"Keeping watch by a barren cape and the Southern Cross behind the braces. You're holding coral worry-beads and chewing bitter coffee beans." From 'Southern Cross' , Nikos Kavvadias

Join Vangelis Loulis and friends for a voyage into the moving and inspiring world of Nikos Kavvadias. A life on the ocean as a wireless operator and the never ending discovery of new horizons and mysterious seascapes was to shape Kavvadias' entire poetic repertoire. It is a repertoire which expresses the sentiments of generations of Greek seamen. Many singers including Dalaras have paid tribute to Kavvadias but performances are rare outside Greece.

Set to the ambient and atmospheric music of Thanos Mikroutsikos, this debut concert pays tribute to the 'poet of the sea'. Performed by some of Sydney's finest musicians and introduced by Greek expert, Dr Alfred Vincent, it is guaranteed to evoke powerful imagery of a life at sea.

Background:

Nikos Kavvadias was in every sense a poet of the sea. Born in 1910 he first set sail in 1929 and spent the rest of his life at sea, travelling the world, as a wireless operator and 'part time' poet, until his death in 1975.
Kavvadias collection of poems, 'Marabou', was published in 1933, 'Pousi' in 1947, and 'Traverso' in 1975. He also wrote a novel, 'Vardia' and several short stories, one of which, 'Li' was produced as a film titled "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" in 1995.

Credits:

Vangelis Loulis - producer/vocals
Maria Georgiou - violin
Gus Nikopoulos - acoustic guitar
Nick Sinclair - bass
Chris Kamzelas - electric guitar
Fab Omodei - drums
Chris Dopson - piano keyboard
Introduction - Dr Alfred Vincent