The musical summer of 2024 was at risk of being jeopardised due to serious structural problems that arose in the Kalatrava roof of the Olympic Stadium. However, the necessary repairs have been completed, and everything is ready to…kick off. From Marousi and the OAKA to Plateia Nerou and the Peace and Friendship Stadium (Eirinis & Filias), over to the fully renovated Municipal Theater of Lykavittos to the Technopolis in Gazi and the Herodion, all of Athens will transform for four whole months that will be from June-September, into a huge stage from which famous foreign bands and A-list artists will play their tunes.
Coldplay frenzy
When the news broke last July that Coldplay were coming to Athens for the first time for a concert in 2024 as part of the “Music of the Spheres” tour, something unprecedented happened for Greek standards. Hundreds of thousands of fans of the famous British band waited for hours in front of their screens to secure the magical ticket that would allow them to enjoy live the most sought-after and successful band of the era. This frenzy inevitably led to the addition of a second date, so Chris Martin and his crew will set the stage on fire at the OAKA between June 8-9.
Greek fans of the band did not hesitate to dig deep into their pockets, as ticket prices, which disappeared at record speed, ranged from 53 to 995 euros. After the exhaustion of the available tickets, the well-known phenomenon of international golden resale followed by various websites, at prices exceeding even 4,000 euros! At the time of writing these lines, however, on the viagogo.gr website, one could find some, few tickets, most of them at the high stands of the OAKA, at prices ranging from 249 to 372 euros.
What is happening in Athens, however, is not unprecedented, at least for Coldplay, who have been packing the world’s largest stadiums for years. It is no coincidence that they have earned the title of the most successful and influential band of the 21st century, with their album sales exceeding 100 million, their successes becoming irresistible on music platforms and social media, their rich collection of awards including, among many others, seven Grammys, and their latest global tour, which started in 2022 and continues, having brought them record profits of nearly $1 billion.
For Coldplay’s two concerts in Athens the band chose to open with two artists: one foreign and one Greek. The first is the British singer-songwriter Maisie Peters, who, since she started her musical journey in 2018 until today, has managed to impress with her fresh presence and high-pitched performances.
The Greek artist is named Antonia Kaouri, she is 26 years old, and she was introduced to the public through her participation in the talent show “The Voice,” from which, however, she had to withdraw prematurely, while being a favorite to win, when she fell ill with COVID-19. Her very good presence, however, secured her a record deal, and thus officially began her musical journey, which so far includes covers of older Greek songs.
Athens Rocks with Lenny Kravitz
One of the most popular and timeless rock artists of the last 50 years, the evergreen Lenny Kravitz, will visit Athens after 16 whole years to give a concert on August 2nd at the OAKA stadium as part of the “AthensRocks” festival. Singer, musician, guitarist, fashion icon, actor, producer, composer, and activist, this multi-talented artist has been navigating the musical streets of rock for four decades, occasionally marrying it with soul and funk, creating powerful songs which he uniquely delivers to the audience with his exceptional voice and dynamic stage presence. In Athens, he will arrive with his luggage packed with songs from his new album titled “Blue Electric Light,” which has just been released.
As part of the same festival, returning to Greece 19 years after their last appearance, is the popular rock band from California, Queens Of The Stone Age, for a concert on July 27th, also at the OAKA stadium.
Μeanwhile, among the first to kick off this year’s concert season are Rammstein, who return to Greece after 14 years for a powerful musical evening on May 30th at the Olympic Stadium. The German superstars promise the Greek audience a spectacular show in celebration of their 30-year music career anniversary.
Ejekt Festival
When young Italian Damiano David appeared on the final night of the 2021 Eurovision, along with his band, Maneskin, delivering explosively a rock piece in Italian style, many recognized in him a new global rock star. And they were right. The Italians lifted the cup of the Eurovision Song Contest and in record time managed to gain international fame, their songs went viral, and they found themselves giving concerts in packed stadiums worldwide, even alongside legendary names like the Rolling Stones.
So, the moment has come for us to see up close this new musical phenomenon, as they will be the protagonists of this year’s Ejekt Festival. The charismatic Damiano David and his musical companions will be at the OAKA on July 23rd to give their first concert on Greek soil.
A day earlier, on July 22nd, at the OAKA, the stage will be dominated by hard rock sounds as the “giants” of the scene for that night will be Korn. Timeless representatives of Nu metal, the musical genre that blends heavy metal with elements of hip hop, industrial, grunge, etc., the American band formed in 1993 has managed to create a large and loyal fanbase, selling over 40 million records and being honored with two Grammy Awards.
Duran Duran and Massive Attack
This year’s program of the Release Athens festival, hosted once again at Plateia Nerou, will be rich and diverse. The beloved by the Greek audience Duran Duran will be back in the country on July 18th to share with the audience their timeless hits as well as new tracks.
Meanwhile, Massive Attack, who had to cancel their scheduled concert in Athens last year due to serious health issues of their guitarist Angelo Bruschini, who sadly passed away last October at the age of just 62, want to compensate the Greek audience this year with a live performance on July 17th at Plateia Nerou.
The festival will also host two important representatives of the heavy metal scene, Megadeth and Judas Priest, on June 14th and June 21st respectively, Pulp on June 20th, Thievery Corporation on July 9th, and more.
Sting and Loreena McKennit at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus
It’s amazing that Sting will return to Athens for two concerts on July 5th and 6th at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. With the Acropolis shining in the night, it will be a unique experience. Also, the return of Loreena McKennitt to the Herod Atticus to celebrate the anniversary of “The Mask and Mirror” will be exciting.
Also, Charles Lloyd, despite his 86 years, continues to enchant the audience with his passion and skill in jazz. The presence of Maria Farantouri in his program creates an interesting dialogue with Greek musical tradition and the compositions of Mikis Theodorakis.
Placebo and Archive at the Amphitheater of Lycabettus
The newly restored Lycabettus Municipal Theater will host a series of amazing concerts this year, starting with the pioneers of progressive rock, Archive, on June 14th. Additionally, the Rockwave Nights will bring beloved music to a stage filled with big names such as Placebo (August 1st) and Ara Malikian (June 25th), Mika (July 2nd), Opeth (July 3rd), Machine Heads (July 4th), Pink Martini (July 15th), Imany (July 16th), and many others. Lycabettus will become the preferred destination for music lovers this summer.
Nick Cave returns for three concerts in Greece, this time at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, on June 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, accompanied by Radiohead’s bassist, Colin Greenwood. Meanwhile, the Primer Music Festival at Plateia Nerou will host Dutch DJ and producer Martin Garrix, a protagonist of the international dance scene, on September 8th.
The Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame at Ancient Olympia
The Primer Music Festival at Plaka Nerou also hosts Röyksopp, the influential electronica duo from Norway, on September 7th. In addition to them, Argy, the Danish DJ and producer Morten, as well as the pioneer of new house music, Gordo (formerly DJ Carnage), will perform. Announcements are also expected for more names to be presented at the festival.
Here’s the translation:
**APRIL**
April 27: SIVERT HOYEM, Floyd Live – Athens
April 28: SIVERT HOYEM, Principal Club Theater – Thessaloniki
**MAY**
May 17: MILES KANE, ARCH Club
May 30: RAMMSTEIN, OAKA
May 31: STILL CORNERS, Gagarin 205
**JUNE**
June 3: BADBADNOTGOOD, Technopolis
June 5: FLESHTONES, An Club
June 7: DEUS, Floyd Live – Athens
June 8: COLDPLAY, OAKA
June 9: COLDPLAY, OAKA
THE OFFSPRING, THE SUBWAYS, Water Square
June 11: PARKWAY DRIVE, FLOYD
June 13: ANOHNI & THE JOHNSONS, Herodion
June 14: ARCHIVE, Lycabettus Theater
MEGADEATH, BLIND GUARDIAN, GRAND MAGUS, Water Square
June 15: PAROV STELAR, JAIN, TELENOVA, Water Square
June 20: PULP, THE SMILE, RIDE, Water Square
June 25: ARA MALIKIAN, Lycabettus Theater
June 26: LORRENA McKENNITT
June 27: DIRE STRAITS LEGACY, Technopolis
**JULY**
July 2: KASABIAN, OAKA
MIKA, Lycabettus Theater
July 3: OPETH, LEPROUS, Lycabettus Theater
July 4: MACHINE HEAD, Lycabettus Theater
July 5: STING, Herodion
July 6: STING, Herodion
July 9: THIEVERY CORPORATION, BLACK PUMAS, Water Square
July 12: ASAF AVIDAN, Lycabettus Theater
PEGGY GOO, TAE KVO NTO
July 13: JACOB COLLIER, Lycabettus Theater
July 14: FEVER RAY, Lycabettus Theater
July 15: DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER, Technopolis
PINK MARTINI, Lycabettus Theater
July 16: SMASHING PUMPKINS, TOM MORELLO, Peace and Friendship Stadium
IMANY Lycabettus Theater
July 17: MASSIVE ATTACK, Water Square
July 18: DURAN DURAN, SOFI TUKKER, Water Square
CHARLES LLOYD, Herodion
July 21: JUDAS PRIEST, BRUCE DICKINSON, ACCEPT, Water Square
July 22: KORN OAKA
July 23: MANESKIN, OAKA
July 24: BRING ME THE HORIZON, OAKA
July 27: QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, OAKA
July 28: BEHEMOTH, PESTILENCE, TESTAMENT, Water Square
**AUGUST**
August 1: PLACEBO, Lycabettus Theater
August 2: LENNY KRAVITZ, OAKA
**SEPTEMBER**
September 3: POSTMODERN, Technopolis
September 7: ROYKSOPP, Water Square
September 8: MARTIN GARRIX, Water Square
