Originating in Brunswick, in Melbourne and now resident in Athens, Greece for the past 22 years, Apodimi Compania is one of the leading exponents of Rebetika and Greek Folk Song and Dance music.
Apodimi offers its listeners an unparalleled opportunity to experience the musical flowering of rural Greece with its various regional styles of Folk music plus 20th century urban Greek music, which is Rebetika, or as it is more often called, “The Greek Blues”.
Greek Folk music ranges from the songs and tunes of the Greek mainland to the haunting melodies of the Aegean islands, Crete, the coast of Asia Minor and as far north as the region of Thrace. Rebetika music relates to all aspects of city low-life, poor people telling of their lives on the fringes of society, singing songs of melancholy, bitterness, complaint, of love and yearning.
The group perform both styles of music with grace and dexterity, clearly in love with their repertoire, on a variety of traditional instruments, including the Fiddle, six string Bouzouki, Tzoura, Baglama, Banjo, Guitar, Oud and Lute as well as excellent vocals. Apodimi Compania have released three albums on Brunswick Recordings and another 5 albums in Greece.
Apodimi was hit by tragedy in March 2012 when original and long-standing member Hector Cosmas suddenly passed away. The remaining members, Manuel Galiatsos, Yiannis Niarhos, George Galiatsos, Chrysoula Kehayioglou decided to soldier on and keep the band going, as Hec would have wanted them to do so. Joining them on their 2017 tour will be Apodimi’s latest member, Fiddle player, Vangelis Votteas.
In an era of increasing musical commercialisation and standardization, the music of Apodimi is refreshingly authentic, energetic and original.