The party didn’t stop at 11pm on Saturday, at the Antipodes Festival, as it continued in relative silence at the Golden Square Carpark in the inaugural Silent Disco.
I decided to go check out this silent disco to see what it’ll be like.
Admittedly, I don’t listen to much Greek music, the Greek songs I know are all songs my mum played on rotation when I was a kid – 190s’ songs by artists like Giorgos Alkaios. My mother’s theme songs as a teen and young adult in the 1990s’.
In fact my favourite Hellenic song growing up was the Cypriot song Ta Rialia by Michalis Violaris.
A top-10 hit in 1973. A year before my dad was born.
I can thank my yiayia and papou, his parents, for me loving that song.
Regardless of the dearth of knowledge of Greek contemporary pop and other styles, I can still appreciate Greek songs and vibe.
While not an instinctive dancer, or clubber I had to see what it was all about.
Everyone wore headphones so only they can hear the music playing and they dance. As strange as it may look to the one without the headphones seeing someone groove in silence, the participant in ensconced in the latest beats from Greece.
While the ‘disco’ started in small numbers it grew steadily, as groups of friends all dancing in their respective circles.
A woman in the rapture as beats and groove pumped out though her headphones, unfurled a Greek flag and began to wave it proudly. The dance patrons – those with headphones pumping grooves – dance uninhibited and unconcerned to an audience of festivalgoers taking a break on benches talking, chilling and even eating a souvlaki or honey covered loukoumades.
Those silent clubbers who wanted respite – kept the headphones on for the music while chilling.
I even ran into a relative who hasn’t seen me since I was maybe a toddler.
He’s the ‘famous’ family member. Dimitris Timonidis, or better known as DJ Timo.
Greek-born he moved to Australia at a young age, and the DJ/producer has performed at some of the hottest party spots worldwide.
Funnily enough he studied journalism here and worked with Greek media, just like me.
He performed two DJ Sets on one of the stages earlier in the night and has been back to Australia on holiday while also doing gigs here and there.
