The PAP DX Blog: Release Athens Festival

Showing posts with label Release Athens Festival. Show all posts

Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Release Athens Festival X SNF Nostos 2026 - Jean Michel Jarre

I had already seen Jean Michel Jarre live 16 years ago at an indoor venue very near this year's which was an outdoor one. What I had neglected to do back then though, was to inform a very close friend of mine that I was going there. I thought he would be "too electronic" for her. You see, she is one of those rock fans who accuse me of listening to too much of "that electronic stuff". As it turned out though, she really liked him and wished she had come with me. We had to wait 16 years to rectify the situation.

Playing support was Sebastian Tellier and artist who I had first heard of through one of the first blogs I started following on Blogger, That Girl Needs Therapy. He then went on to represent France in the Eurovision Song Contest.

When his set was over, I rushed out for a brief snack (no Jackaroo at the SNFCC I'm afraid) and headed back up for the main event.

We had to wait quite a while for Jean Michel Jarre to come on stage. It seemed that he was quite late. It was worth the wait though.

Now, one of the reasons I wanted to see Jean Michel Jarre again, was that contrary to the indoor concert of 2010 this was going to be an outdoor one and I felt that this was going to be a spectacular show. Of course I didn't expect the displays he was doing at Houston and Lyon back in the 80's, but I did at least expect the lazer harp of the 2010 concert. It was nowhere to be seen however, instead there were the usual lazer displays almost everyone does these days. This didn't mean I was disappointed though, because it turned out to be a completely different show. As someone from the audience commented, comparec to the first show, this was more like a DJ set. Indeed he was playing dancier, remixed versions of some of his songs. And between tracks, his explanatory comments on the music were also translated in Greek on the screens.

He left the stage, came back for an encore, then left again leaving everybody happy.

SETLIST:

01. The Opening

02. Magnetic Fields 1

03. Sex In The Machine

04. Oxymore

05. Oxygène 2

06. Arpegiator

07. Équinoxe 7

08. The Architect

09. Zoolookologie

10. Zero Gravity (Above & Beyond Remix)

11. Industrial Révolution 2

12. Herbalizer

13. Oxygène 19

14. Exit

15. Équinoxe 4

16. Brutalism

17. Oxygène 4 (Astral Projection Remix)

18. Epica

19. Stardust

Encore:

20. Fourth Rendez-Vous

21. Magnetic Fields 2

Tuesday, 30 June 2026

Release Athens Festival 2026 - Imiskoumbria

I had first seen Imiskoumbria, a Greek hip-hop group, 10 years ago when they were celebrating their 20th anniversary. Now, they were not only celebrating their 30th anniversary, but also the title of their first album which translates as "30 Years Of Hits". What's more they hadn't played live for 10 years, since that performance I went to. This year's concert was quickly sold out before I had a chance to buy a ticket, so they soon announced a second one. I got a ticket for the latter, but a friend of mine a few days ago offered me one of hers for the first one.

A couple of guest singers, who had collaborated with them over the years, appeared on stage with them (Foivos Delivorias & Evridiki), but the most important moment came when the members of Going Through (another Greek hip hop group of that era) came up on stage to pay their respect, without performing, though.

Food was once again provided by Jackaroo, which had created an exclusive sandwich for the festival called "The Headliner".

Finally, the funniest moment of the night was when we realized that standing behind us were the same two gitls that were standing behind us at the Supergrass concert last year and had photobombed one of our selfies.

As it stands now, I will also go to the second concert in a few days with my own ticket this timr. If they are only going to play live once every ten years, why not experience it twice?

SETLIST;
01. Ta Imiz Einai Edo
02. Imiskoubria (Isagogi)
03. Le Ham
04. Katalavate I Na Kano Kai Kaka
05. Noris
06. Dimosio Forevah
07. O Kyris Tou Spitiou
08. ...Me Ti Mama Sou
09. O Erastis
10. Tsonta
11. Horevontas Me To Lipos
12. Greek Lover
13. Brazil - Imiz 1-0
14. Je Suis Bossu
15. To Sex
16. O Diavolos Katevike Sto Xolargo
17. To Doro Tou Kaisara
18. Katadotes
19. O Ypoklopeas
20. Pos Na Sou To Po
21. To Skliro Mp3 Tou Diskou
22. To Ipotheto
23. La Klikaria
24. Oi Laikes
25. METH Sto Volan
26. O Monahos
27. Voukoliko
28. An Isoun Allos
29. I Magiki Tsatsara
30. Pame Oloi Mazi Se Mia Paralia
31. Sti Discotheque

Tuesday, 25 November 2025

Release Athens Festival 2025 - Kylie Minogue

As I have already explained on my previous post thanks to Morrissey this was my second unexpected (and free) concert of 2025. I had already seen Kylie Minogue back in 2008 at Terra Vibe Park on her X tour. Having the chance to also see Loreen on the same night was an added bonus. Loreen brought dance music to Eurovision by winning the contest in 2012 with "Euphoria" and proceeded to win it again in 2023 with "Tattoo".

When I arrived at Water Square there was a dj set by DJ Antonis Dimitriadis on. I has happy to hear "Forever Young" which reminded me of the Alphaville concert in March, but also "Yellow" which brought back wonderful memories not of the Coldplay concert in June 2024 as you would expect, but of a wonderful night out in Liverpool a month before that.

While I was waiting for Loreen, I went to have my usual meal at Jackaroo. People will probably accuse me of advertising this fast food chain through my blog, but I can't help it, I love their food, and I was happy for their presence in the summer festivals this year.

As I was finishing my meal I heard Loreen announcing "a song that she had lost count of how many times she has played" and realizing that she meant "Euphoria" I rushed back to the stage. She finished with "Tattoo" her second Eurovision winner.

It was now time for Kylie. I found a place next to a big fan of hers. She came on and she didn't disappoint. As her set progressed we were suddenly transported back to Terra Vibe in 2008. She played "Shocked"! Just as she had done back then! And the hits kept on comin'! After "The Loco-Motion" she treated us to a short acapella snippet of "Where The Wild Roses Grow" and then she went into "Disco" mode playing songs from the album of the same name that had come out during the pandemic. I had not expected to hear any tracks from that album as I was expecting her to mainly promote her latest. However she performed an acoustic version of "Say Something" and a medley of "Supernova / Real Groove / Magic / Where Does The DJ Go". She even performed one song from her "indie" era, namely "Confide In Me". Towards the end there was the ubiquitous "Can't Get You Out Of My Head", my new favourite "All The Lovers" and ending with "Love At First Sight".