NEW YORK – On Saturday, October 17, an evening of Rebetika and Smyrnaiko music will take place at the Anita Rogers Gallery, at 494 Greenwich Street, New York, to mark 10 years since the inauguration of the gallery.
Titled Taverna Rebetika 2026, the evening will feature plenty of Greek food, wine, music, kefi – and a glendi for all to enjoy.
The live music will see a performance by Anita Rogers on vocals, Chris Papson on bouzouki, Mavrothi Kontanis on oud, Megan Kontanis on violin, and Spiro Exaras on guitar.
In an interview with The National Herald, the founder of the Gallery and president and founder of British American Household Staffing, Anita Rogers, reflected on her love and personal connections to Greek music, as well as the significance of hosting such an event that unites the community through rebetika.
The Rebetika Taverna 2026 event will feature Anita Rogers on vocals, Chris Papson on bouzouki, Mavrothi Kontanis on oud, Megan Kontanis on violin and Spiro Exaras on guitar.(Photo: Courtesy of Jon-Paul Rodriguez)
“I’m very close to that part of Greece, and that culture of Greece. It’s in my blood, my veins, my heart – so I want to share it with everybody,” Rogers told TNH.
Raised in Greece, while also spending time in Turkey, Italy, and England, Rogers was immersed in Greek music from an early age. She reflected on singing from as young as seven years old and, and as she grew older, accompanying her father, Jack Martin Rogers, at events, where he was known as a talented oud and bouzouki player, as well as a fine artist.
The Greek-British gallery founder noted that Taverna Rebetika was first held when the gallery opened in 2016, making this year’s event a full-circle moment for her. She shared how the evening will serve as an opportunity for Greeks living abroad to feel at home, while allowing non-Greeks to feel connected to the country through its iconic and beloved music.
“What I wanted to do with the Taverna Rebetiko was bring it to the Greek and Grecophile communities in New York, because we all miss it, and we all miss Greece, and we love Greece,” Rogers expressed.
“And over the years, it’s worked, and we have hundreds of people coming along now – there’s so many Greeks, and so many Grecophiles.”
People dancing at a previous Rebetika Taverna night in New York. (Photo: Courtesy of Jon-Paul Rodriguez)
Rogers explained how the event will take place at the Anita Rogers Gallery and will be set up almost like an ouzeri, with round tables, blue and white tablecloths, delicious food catered by Pi Bakerie – and plenty of live music that will have people dancing and on their feet all night.
“We don’t charge anything, it’s a community event,” she added. “People should expect to get up and dance, unless they’re very old…and they should expect a proper Greek party – it’s not an event where everyone’s sitting in audience-style chairs.”
“The Gallery is large, and people will have the opportunity to meet people they’ve not met before, enjoy fantastic food, there’s pastitsio – all the good stuff.”
Rogers expressed how attendees can just expect “a really fun time, and if they love Greece, they’ll love the music that they will experience…it’s very traditional and very beautiful.”
The Rebetika Taverna 2026 event promises a night full of music and dancing. (Photo: Courtesy of Jon-Paul Rodriguez)
She added how this music was originally introduced to make people who listen to it to “forget about tomorrow, to not worry about yesterday, and really just stay in the moment with joy.”
“It teaches people that, and Greeks understand that, and I love it when everybody feels that,” Rogers said.
As a vocalist, professional opera singer of 15 years, and a performer of more than 40 years, Rogers added how she loves to make sure people feel an enormous amount of joy and celebration when they attend one of her Rebetika Taverna nights.
“It’s very much that idea of let’s just let all our worries go, whatever they are, and let’s live in now, and let’s dance, and let’s drink (if you drink alcohol or whatever) and eat and be merry and connect with other people,” she said.
Those interested in attending the Rebetika Taverna evening on Saturday, October 17, are encouraged to RSVP via email to [email protected].
The first Rebetika Taverna event was held back in 2016, when the Anita Rogers gallery first opened. (Photo: Courtesy of Jon-Paul Rodriguez)
