[Banda Entopica/Facebook]
A Greek band that performs songs in several Balkan languages has criticized the mayor of Florina after he halted a live concert because a song was being performed in a Slavic language.
Banda Entopica was performing in northern city on Monday when Mayor Vasilis Giannakis halted the concert. In a statement posted on social media, the band accused the mayor of using what it described as “unacceptable and reprehensible” language, alleging that he told the musicians: “I pay you,” “you won’t sing these songs in my city,” and “who allowed you to sing in Slavic?”
The band also reported that a member of the audience forced his way onto the stage, pushed the group’s trumpeter and threatened to call the police. According to the statement, only around ten people out of an audience of approximately 2,000 reacted negatively to the performance.
Banda Entopica said its repertoire includes songs in Greek as well as Slavic, Bulgarian, Turkish, Serbian and Romany, adding that it performs music from across the Balkan Peninsula and does not play songs that promote hatred, division or nationalism.
Opposition party SYRIZA accused the Florina municipal authorities of censorship, saying the incident raised serious concerns about freedom of artistic expression and cultural tolerance.
