GEORGE & NIKOS XYLOURIS
Traditional music is often an affair of families and clans identified with particular places. In the Greek tradition, the mountain village of Anogeia in Crete is the centre of the musical earth. Of its many musical clans, that of the Xylouris is probably the best-known outside Crete.

George Xylouris, is from that famous Cretan musical clan and is the leading member of the group. He has played in Melbourne on previous occasions, co-incidentally his first appearance was 22 years ago in the Brunswick Mechanics Institute with his father Psarandonis. George is above all a player of the stout-bellied lute, and generally acknowledged as Crete's best. In addition, he plays the bowed lyra and sings the characteristic songs of Crete. Many will remember his father Psarandonis as the wildly original lyra player and singer, a man who can play silences as well as he can play notes. George's late uncle Nikos is Crete's musical hero. Nikos did not simply sing songs of rebellion,he sang them at the Athens polytechnic in 1973 when the colonels sent in the tanks. Another uncle, Giannis, is still one of Crete's most respected lutenists.

George is joined tonight by yet another generation of the family: his son Nick and his sister-in-law Dee. For the most part these two will drive the fierce rhythms of Crete on their lutes. All three players sing, Dee like an angel and George and Nick in their traditional style, often musings on love, liberty and lost ideals. Nick is currently finishing his Year 12 at high school in Melbourne and Dee lives and works in Melbourne. They will also be joined on stage by cellist Alice Garner.

Check out one of our other concerts:

Choose A Concert Thursday 11 March: John McCutcheon Enda Kenny Thursday 11 March: Uncle Earl Bluestone Junction Friday 12 March: Dougie Maclean, Kate Burke & Ruth Hazleton Friday 12 March: Eilen Jewell, Suzannah Espie and the Last Word Friday 12 March: Genticorum String Theory Saturday 13 March: Archie Roach 1988 Djiva Saturday 13 March: Vin Garbutt Bruce Watson Trio Saturday 13 March: Collard, Greens & Gravy Hat Fitz and Cara Robinson Saturday 13 March: Lou Bennett & The Sweet Cheeks Liz Stringer Sunday 14 March: Mary Gauthier Tracy McNeil Sunday 14 March: I Viaggiatori - Suitcase Serenata CD Launch Tuesday 16 March: Mairtin O’Connor Band Tony O’Neill Trio Thursday 18 March: Pigram Brothers Tonchi McIntosh Thursday 18 March: Whitetop Mountaineers Peckin’ Order Friday 19 March: Apodimi Compania Friday 19 March: Emily Smith & Jamie Mc Clennan Young Fiddlers of MSFC Friday 19 March: Angie Hart Kate Vigo and the Undergound Orchestra Friday 19 March: Broderick Smith Uncle Bill Saturday 20 March: Eddi Reader Alanna & Alicia Egan Saturday 20 March: George & Nikos Xylouris Deirdre Hannan Saturday 20 March: Barons of Tang Croque Monsieur Saturday 20 March: Paddy Keenan Squeebz Sunday 21 March: Chris Smither Bill Jackson Sunday 21 March: Que Viva Mexico by Sergei Eisenstein Sunday 21 March: Ted Egan & Jan Wositzky Sunday 21 March: Truckstop Honeymoon Sarah Caroll & The Blue Tinsel