Song festival’s highlights
A celebration of Greek music is on the cards at the Thessaloniki Song Festival, which is taking place on Thursday and Saturday at the Pylaia Stadium, and is sponsored by the Thessaloniki Trade Fair SA and the ERT state broadcasting company. The first evening’s program comprises 16 songs competing for a spot among 10 songs that will make it to Saturday’s finals. Of these 10, three will be selected by a jury of artists and the public, while there will also be an additional three awards bestowed by the panel for best composition, best interpretation and best lyrics. The two evenings of competition will also, for the first time, include two concerts by popular Greek singers. On Thursday Dimitris Mitropanos and the ERT Contemporary Music Orchestra will perform the veteran songster’s all-time favorites, while pop idol Michalis Hadziyiannis will perform his chart-topping hits on the final evening of the competition. Meanwhile, events have been organized throughout the week at various venues around the city of Thessaloniki in the build-up to the big night on Saturday. All proceeds from the festival will be donated to the SOS Village for children.
