biographical info
The Rembetika Hipsters are a Greek music group based in Calgary, Canada. Our repertoire includes authentic Greek Rembetika songs, original compositions with Mediterranean style, contemporary belly-dance instrumentals and jazzy bouzouki pop. A feature of many of their shows is the appearance of the Studio Sublime dancers, an accomplished belly dance troupe which never fails to excite and enchant the audience.
The Hipsters have been evolving in Calgary, Canada since 1996. It all started with Nick Diochnos and Allen Baekeland, who got together to play some tunes at a local Greek restaurant. Ben Johnson (percussion) joined in August 1997, and Lincoln Frey (clarinet, melodeon) in September 1998. Brigitte Dajczer (violin) joined in October 1999.
In their long history the Rembetika Hipsters have played all over Calgary's Greek restaurants and clubs, as well as cabarets such as the Night Gallery, Ship & Anchor, the Ranchmen's Club, One Yellow Rabbit's Big Secret Theatre, and the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, Quebec. Festivals such as The 2001 Calgary Folk Festival, The Harbourfront World's Fare festival in Toronto, The Calgary Hellenic Communities' Annual Greek Festival, The Calgary Heritage Day and Mosaic festivals, Alberta's South Country Fair, and the Niagara Region's Folk Arts Festival have become our mainstay. We also perform at many special events such as Canada Day, Bermuda Shorts Day at the U of C, and the Calgary Zoo's annual fundraiser, ZooGala.
lineup
Ben Johnson Percussion, baglama, graphics, web
Nick Diochnos Bouzouki, vocals
Lincoln Frey Clarinet, melodeon, baglama
Brigitte Dajczer Violin
influences
Anestos Delias
Leonardos Bournelis
Lester Young
Markos Vamvakaris
Merle Haggard