Giala

Giala is a Cretan folk music group formed in Athens in 2005. The group emerged from its members’ need to share and treasure Greek traditional music. Their music derives from the vast legacy of Cretan music and extends to all the range of Greek traditional music. The words characterizing the group could be dynamic, lyrical and festive.

With three voices mixed together and with a wide variety of traditional string instruments, Giala drifts the audience into a parallel narration of traditional and contemporary sounds. Giala occasionally feature other musicians during their live performances giving the audience the chance to enjoy more instruments on stage.

Their aim is to continuously seek the treasures of traditional music and at the same time reflect contemporary creations.

Since 2005 they are performing in music theaters, concerts and festivals around Greece. Over the years they have collaborated with accomplished musicians and singers such as Psarantonis, Chainides, Georgia Ntagaki and Maria Koti. They have performed in several locations such as the Athens Technopolis and Sfentona Music Theater on the occasion of European Music Day 2011.

They have now released their first album called “Giala”. The CD contains 11 tracks; 8 original compositions and 3 cover songs, including the re-edited Nikos Xylouris’ song “Mavrofora” which was first released in 1958 and has not been published ever since.