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Music, dance, theatre, and performance art headline the cultural calendars in all of Night+Day’s cool cities. We combed through dozens of annual performing arts festivals worldwide, and here are the best of the best.
The Draw: A classic summer extravaganza of the arts that begins in June and culminates in August with the Epidaurus Theater Festival and the Full Moon Festival. The Scene: The Athens Festival is a veritable orgy of all things creative and has run for more than half a century. The organizers pull together everything they can find both locally and from abroad, and unleash their findings on an eager public. Opera, theatre, dance, music, and fine and experimental art are all brought together in a calendar of absolute quality. Exhibitions, workshops, and parallel events supplement the festival, making those hot three months in Athens a bit more exciting. Hot Tip: During the Full Moon Festival, archaeological sites, including the Acropolis, remain open late into the night, and concerts take place throughout the city.
European Music Day
June, various venues, Free musicday.gr
The Draw: June’s European Music Day is a worldwide festival celebrating the summer solstice. In Greece, it is a musical network of cities; in Athens, more than 100 bands perform over three days. The Scene: Nothing promotes the good times like European Music Day. With free admission and performances by both amateur and professional musicians, the festival is held in open-air spots throughout the continent. In Athens, the city’s central squares, or “plateias,” take center stage, and the city becomes a giant playground where music explorers can bask in the majesty of participating artists such as Neneh Cherry’s Cirkus, Modrec, and Rodes. Every genre is accounted for in this festival, and the laid-back vibes guarantee an excellent atmosphere every time. Hot Tip: The main stages are all very close together and within walking distance. Grab a program and a map, and make your own festival schedule. Don’t forget Syntagma Square for the legendary late-night DJ sets!
The Draw: For three days in June, Athens transforms itself to welcome back the summer with one of the most dynamic events of the year, the Synch festival. Showcasing innovative music, film, and new media from around the world, the festival is devoted to variety and experimentalism. The Scene: Synch is hosted by Technopolis and the Benaki Museum, and the festival’s six main stages, which draw crowds with the promise of vibrancy and ingenuity, last year saw the likes of Roisin Murphy, Stereolab, Four Tet, Pilooski, and Andrew Weatherall work their magic on appreciative audiences. Nearby venues Bios, K44, Motel Club, and Yoga Bala host additional events that put the spotlight on rising talents, making the festival one of discovery. Hot Tip: Technopolis is next to Keramikos, a popular arts district with a banging nightlife. Look out for unofficial events being held in honor of Synch—there’ll be plenty to choose from!
