenian influences—the group brings a rich, authentic sound to Australian audiences.
Their instrumentation, featuring the oud, bouzouki, violin, kanun and guitar, weaves a mesmerizing tapestry of sounds that transport listeners to another era.
Beyond Smyrneika, Estudiantina of Melbourne also delves into Rebetiko, a poignant expression of urban Greek folk music.
Originating from the working-class struggles of early 20th-century Greece, Rebetiko’s deeply moving melodies and lyrical storytelling resonate with themes of adversity, displacement and resilience. The ensemble masterfully blends the traditional sounds of the bouzouki, baglama and accordion, capturing the spirit of this genre with authenticity and passion.
Meet the rebetika musicians of Estudiantina of Melbourne
Paul Karalis: Paul started learning bouzouki at the age of nine through Greek school music lessons. Since then, he has been taught by multiple encouraging musicians. He hopes to see the ‘Estudiantina’ grow as a group and create memories together.
Jenny Dixon: Jennifer is a violist and violinist passionately dedicated to creating and performing music that is genuinely expressive, dynamic and life-affirming. She performs and composes music to share with others.
Maria Antaras-Dalamagas: Maria’s musical journey began at the age of 6, when her love of singing first took flight, setting the stage for a lifelong love affair with music. She grew up around her yiayia, who sang traditional songs while tending to the household chores and garden. She taught herself to play the accordion. It was through this band that she stumbled on the hauntingly beautiful sounds of rebetika music, becoming captivated by its raw emotion and evocative style.
Alex Petropoulos: Alex grew up in a musical household, his dad was a professional bassist and classical pianist. He started playing the classical violin at the age of 3. After
dancing the obligatory “zeibekiko” on his 21st birthday, Alex became interested in Greek music.
Camille El Feghali: Camille is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in Middle Eastern Maqam music. His instruments range from Qanun, Nay, Mizmar and Buzuq, to the digital synthesizer and sequencer. He has performed both at live international venues and in high-end studio recording sessions.
Vagellis Ginis: Born and raised in Athens, Vagellis has been surrounded by folk and folk songs since childhood, with music playing a pivotal role in his life, notably during social gatherings, family events and local festivals in his parents’ villages. Introduced to rebetiko singing at the tender age of ten, he was instantly captivated, recognizing it as the music that resonated with him most deeply.
Con Kalamaras: Raised in Melbourne, Con briefly lived in Greece and the UK before returning home, reigniting his connection to his Greek heritage and exploring Rebetiko. Coming from a home surrounded by music, introduced to Greek music from the age of 9, his late father was a classically trained guitarist.
Con Co-founded the Melbourne Rebetiko Festival, touring multiple Greek acts around Australia and NZ. Having played multiple festivals around Australia, he has toured Europe and the UK and recently played in Japan.
You can buy tickets for the concert here
Related: The Japanese Bouzouki Player Who Performs Greek Rebetika
