Rembetika Hipsters

The Rembetika Hipsters are a Canadian band based in Calgary, Alberta. They perform primarily Greek rebetiko music, as well as composing original music and exploring styles from Epirus, known as Epirotika, Smyrnaiko music from the region now known as Izmir, and Nisiotika music of the Greek islands.

Rembetika Hipsters
OriginCalgary, Alberta
GenresRebetiko
Years active1996–present
WebsiteRembetika Hipsters
MembersNikos Diochnos, Allen Baekeland, Giorgos Iosifelis, Lincoln Frey, Jonathan Lewis
Past membersBrigitte Dajczer, Danny Patton, Ben Johnson, Jon Nordstrom, Edmond Agopian

History

The band began in 1996 with Nikos Diochnos (bouzouki, vocals) and Allen Baekeland (guitar and vocals). Giorgos Iosifelis plays bass guitar, Lincoln Frey adds clarinet and melodeon, Jonathan Lewis adds violin and baglamas and Malcolm Lim plays hand percussion instruments such as darbuke. Brigitte Dajczer also played and recorded the violin from October 1999 to 2007.[1] Other past members have included Danny Patton (bass), Ben Johnson (percussion), Jon Nordstrom (bass), and Edmond Agopian (violin).

By 1998 the band was performing locally in Calgary.[2] In 2002 they began performing weekly at Calgary's Pegasus restaurant, and continued there for many years.

The group later performed at music festivals, concert halls, and small venues across Canada.[3][4] They have traveled to Greece twice to play, reunite with family, and learn about the culture.[5] They performed at the 2001 and 2007 Calgary Folk Music Festival.

In 2011 the band released their third album, Kafeneion.[6]

As of 2017, the Hipsters continue to perform in small venues around Alberta.[7]

Discography

Studio albums
Albums by the Rembetika Hipsters[8]
Year Release title Label and date
2001Architects Of NarghiléSocrates Pizza (SPR001)
2004Dinner in PolidrosoSocrates Pizza (SPR002)
2011Kafeneion(Jan 1, 2011)

References
  1. CBC. "New Music Canada - The Rembetika Hipsters". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2007-09-15. Retrieved 2008-04-24.
  2. "The New Pornographers Make Calgary Dance". Chart Attack - Nov 15, 2000
  3. "Rembetika Hipsters". CBC. Retrieved 2015-03-19.
  4. "Audience on its feet for Hipsters" Archived 2017-08-06 at the Wayback Machine. Jack Evans, The Intelligencer, Belleville, Ontario. August 6, 2008
  5. Hanson, Matt. "The Music of Greek Storytelling". Le Raconteur, Storytellers of Canada, May 2013. Volume 17, No. 3. page 13 - 15.
  6. "Reviews". Canada Folk Music, Volume 48, No. 2. page 37.
  7. "The ‘Rembetika Hipsters’". The Vermilion Voice, February 28, 2017. Reporter Angela Mouly
  8. "Rembetika Hipsters revive spirited take traditional Greek music". Calgary Herald. calgaryherald.com.
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