Atrium Nights at the Athens Concert Hall
September is here and Athenian audiences are looking forward to Atrium Nights, the annual musical series that has become something of an institution at the city’s Athens Concert Hall. The series, which kicks off today, runs to September 22. Given this week’s changeable weather, however, the opening performances by Babis Stokas (scheduled for tonight and tomorrow) will now take place indoors, in the Alexandra Trianti Hall. Currently in its sixth edition, Atrium Nights is sponsored by the Tourism Ministry and the Greek National Tourism Organization, with a view to developing cultural tourism. Stokas, a former member of the Greek band Pyx Lax, takes the stage with a concert titled «Sing, Don’t Be Shy,» a musical collage of tunes ranging from Manos Hadjidakis to Dimitris Papadimitriou and Giorgos Zambetas. Following Stokas, Raining Pleasure will, weather permitting, take the atrium’s temporary stage to perform their indie-rock tunes. Hailing from Patra, where it was formed in 1990, the band is a pioneer of the local rock scene working with English lyrics. Raining Pleasure is scheduled to appear on September 11 and 12. Eleonora Zouganeli and Imam Baildi are up next, with two appearances, titled «Ethnic Fusion at the Atrium: From Vassilissis Sofias to Rambla and Back Again.» The evenings will mix Zouganelis’s Greek pop influences with Imam Baildi’s electronica-meets-rebetiko take. These performances will take place on September 14 and 15. Bilingual singer/songwriter Athena Andreadis appears on September 17. Born in London, the artist grew up in Thessaloniki and returned to Britain at the age of 18. She currently resides in London. Andreadis, who studied jazz and classical voice in London before appearing in concerts and gigs, has received critical acclaim in Britain. Her work is defined by a fusion of her British background and her Greek roots. Originally stemming from the world of Greek theater, Martha Frintzila is becoming a regular fixture on the local music scene and performances by Martha Frintzila & Friends in the concert hall’s atrium are scheduled for September 21 and 22. The artistic director of the annual musical series at the Athens Concert Hall is Anna Dalara. Athens Concert Hall, 1 Kokkali & Vas. Sofias, tel 210.728.2333. Atrium Nights concerts start at 9 p.m. Ticket prices are set at 25 euros and 10 euros for students. For more information, visit www.megaron.gr.
