“We just wanted to listen to music we like and then people started supporting us.”
What do a math teacher, farmer, business controller, bartender, agriculturist, fireman, engineer and other occupations have in common? Besides being friends, they enjoy progressive music that’s perhaps not often readily available in Greece. In 2012, almost two dozen of these friends came together and decided to throw a one day music festival for their friends. When almost three hundred people showed up, they knew they had hit the right note with others who have similar tastes in music.
Alex Chronis, Nick Voulgaris and Johnny Nikoviotis are founding members of the Los Almiros Festival which takes place August 5th and August 6th 2016 outside Volos, Greece. They sat down via FaceTime and explained why providing good music without an entrance fee is something they believe in so strongly and has succeeded so well with attendance numbers now in the thousands that most people can’t believe they still don’t get paid to host this event.
With the Greek economy struggling, many young people can’t afford to attend concerts or travel much. This event allows for anyone to join in and since starting, they are proud of staying free to attend. They explain why they want this to be available to all saying, “This is a movement, not just a festival.” And they have seen the event go from one day to three days, from three hundred people to an expected 7000 people in attendance this year. Any profits from the alcohol and food go directly to the costs of bringing famous “progressive” bands to Greece and there are no plans to enact a cover charge or allow sponsors to take away the quality of the environment with advertising efforts.
Fotis Nikolaides is planning to attend again this year and loves the accessibility of the music festival. But more importantly, the fun atmosphere has kept him coming back year after year.
There will be ten bands this year- Truckfighters from Sweden, VIC from Greece, Lionize from USA, Godsleep from Greece and Birthday Kicks from Greece will play on Friday, August 5th and The Rumjacks from Australia, The Flying Eyes from USA, Baildsa from Greece, Fundracar from Greece and Xatzifrageta from Greece will play on Saturday, August 6th.
You can find more information on the festival at http://losalmirosfestival.com or https://facebook.com/losalmiros.rockradio/.
For a glimpse at last year’s event, you can watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KODFSZfvyyI.