“ Ζambetas as a composer is among the ten greatest of the rebetiko and laiko. As a bouzouki player he was the best with a very special and personal sound , but as a show man he was unique . An artist that if he was born in the States he would be a world famous artist “ Leyteris Papadopoulos
Zabetas is one of the warmest, relatable and talented Greek musicians of all time. His catchy, melodic songs, filled with the down to earth tragedy and comedy of the human condition that anyone could relate to, made his songs part of the DNA of Greek life. Everybody loves Zabetas.
As one of the most recognized musicians in Greece he worked for many years in cinema with stars such as Aliki Vougiouklakai. He both appeared in films and wrote music for them, with songs such as “siko horepse syrtaki”. He claimed to have been influenced greatly by both Vamvaklaris and Tsitsanis, but his music is unmistakably his own and has it’s unique identity and place in Greek musical history.. In many of his songs he makes references to nightingales and swallows. Zabetas himself said that he loved to go and sit in the forests listening to nightingales. There singing gave him ideas for his melodies.
Plastikes Karekles
“Plastikes Karekles represent a culture of reinvention as defiant and hopeful as the music itself.” Songlines magazine
“These musicians wowed a captivated audience…they had people dancing in the aisles and evoked memories of sunnier climes” Nottingham Press
Plastikes Karekles are one of the foremost bands in the performance and cultivation of Greek music in the UK and abroad. Internationally they have performed at festivals in Greece, France, Italy, Scotland, Wales and Qatar. In the UK they have performed at Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, St David’s Hall as part of the Proms, as well as more intimate venues such as the Green Note, Vortex and the Forge, London. Most recently they took part in the Equator: Women of the World festival at Kings Place, London.
The musicians of Plastikes Karekles are also the founding members of the Rebetiko Carnival, a charity and festival with Rebetiko music at its heart and dedicated to performance, outreach and education. They take music to schools, hospitals, prisons and care homes throughout the UK.
Doors open 7pm. Music starts 8pm. The venue is mixed seated and standing. Tables are limited, and available on a first come first served basis, so if you’d like a seat, we recommend arriving early!
