Release Athens X SNF Nostos
In 2023, Release Athens and SNF Nostos from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) are joining forces to present three unique days of concerts on two stages. On Wednesday, June 21, the always-restless duo Röyksopp will headline the stage at Plateia Nerou. With them, M83, the brainchild of the ingenious Anthony Gonzalez, OMD or Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, one of the earliest and most successful synth pop groups of all time, and the beloved Greek electro band Mikro. At the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) Great Lawn, the headliner will be Tash Sultana, the musical phenomenon from Australia, in their first ever performance in Greece. With them, two very important world reggae bands, Dub Inc. and Groundation.
Release Athens X SNF Nostos is taking place on June 20, 21, and 23, presenting acclaimed Greek and international artists , giving us the chance to experience an electrifying three-day concert event that will be an integral part of Release Athens 2023.
Röyksopp
23.00
Röyksopp were formed in 2001 by Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland, in Tromso, Norway. With influences ranging from Giorgio Moroder and Vangelis to Pink Floyd and Kraftwerk, the duo stood out from the start, thanks to their obvious melodic charisma and a deep knowledge of electronic music's history. Their unique songs have transformed them into one of the biggest acts on the European music scene over the last twenty years, with major hits ("What Else Is There?" "Here She Comes Again," "Monument", "Running To The Sea," and more), excellent albums, and exciting remixes for artists such as Depeche Mode, Lady Gaga, Beck, and Coldplay.
In 2022, they returned with the biggest and most ambitious project of their career. Having officially bid farewell to the traditional album format, Röyksopp, starting with the brilliant single "Impossible" (featuring Alison Goldfrapp on vocals) and a series of audiovisual creations, delivered the trilogy Profound Mysteries, which is not only a bold new chapter in their career, but perhaps the highlight of their back catalogue.
In 2023, they are ready for their new tour, entitled "True Electric," which starts on February 16 and will bring them to Water Plaza as part of Release Athens x SNF Nostos for an eclectic set of sublime beauty.
Follow Röyksopp: Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Tash Sultana
21.00
What can you say about the phenomenon that goes by the name of Tash Sultana? Born in Melbourne in 1995, they started playing guitar at the age of three. From that point they got to know all kinds of instruments (strings, horns, percussion, keyboards, and more) and began an impressive journey, first as a street artist and soon as an internet prodigy. The home recording of "Jungle," the song that went viral in 2016, surpassed 1 million views in five days (now up to 160 million), and catapulted Tash Sultana's name and fame from the streets of Melbourne to the entire planet.
Their debut album, Flow State, was a huge success in Australia while at the same time they sold out some of the world's greatest arenas (in 2019 alone they sold more than 500,000 tickets). Their second album was released in 2021 and was met with critical acclaim from audiences who have been captivated by this impressive talent and their gift for effortlessly mixing so many influences, ranging from pop music to dub/reggae, neo-soul, and R&B.
In 2023, it’s going to be another important year in their trajectory, with new music and a major tour in Europe and the UK that will also bring them to Release Athens x SNF Nostos, at the peak of a unique career that established them as one of the biggest music acts in contemporary music.
Follow Tash Sultana: Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
M83
21.15
M83 have built their own transcendental musical universe. French multi-instrumentalist, composer, and singer Anthony Gonzalez has created a discography that explores synth pop, dream pop, shoegaze, and rock in a unique, dreamlike way. "Like a magic potion that you take to discover new worlds," as he has aptly described it.
Records like the super successful Before the Dawn Heals Us; Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming; and songs like "Wait," "Midnight City," "Reunion," and "Lower Your Eyelids to Die With the Sun" guarantee that their performance will be one of the highlights of the summer!
In 2023, M83 released the excellent Fantasy, an album that Gonzalez said was written with the exuberance of his live performances in mind, where the energy created by the combination of guitars, drums, and synths leads to a euphoric vortex. At the same time, he says that the upcoming tour will be supported by the most ambitious audiovisual show M83 have ever presented!
Follow M83: Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Bandcamp
OMD
19.45
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), the synth-pop duo from Wirral, England, pioneered their genre, combining massive chart success with experimentation. More influenced by Kraftwerk than the sound of late ‘70s Britain, Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys wanted from the get-go to be both ABBA and Stockhausen (as they reportedly said on their first meeting with their record label), disregarding and mutating the conventions of pop songwriting.
Their self-titled debut album with the incredible single “Electricity,” the follow-up LP Organisation (1980) with the anti-war anthem “Enola Gay,” the massively successful Architecture & Morality (1982) with a legendary trio of brilliant singles (“Souvenir”, “Joan of Arc”, “Maid of Orleans”), and the seminal Dazzle Ships (1983), a point of reference for bands like The Killers, Arcade Fire and Radiohead, propelled the band to the top and helped shape the musical landscape of the ‘80s.
After a long hiatus, OMD reunited in 2007 and have been playing sold-out concerts to critical and fan acclaim ever since. Their latest album, The Punishment of Luxury (2017), confirmed that the band is a standout of their generation and still creating music that inspires.
Follow OMD: Official Website | Facebook | Instagram| YouTube | Spotify
Dub Inc
19.30
Photo credit: ©TOINE
Dub Inc have toured the whole world, and they have no intention of stopping! This is a band that gets everyone dancing as soon as they get on stage.
Their sound combines reggae, dancehall, and world music, while the voices of Hakim "Bouchkour" Meridja and Aurelien "Komlan" Zohou contrast and complement each other. Their message remains universal, whether they sing in English and French or in Kabyle (a language spoken in Algeria), insisting on the importance of merging ideas and styles.
Based in Saint-Étienne, France, they have a remarkable and extensive discography to their names. They’ve never played the publicity game and they follow the path they’ve created on their own, driven by their talent and passion.
Follow Dub Inc: Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | You Tube | Spotify
Groundation
18.20
Photo credit: Lugdivine Unfer
Groundation was formed in 1998 in California by charismatic leader Harrison Stafford who took them on a journey that established them as one of reggae's biggest bands. Continually surrounded by amazing musicians, Stafford has managed to honor the reggae tradition while infusing it with jazz elements throughout the band’s impeccable discography.
In 2023, the band is putting on a brand-new show to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their most important album, Hebron Gate, by playing it in its entirety. The album is deservedly considered one of the greatest reggae records of all time and has been acclaimed by both music critics and fans.
Follow Groundation: Facebook | Instagram | You Tube | Spotify
Mikro
18.45
Mikro formed in 1997 in Thessaloniki by Nikos Bitzenis (aka Nikonn) and Yannis Lefkaditis, two friends who shared a common vision for an electronic band with pop/rock references and female and male vocals. In their 25 years of existence, they have released 8 studio albums, 3 soundtracks and countless singles and remixes for Greek and foreign artists. Many of their songs are classics of Greek electro-pop, loved by fans and local radio, such as "Mikro Tronik Plasma", "Aspri Sokolata", "This City", "H Seira Sou" and others.
In 2004, Mikro launched their own label, UNDO Records, which was created to host not only their own music but also friendly projects such as Marsheaux, Fotonovela, Tareq, Kid Moxie and many others. Throughout their presence on the local electronic scene, the band have played special live shows alongside the likes of Hooverphonic, Morrissey, Ladytron and Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode, while their performances abroad have proven that their sound in on a par with their foreign peers.
This year, Bitzenis and Lefkaditis, with Chloe Ann (vocals, synths) and Christos Aslanidis (drums & pads) in the line-up, return to live performances after an eight-year hiatus and aim to fill Plateia Nerou with energy for a night of great electronic pop.
Follow Μίκρο: Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify
The two headline shows (at Plateia Nerou and SNFCC’s Great Lawn) will not overlap, while sufficient time will be ensured for the audience to move from one stage to the other.
In addition, a point of sale on the SNFCC Esplanade will be open οn June 20, 21, 22, and 23. On June 20, 21, and 23, the ticket counter will be open from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. On June 22, it will be open from 10 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
*Ticket proceeds go exclusively to Release Athens. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is a philanthropic organization that makes grants to nonprofit organizations. SNF does not accept funds from private individuals, corporations, or any other organizations.
In parallel, SNF is making €500,000 in additional grants under the name SNF Χ Release Athens to nonprofit organizations whose mission is to support mental health, in line with the wider mental health theme of this year's SNF Nostos.