Concert in Gazi, Athens

The best music festivals of the Greek summer

Music festivals and Greek summers were made for each other.
Music festivals and Greek summers were made for each other.
READING TIME
As long as it takes to drink a Greek coffee

Music festivals and Greek summers were made for each other. Each year, some of the biggest names in the music industry head to Greece and perform concerts covering every musical taste, many of them outdoors and after sunset. Here are some of the most keenly anticipated festivals.

Rockwave Festival

A mainstay for over 20 years, Rockwave has achieved legendary status, drawing some of the most prestigious names in the business. Black Sabbath, Portishead, Moby, Prodigy, Twisted Sister, Bruce Dickinson, The Cure, DJ Shadow, DIO, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are amongst those who have rocked Athens at the Rockwave Festival, not to mention the Black Keys, Robbie Williams and Kyle Minogue. Since 2004, it has been held in Terra Vibe in Malakasa, which covers an area of 40,000 square metres and is the largest and most modern venue in the country.

Ejekt Festival

The Ejekt Festival burst onto the Athens concert scene in 2005 with performances by the Chemical Brothers, Dave Clarke and Bent. It has since become an institution, attracting crowds exceeding 55,000 who value the alternative music. Recently being staged in Platia Nerou, in Faliro, by the sea, it takes every opportunity to support and showcase up-and-coming and local artists, putting them on the same stage as international legends.

Release Athens Festival

A dynamic new addition to the summer programme has appeared recently, with the Release Athens, a festival the promises to bring colour and verve to the stage. In 2016, Fuzz Live Music Club celebrated 10 years on the Athens concert scene by presenting this new festival in Athens. Amongst its headliners were Beirut, the Black Angels Parov Stelar and the scene was set. Since then Jamaican rapper Damian Marley, American legend Iggy Pop and heavy metal band Manowar have all made iconic appearances.