Thanos Stavridis & Drom – fygame (self-release, 2025)
Thanos Stavridis & Drom released their new album Fygame on April 1, 2025. The ensemble, formed in 2015, focuses on the traditional music of the wider Macedonian region, particularly pieces historically used for dance and festivities in the Greek part of Macedonia.
The word Drom, meaning “the road” in Romani (and derived from the Greek dromos), reflects the band’s continuous journey as musicians connecting with audiences worldwide. Additionally, the album title, Fygame (Greek for “Let’s Go”), captures this spirit of movement and cultural transmission.
This release brings forward joyful and upbeat traditional dance music still performed across Macedonia today, often featuring lyrics in languages shared by diverse communities throughout the Balkans for over three centuries. While linguistic traditions have faded, the music has endured, preserving memories, imagery, and communal identity.
Throughout Fygame, Thanos Stavridis and Vassilis Athanasiou deliver electrifying performances on accordion and clarinet respectively, mixing solo brilliance with tight ensemble work. Deeply rooted in Greek Macedonian traditions, their playing is propelled by a commanding rhythm section with the drive and intensity of rock.
The project took shape just before the COVID-19 pandemic, as the group sought to document their unique interpretation of this repertoire.
Thanos Stavridis shared about the new release: “Our album is entitled “fygame” which in Greek means “let’sgo” and this time we carry in our luggage the folk music of our homelands, Macedonia. Featuring music that is both heard and danced to in the wider region of Macedonia, particularly on the Greek side. It’s important to note that in popular culture, boundaries are often blurred.This music, which frequently includes lyrics in a language spoken and understood by the diverse communities on the Aimos peninsula for the past 300 years, reflects the shared land, images, flavors, aromas, and sounds of these groups.”
Musicians: Vassilis Athanasiou on clarinet, saxophone; Thanos Stavridis on accordion, production supervision; Marios Makris on electric guitar; Giannis Karakalpakidis on electric bass; and Christos Tassios on drums, daouli.
Recorded live at Revolver Recording Studio, Thessaloniki, by Angelos Athanasiadis with additional tracks by Thanos, Giannis and Marios at their home studios. Edited by Thanos Stavridis. Mixed and mastered by Angelos Athanasiadis.
Artwork by Chris Karietis
Buy Fygame.
Author: JGurski
