Markos Vamvakaris, widely called the patriarch of rebetiko, was born on the Catholic hilltop of Ano Syros in the early twentieth century. He grew up in the poor stepped lanes above the port, then left as a young man for the docks of Piraeus. There he mastered the bouzouki and shaped the urban folk music … Read more
Rebetiko is the urban song tradition that grew from the harbours and refugee quarters of the early twentieth century, and Thessaloniki carries the music in its bones. The city took in waves of Greek refugees from Asia Minor, who brought the bouzouki, the baglamas, and the songs of a lost homeland to its cafés and … Read more
Athens is the home of rebetiko, the soulful Greek blues, played live in atmospheric basement tavernas and rebetadika across Psiri, Exarcheia and beyond, one of the city’s most authentic experiences. Pair a memorable night out with skip-the-line sightseeing tickets and tours from My Greece Tours. This soulful slice of nightlife is a cultural highlight of … Read more