Intimate acts come to town
A number of interesting artists, both domestic and imported, all well worth considering, will be performing small-scale shows in Athens over the next few days. Still in her early 20s, but already proving her worth as a precocious singer-songwriter of dark, heavy-hearted folk music that belies her age, American act Marissa Nadler will be back to Athens for one show this coming Monday night at the Small Music Theater (33 Veikou, Koukaki, tel 210.924.5644), where she also performed her first Greek show several months ago. This time around, Nadler, who has toured extensively since putting out her first of two well-received albums – so far – a couple of years ago, will be joined by another emerging neo-folk act from the US, Jana Hunter, for a double-header show. Hunter, who emerged recently after putting out several years’ worth of home recordings, has collaborated with Devendra Banhart, a rising star on the underground scene who is also scheduled to perform in Athens this summer, on July 4. Preceding the American pair, also at the Koukaki venue, will be In Gowan Ring, a similar-minded act that has quietly crafted psychedelic-folk melodies with a medieval-type ambience over the past decade or so. For the act’s Athens shows, tomorrow and Sunday, group leader B’eirth will be joined by Carole Zweifel, a French cellist, and Yann Courtieau, a Swiss percussionist with a penchant for unorthodox instruments. Local folk-inclined act Defile des Ames will open for In Gowan Ring. Cretan balladeers Hainides, whose intricately crafted material occasionally also carries a medieval whiff, perform their first of four shows in Athens tonight at the Exedra club (235 El. Venizelou, Nea Smyrni, tel 210.984.9101). The act, in Athens to present a new album – featuring guest appearances from fellow Cretan maverick artist Psarantonis and respected songsmith Socrates Malamas – also play at the venue tomorrow, as well as May 12 and 13.
