The finest of the local music scene at Plateia Nerou
Like every year, Release Athens hosts the top acts of the local scene, showcasing both established artists and the best new names in Greece.
Today, we add tenspecial projects to the line-up, covering all music genres without restrictions or limitations. In order of appearance, these are:
Elysion (June 7th with Nightwish, In Flames, Insomnium)
Formed in 2006 in Athens, Greece, Elysion’s diverse influences of hard rock, gothic metal, pop and electro, helped them create a unique sound. They have shared the stage with great acts such as Evanescence, Christian Death, Hellowen, Saxon, Lacuna Coil and many more, and this year they released their third album entitled ‘Bring Out Your Dead’, which received very positive reviews from fans and critics around the world.
Follow Elysion:
Kandè (June 20th with Rosalía, Central Cee, Tinashe, IAMDDB, Ayra Starr, Sidarta–as part of Release Athens X SNF Nostos)
Katerina Andreou, aka Kandè, is an established neo-soul/R&B artist from Athens. After many live performances as a session vocalist, she and her solo project have caught the attention of some of the most famous radio stations in the country (Kosmos 93.6 FM, Pepper 96.6 FM etc.). Katerina is also a professional dancer since 2017 and has participated in several musicals, the latest of which was ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. Her first EP will be released this autumn.
Follow Kandè:
In Trance 95 (June 23rd with Siouxsie, Interpol, Echo & The Bunnymen, Viagra Boys, Ladytron, The Haunted Youth – as part of Release Athens X SNF Nostos)
The electronic duo of Alex Machairas and Nikos Veliotis formed in May 1988 in Athens, Greece. It is considered one of the first minimal synth/cold wave bands in the country and is responsible for some of the scene’s most popular tracks such as ‘Brazilia’ and ‘Desire To Desire’. The group officially reformed in 2010, and since then Veronica Vasicka’s legendary Minimal Wave has reissued a selection of remastered older material and their new songs, released in 2012 with ‘Shapes In A New Geometry’. This year, Minimal Wave will release their new LP, ‘When You Know, You Don’t Know’, which will combine new and older recordings.
Follow In Trance 95:
Pink Vanity (June 25th with Madrugada, Wet Leg, Baxter Dury)
Pink Vanity is an indie rock band formed in the spring of 2020 by brothers Konstantinos and Alexandros Krommidas. So far, they have released 4 singles and an EP, while their debut album is considered one of the most anticipated releases of the local pop/rock scene. They have performed live at various venues in Greece and were the opening act at the Balthazar show at Fuzz Club.
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O.Y.D. (June 26th with Disturbed, Bullet For My Valentine, Nova Twins)
O.Y.D. were formed in early 2012 and so far, they have released two albums: “Deep Breath” (2015), mixed, mastered and produced by Grammy Award-winning Toby Wright (Metallica, Korn, Slayer), and “Indigo” (2019), produced by Fredrik Nordstrom (Architects, Bring Me The Horizon, Arch Enemy). After the pandemic, the group returned with a new lineup, and important show abroad alongside legendary names like Hammerfall and Pantera.
Follow O.Y.D.:
Skybinder (June 27th with Parkway Drive, Soulfly, Triptykon performing Celtic Frost)
Skybinder is a metalcore band from Athens, formed in 2018 by former members of New World Disorder, who were looking to push the boundaries of the Athenian metal scene. Influenced by bands such as Parkway Drive, As I Lay Dying, Breakdown of Sanity etc., Skybinder released their debut album “Trauma and Trial” in 2019 and played alongside leading acts of the metal scenesuch as Thy Art Is Murder, Oceans Ate Alaska and Pro-Pain. They will release their second album, very soon.
Follow Skybinder:
Marva Von Theo (July 15th with Stereo Nova, Leftfield, Boy Harsher)
Marva Von Theo formed in 2017 by Marva Voulgaris and Theo Finidis. So far they have released two albums, “Dream Within A Dream” (2018) and “Afterglow” (2021), thatstand out thanks to their unique aesthetic, their inventive compositions and their captivating vocals. They have performed in several venues and festivals in Greece and abroad, and opened the shows of Motorama, Hooverphonic and Molly Nillson. They are currently working on their new album.
Follow Marva Von Theo:
Green Was Greener (July 18th with Arctic Monkeys, The Hives, Willie J Healey)
Crete-born multi-instrumentalist Thomas Stratakis’ project, Green Was Greener, began at the end of 2017 and the debut album, titled ‘Introspective’, was released by Inner Ear in 2021. The young musician’s psychedelic pop immediately stood out, and the album received rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. These days his second album has been released, also on Inner Ear, entitled ‘Love Divine’, with lyrical content influenced by Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’, loss, futility and death.
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The Vaxtones (July 19th with Arctic Monkeys, The Hives, Willie J Healey)
The Vaxtones is the product of a group of musicians who have carved their own path in the Greek independent scene. Eleni Tzavara aka Etten (Film), ThanosAmorginos (Last Drive, Earthbound), Christos Zois (Hi Roller, Jitterbugs, The Rockets), Nikos Fotiou (Raindogs), Panagiotis Loukoumas (Sunsteps, Xaxakes, Scopitone) and Dimitris Voglis (Scopitone), have created a distinctive, personal sound with influences ranging from the psychedelic 60s and British punk, and go all the way to calypso and swing. Their debut album, “Never Ending Story”, has just been released and justifies the hype that has surrounded the band since its inception.
Follow The Vaxtones:
Lip Forensics (July 21st with The Prodigy, Primal Scream & more tba)
Lip Forensics is the duo of two long time members of the alternative scene in Athens, Zade and Ekelon. Their aim is to bridge their indie origins with a futuristic electronic sound. Their first release, “Cheiloscopy”, received critical and public acclaim, as was the case with their performances at the city’s biggest festivals, such as Sonar Athens, In Orbit, ADD and Release Athens. Their debut album, “Apophenia”, has just been released.
Follow Lip Forensics:
Presale continues.
Limited VIP tickets are also available. This category includes the following benefits, only available at Plateia Nerou:
- a separate raised area with stands and stools for everyone
- an open bar
- private parking
- separate toilets
- a souvenir of the event.
The above benefits will not apply, in their entirety, to the stage at SNFCC Great Lawn, due to the different setup of this particular space.
VIP ticket holders will have priority access to both venues.
The two headline shows (at Plateia Nerou and the SNFCC Great Lawn) will not overlap, and there will be sufficient time for the audience to move from one stage to the other.
Tickets available*:
By phone at 11876
Online at releaseathens.gr / viva.gr
In person at Nova, Public, Media Markt, Evripidis, Yoleni’s, and Viva Spot Technopolis
For full information (prices, offers, lineup, access, etc.), visit releaseathens.gr
