A historic neighbourhood in Athens, Kolonos was once home to the famous Greek playwright Sophocles. Despite its urban appearance, the streets of Kolonos still echo with the ancient past, featuring several archaeological sites and neoclassical buildings. For those interested in exploring this quieter side of Athens, the Kolonos Festival is a fantastic opportunity to visit and enjoy cultural performances ranging from music and dance to theatre.
At the open-air Kolonos Theatre, set against the backdrop of the city's historic landmarks, the festival offers new productions and theatre performances of ancient Greek tragedies like The Suppliants, that debuted in this year’s Athens Epidaurus Festival, Hercules Furens and Ajax.
On Sunday, September 29th, the festival dedicates the evening to dance, showcasing three contemporary dance performances taking place from 8 pm onwards. In addition to dance, there are numerous musical performances to enjoy:
08/09: A symphonic orchestra taking you on a Balkan musical journey.
09/09: The Tilemachos Moussas Farm, a legendary collective of world class musicians.
11/09: A palimpsest of music by Greek composers featuring singer Gerasimos Andreatos.
13/09: A night of traditional rebetiko music, featuring the songs of one of the few prominent female artists in the genre, Sotiria Bellou.
16/09: The City of Athens Big Band performing in a "Swinging Mood."
20/09: The Alekos Vrettos Quartet offering a musical journey that blends Arabic, Armenian, and Turkish influences, echoing the sounds of the Mediterranean.
25/09: Music group Pagan performing their eclectic electric folk idiom in a one-of-a-kind theatrical and musical show.