Sunday May 12 at 8 PM we return to live performance after being on hiatus since last September. It will be at the venerable Ironwood Stage and Grill, 1229 9 Ave SE in the Inglewood district of Calgary. This is without a doubt the premier club venue in the city. Great sightlines, superlative staff, delicious food and their secret weapon, JT. John Telgen is the finest sound mixer I’ve ever worked with in 30+ years of gigs, and his resume includes stints with the Grateful Dead and the Rolling Stones, so some little Greek band is not going to phase him in the slightest.  Stupidly good sound.

We’re looking forward to showing off our (fairly) new percussionist Jon May as well – he played drums on the last album Kafeneion on Lincoln Frey’s 7/8 banger “Snakes at the Euxine” and sat in with us at Pegasus last year after Malcolm Lim left the group, but this is the first real show our Calgary fans get to see him in action. He’s goood.

So, on this, the feast of πασκα, we wish you the best of the season and hope to see you next Sunday!

June began for the Rembetika Hipsters with a quick trip to the east and west sides of Kootenay Lake. The BC interior is rapidly becoming our favourite place to play!  Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Penticton (home of Theo’s, the best Greek restaurant in the country), Slocan, Crawford Bay and Nelson have been the sites of memorable shows and great hospitality.

Friday night, June 1, was cold and rainy in Nelson but we got a rousing welcome from the staff and patrons at the Main St Diner. For the first time since playing Littlefest last summer we got to perform with our former percussionist Ben Johnson, who now calls Riondel in the East Koots home. The retsina flowed, the pastitsio was delicious, the patrons danced with abandon. Many thanks to Nancy and her staff.

Saturday we took the ferry across the lake to Crawford Bay, home of the fabulous music festival known as Starbelly Jam, at which we last performed in summer 2008. The event was a benefit dance at the community hall to fund a hot lunch programme for schoolkids. Farley Cursons was the organizer – his food for the ticketholders was excellent, especially the fasolada.  also thanks go out to Allan for sound and Jennifer for keeping us musicians happy.  We were joined by belly dancers Ashala, Slava and Sasha and regular dancers – the assembled citizenry of the East Side…a great night all around.

Pictures to follow.