MAD MANOUSH Wednesday, July 16 (Breakwater - Customs House)

It might seem to be a mad and difficult task to venture the crossover from gypsy jazz to pop-rock-punk. Just Mad Manoush! But however to think about details let be the business of purists!
Egon Egemann, Mad Manoush’s inventor, violinist and front man was born near Graz with the roots of a Hungarian, gypsy grandfather. In his early years he was already influenced by the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli whom he met personally in New York during his stay in US in the seventies. A few years later Egon got under the spell of New York's Gypsy Punk Scene where he found the main inspiration for his creative way to Mad Manoush.In spring 2004 Egon attends the Django memorial in Augsburg, Germany and meets Gypsy-jazz icon Robin Nolan. Thrilled by Egons revolutionary idea of a mix between original Gypsy Jazz combined with modern components, Robin spontaneously decides to engage the project. The result of the two “borderliner musicians” work is the song “Django” which is also realized as a video clip. Mad Manoush is born! A new, exciting style of music, that creates a fresh, spicy taste in the scene of world music – performed on stage in a high energy show. In 2006 Mad Manoush released their debut Album “Gadjo”, which took place in the top 20 of the European World Music Charts and at the moment they are working at their second Album “Gypsy R-Evolution”. In the last two years they have done many successful shows in different countries and performed such places like "Montreux Jazz Festival", Bardentreffen Nürnberg, Fonnefeesten Belgien, Rock Oz'Arenes Avenge, Open Air St.Gallen, Festival Lausanne, OstClub Vienna etc.

X DARAWISH Wednesday, July 16 (Breakwater - Customs House)

The Greco-Italian band X DARAWISH are opening for MAD MANOUSH

X DARAWISH is a music band of world music, founded in Bari, Italy in 1997. Its members are Stratos Diamantis, Enzo Leone and Dimosthenis Tsamis. Thanks to their different origin, in their songs they combine apparently disparate elements between east and west, thus the musical idioms of the Mediterranean being a common indication mark. Stratos and Enzo met in the late 80’s at Bari University and became members of AL DARAWISH. When the band split in 1997, part of its members formed RADIODERVISH, while Stratos and Enzo founded X DARAWISH. In that very year they were awarded the first prize at Athens Pop-Rock Festival, organized by PHILIPPOS NAKAS Conservatory, as well as ROCK FM and FM RECORDS. In 1998 they recorded their first album UNA RATSA – UNA FATSA (FM RECORDS), launched in 2000 all over Europe. In that album famous artists like Vasilis Saleas on the clarinet and Andreas Papas on the percussion participated. It was also in 2000 when they gave out their video-clip to their single “Narghile”, directed by Nikos Soulis. The single “Nargile” was elected by the French radio station RFI into the Top Tens of European Pops. X DARAWISH has given over 600 concerts all over Europe and has shared the stage with musicians like Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan, Nick Cave, Noa and James Taylor.

DJ KOSTA KOSTOV [balkan Xpress] Thursday, July 17 (Breakwater - Customs House)  

Kosta Kostov is not a nickname! Born in the Bulgarian Black Sea he grew up with the unique Balkan way of celebrating... Moving to Germany didn't stop his passionate search for the best rhythms and melodies from the Balkans. He is the mastermind and resident "machinista" of the balkanXpress, the turbulent party in the Cologne club Gebäude 9. In April 2004 the balkanXpress started first in Cologne's clubbing scene as a regular party to introduce and represent the many-facetted music of Southeaster Europe. It became quickly a reference for the people who love the spontaneous and passion full celebrating. The balkanXpress takes you on an ecstatic dance journey through the valleys and hills of Balkan beats and breaks, always with view out to new horizons... The rhythms of the typical music- and dance-styles like horo, rembetiko or klezmer are quite similar to the beats of drum 'n bass and breakbeat and offer a great space for fusions… The Balkan music has also got a common ground with musical phenomenons like the sounds of the Orient & the Maghreb, the hispano-brazilian flavas or the great Bhangra. That's why the trip with the balkanXpress will take you to the music related neighbours which are more similar to the southeast European music than expected. Meanwhile the balkanXpress is travelling not only in German lands. Kosta Kostov is a well seen guest in the Barcelona clubs Sala Apolo and Sidecar, Paris' Divan du Monde, Athen's Altera Pars and Booze Club and Vienna's Ostklub. In March 2007 the balkanXpress brought for first time the transbalkan beats and breaks to the clubs in the Brazilian cities of Belem, Aracaju, Brasilia Capital, Porto Alegre, Florianpolis and Rio de Janeiro.

Dj set by IMAM BAILDI Thursday, July 17 (Breakwater - Customs House)

After a few successful experiments with old Greek tunes we liked from our father’s collection of 78rpm vinyls, we decided to produce an entire album using samples from Greek tunes from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. The outcome is hard to describe in terms of genre since all the tracks vary in style. Nevertheless, all of them carry the oriental vibes of the original tracks. The idea was to bring forward some of these forgotten gems from Greek artists of the past century and blend them with modern sounds and rhythm into something new and unique. It took a lot of experimentation and loads of time and effort because what we most feared was ending up with a cheap sounding boxy beat over an old sample pattern. We focused on truly blending old and new, in bringing every addition under the old recordings’ skin. To what extent we have achieved that is not for us to say, for that matter we would very much appreciate any feedback.

THE LOCOS Friday, July 18 (Breakwater - Customs House) 

The Locos is made up of former members of the Spanish ska punk group Ska-P.

No time has passed since SKA-P's "impasse" announcement and we already have "Pipi", their singer/showman, putting up an impressive set with a solid and contagious band.

The members of the band that mated Pipi to be known as The Locos are: Santi (from Madrid, formerly in Canallas) on guitar, Hatuey (from Mexico, formerly in Vantroi) on drums, Coco (from Argentina, formerly in Trujamán) on bass, Sam and Ismael (from Guadalajara, also members of Klandestinos) on tenor sax and trumpet. Such pack, joined under the vision of an extremely effective and histrionic frontman, gives as a result this six piece mad combo with a schizophrenic set. The first songs they introduce here are blasts of frenetic rhythm, anti-system messages, living colours of our daily wars. If we ask Pipi about influences, he won't get down from his longtime favourites: La Polla Records, Mano Negra, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Porretas, Rancid and Ska- P, of course.

In 2008 the band is ready to take the next big step forward – with their brand-new (2nd) album (release: ~April 08) on tour – well-prepared to enter the club - & festival-stages with their amazing-crazy-ska-punk-rock-show: THE LOCOS – live on stage of Cosmopolis!!! :)

VICTORY COLLAPSE Friday, July 18 (Breakwater - Customs House) 

VICTORY COLLAPSE are opening for THE LOCOS.

Victory Collapse were formed on March of 2004 in Athens. Their music can be described as an attempt to put together different music structures. A rather forceful rhythm section along with raw psychedelic guitar tunes and passionate sharp vocals. Post punk, punk funk, new wave, psychedelic music, rock'n'roll, noise, afro beat, greek traditional music... whatever.

The band during these two years was "lucky" to perform supporting artists that more or less affected their sound such as the Liars, the Fall, Savage Republic and Radio 4. They have also performed with friends like Sinister Waltz and for the Velvet magazine with Trypanosoma.They aim to lead urban music in a more humanistic area by reintroducing primitive rhythms and melodies in a post-modern outfit. Besides, you know what they say:"In the beginning there was rhythm."

THE TOSSERS Saturday, July 19 (Breakwater - Customs House)

The Tossers - a seven-piece Celtic punk band from Chicago - are the perfect Irish hybrid. Influenced by Shane Macgowen and the Pogues in more than a few ways, the Tossers play their own brand of Irish. They marry traditional instrumentation (mandolin, banjo, fiddle, tin whistle, etc) with the raucous turmoil of punks.

Although they characterize themselves as a “folk band”, their incendiary nature, intense live shows and overt politics make them exactly that. PUNKROCK. From the very beginning, there's been a dichotomy to the Tossers; sure you can raise a glass, dance and have a laugh, but underneath, this is a band that has something intelligent to say and an undeniable way to say it. Raised on Grand Ole Opry, early rock 'n roll, country hits, and punk, (in addition to Irish classics like the Dubliners and the Clancy Brothers) a wide array of influences keeps the music interesting and unpredictable.

Through their songs, they tell stories of humor and tragedy, wit and wisdom, love, and loss. The Tossers can educate you, amuse you, break your heart, or punch you in the face!

The Tossers have toured in many countries and festivals and they have collaborated with such bands as The Pogues, Dropkick Murphy, Flogging Molly, Street Dogs, etc.

COSMICRAY  Saturday, July 19 (Breakwater - Customs House)

COSMICRAY are opening for THE TOSSERS.

Foreign name, foreign text, Greek roots. The result of the cooperation between Angelos Mourvatis & Psychi (Soul) and the young talented singer John Jeff Touch. This is Angelos’s Mourvatis fifth attempt, particularly after his guitar album “never break a window in the winter”, whose songs were played by radio stations in Europe and America. Coming across the young and talented singer John Jeff Touch (lots of European awards for young artists and co-operations with foreign bands, as well), led to the founding of COSMICRAY; a pop-rock band with foreign texts and songs that radio stations could play again and again. Pop melodies, catchy refrains and excellent guitars make up “Love is”, which came out in 2007.

ALKISTIS PROTOPSALTI Sunday, July 20 (Breakwater - Customs House) 
Two years after her last tour, two years with awards and prizes and one more personal platinum LP, here she goes again - Alkistis Protopsalti - with a tour all over Greece! She asks us to meet at the nicest spot “Sto oreotero simio” she urges us to go to Hawaii “Pame Hawaii”.

 The top Greek singer, surrounded by a group of select musicians and the talented composer and singer Yiannis Christodoulopoulos, will take us on a trip to the ‘planet’ of her unique songs. Every concert of Alkistis Protopsalti is a memorable experience, one of those that leave deep impressions. It’s a wonderful musical journey driven by her performance, her energy and her dynamic presence on stage, creating unique feelings.  

Copyright © 2004-2008 ΔΑΝΕΚ. Με την Επιφύλαξη κάθε νόμιμου δικαιώματος