The «Southern Festivals» are making a vibrant return for their seventh year, bringing fresh and unexpected musical encounters to picturesque harbors, squares, and historic sites that enhance the cultural wealth of the Municipality of Monemvasia.
On July 10, the renowned jazz ensemble Human Touch, one of the longest-standing groups in the Greek jazz scene, will showcase their spontaneous expression and improvisation. They promise a unique blend of jazz and ethnic sounds with Mediterranean influences, set against the backdrop of the illuminated fishing boats in the harbor of Old Monemvasia.
On August 7, ADÉDÈJÌ, accompanied by the Fat Band, will merge sacred African rhythms with the soul of jazz, funk, and blues, creating a fresh and explosive musical concoction. This performance aims to breathe new life into the historic shipyard in Neapolis, Laconia.
On September 12, the band «Under the Tree,» with their extensive experience and unexpected melodic narratives, will stir a magical musical pot of blues, rebetiko, traditional rhythms, and pentatonic sounds from around the world, next to the Byzantine church of Saint Nicholas in Monemvasia.
The music festival «OSTRIA – Southern Festivals» is a volunteer-driven, non-profit, and collaborative initiative, brought to life by young people residing in Vathika, Laconia, under the legal framework of the social cooperative enterprise Thymbri.
In a statement, the organizers express:
«OSTRIA is the blending of live music with the beauty of our land, but more importantly, with its people. In an era where social isolation has a human cost, the Southern Festivals aim to discover new ways of sharing, socializing, and entertaining.»
Through cultural activities that embrace both the past and the present, the festival seeks to connect with select villages in Southeastern Laconia and envisions revitalizing the countryside for a sustainable life.
The «Southern Festivals» began organically and spontaneously in 2018 by a group of young individuals who returned to live in Neapolis, Laconia. Over the years, they have been organized with passion and care in the Municipality of Monemvasia, hosting notable artists such as Dimitris Mystakidis, Ross Daly, Psarogiorgis, Electric Litany, Mode Plagal, Gkintiki, and Pleiades.
Detailed Program for OSTRIA – Southern Festivals 2026:
July 10, 2026: Human Touch, at the Harbor of Old Monemvasia
August 7, 2026: Fat Band & ADÉDÈJÌ, at Shipyard, Neapolis Laconia
September 12, 2026: Under the Tree, at Saint Nicholas Monemvasia
Admission is by free contribution.
Contact Information:
Email: ostriafest@gmail.com
Anastasia-Aretí Gavrili: +30 6932507219
