Alkinoos Ioannidis
The Small Suitcase Tour
Brighton: Corn Exchange, October 15t – tickets: https://goo.gl/nGjQdD
Birmingham: The Glee Club, October 18th 2016 – tickets: https://booking.glee.co.uk/13577
London: Union Chapel, October 20th 2016 – tickets: http://www.seetickets.com/event/alkinoosioannidis/union-chapel/962586/
Manchester: Gorilla, October 22nd 2016 – tickets: http://www.seetickets.com/event/alkinoosioannidis/gorilla/1020139
“What would I put in a small suitcase? What would I keep from the land and the version of myself I’d be leaving behind?”
Alkinoos Ioannidis is one of the most well loved Greek songwriters and performers. His amalgamation of Cypriot and Greek influences along with byzantine, classical and rock music elements, in addition to his unique vocal delivery, have seen him transcend the confines of the international Greek community and resulted in his first worldwide release, “Local Stranger”, in 2012. “The Small Suitcase” album moves his song writing beyond Greek borders as the country continues to find itself at the heart of an unprecedented economic and refugee crisis. Alkinoos dedicated this record to “both those forced to leave their homeland and those who feel their homeland has deserted them”. A collection of songs inspired by the process refugees face when fleeing all that they’ve ever known. “How do you choose what’s actually essential? How do you pack away your memories? Those moments of happiness and pain, the moments which make us who we really are”.
His prolific output (over 50 solo records and collaborative releases) has only been matched by his touring schedule, which has included shows in major cities in Europe, the US and beyond. Standout performances include Celtic Connections Festival, Madison Square Garden and The Lincoln Centre (NYC), Queen Elizabeth Hall and Union Chapel (London), Berlin Philharmonie, the Acropolis theatre (Athens), the ancient theatre at Epidaurus and shows with the RSNO and St Petersburg Philarmonia. The 2016 “Small Suitcase” tour will include dates in Australia, Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Luxembourg among others.
On this journey, Alkinoos will be accompanied by some of best soloists in Greece. This is a unique coming together of creative minds, always searching for a new approach to musical arrangement every time they meet.
Alkinoos Ioannidis: Vocals, acoustic guitar, lute
Yiorgos Kaloudis: Acoustic cello, Cretan lyra
Manolis Pappos: Bouzouki, Lute
Fotis Siotas: Violin
Dimitris Tsekouras: Double bass
UK media feedback:
The Guardian: ‘A soulful voice, quietly epic melodies that can switch from impressive acoustic or symphonic back to rock’.
The Times: ‘A soft spoken poet, with a wry, self-mocking sense of humour’.
The Scotsman: ‘ Beguiling vocals – whose compass extended from sombrely resonant depths to a liquid, warmly imploring upper register’.