Love and New beginnings are central themes in rebetiko music. Pakaw!, London’s all female band, will be exploring some of the love stories and life journeys that have made this music timeless.
PAKAW, is an all-female combo that pushes the boundaries of the traditional. With Greek music at its core these five tangy, opinionated, international women excite with their sultry vocals and versatile musicianship.
Katerina, Muzmee, Paressa, Olympia and Duygu met in the lively Rebetiko music scene in London. The diversity of their musical backgrounds – from Classical to Latin American, from Byzantine Chant to Ska, from Turkish rhythms to Russian Polyphony – means they have an intoxicating range of colours and flavours to draw upon. What unites them in spirit is their love for Greek music and all the traditions and historical worlds it touches, from the Balkans to the Greek Islands, from the Black Sea to the mountains of Epirus.
Illustrated by storyteller Heleni Achilleos.
Band/Musicians:
Katerina Clambaneva – tambourine & vocals
Paressa Daniilidou – accordion & vocals
Muzmee – violin
Olympia Tsarouchi – guitar & vocals
Duygu Camurcuoglu – percussion & vocals
What is Rebetiko?: Rebetiko is the music of an urban sub culture of musicians called “rebetes”. Although they openly emerged in Greece in the 1920’s, rebetiko music is a rich synthesis of music from all over Greece that expresses the pain and suffering of the people at the time. In a heartfelt way of reflecting life, these songs can be full of humour and profound beauty.
Rebetiko Carnival 2016: The Rebetiko Carnival will be taking place throughout the month of June to celebrate the music of rebetiko. It will bring together people from different backgrounds and nationalities through their common love for this music, performing concerts and providing workshops.
Outreach work for people with special needs, the elderly, and participants in hospitals is a huge part of the festival. Providing access to the music for those who are not able to attend. We will also be working closely with schools to promote awareness of the music and its culture to children, in turn helping them to create their own bands whilst also giving them the opportunity to perform in the festival.
