Greece has seen a resurgence in music festivals in the last decade and is increasingly becoming a favourite with music fans from across Europe. This surge in events has been helped by a burgeoning electronic scene introducing new dance festivals such as Reworks and Odyssia, as well as more established concerts such as Rockwave and Ejekt continuing to attract established artists from around the world.
Ejekt Festival, 8 & 23 July 2016 - Plateia Nerou, Athens
With its stage located just steps from the sea, Ejekt began in 2005 with the aim of sharing alternative and electronic based music with the people of Athens. The venue offers a stunning location to watch live music and this year's line-up includes Editors, James and rock goliaths Muse. The festival is held on two different dates in July, attracting over 55,000 visitors in total and prides itself in pairing new and upcoming artists alongside established bands.
Sani Festival, 8 July - 13 August 2016 – Halkidiki
With a focus on jazz, classical music and Greek 'entechni' music, the 23th edition of the Sani Festival has a British theme this year with the acclaimed singer Joss Stone performing on 29 July and virtuoso violinist Daniel Hope appearing on 13 August. One of Greece's most beloved singers, Alkistis Protopsalti, will also perform on 5 August. The location at Sani Hill, with its medieval tower on the coastline, is the perfect background for the series of concerts and dance shows, creating a truly unique experience.
Rockwave, 19 July 2016 - Terra Vibe Park, Athens
This annual event is held over two separate nights during June & July, bringing a modern, rock-orientated line-up to Athen's summer evenings. Earlier this month, Rockwave hosted a line-up of acts including the swaggering Last Shadow Puppets, Dropkick Murphys and indie-icons Suede. On 19 July, the festival will return to Terra Vibe Park, just outside of Athens, with a line up currently including the brooding pop of Lana Del Rey and LA rock band Allah-Las.
Rhythmatic, 6-7 August 2016 – Pelion
Located near Mount Pelion at the southeastern part of Thessaly in central Greece, this mini two-day electronic soirée is one of the latest editions to Greece's live music calendar. The Rhythmatic Open Air Festival brings some of the finest techno and house DJs to this picturesque site including Dennis Ferrer, Alex Dimou and Junior Pappa. Tickets can be bought alongside relaxation or activity packages and there is the Kanga Pashothea spa on site offering meditation, homeopathic treatments and yoga sessions.
Odyssia, 30 August - 5 September 2016 - Attiki
For one week at the end of the summer, the fishermen's village of Schinos becomes a mecca for fans of dance music with the arrival of the Odyssia festival. Across seven days and nights, an array of artists, DJs and producers play on the beach sessions and boat parties which stretch beyond the sunset each day. This year will see sets from Gilles Peterson, DJ Harvey and Body & Soul.
Reworks, 14 - 18 September 2016 - Thessaloniki
The Reworks electronic music festival celebrates its 12th year by expanding to five days for the first time ever. Acting as a last celebration of the summer season, the Thessaloniki-based event combines music, art and e-culture, offering discussion panels, workshops and key note speaking sessions alongside the live music line-up. On the bill this year is electro-house DJ Agoria and the soulful acoustics of Jamie Woon.
