Institute of Contemporary Arts

Cafe Antarsia

"High passion world folk and Americana with streaks of Greek blues, Balkan rhythm and working-class fire..."

Composer Nikos Brisco and playwright/lyricist Ruth Margraff will perform theatrical songs from their new album inspired by Greek Rebetiko blues, Kritika rebel songs and Balkan Roma music, rooted in the rhythms of Middle Eastern percussion and Americana folk. They recorded their most recent work in 2006 in the sanctuary of Pagosa Springs, Colorado after a four-month Fulbright New Opera fellowship in Athens, Thessaloniki, Paros and Crete. The songs feature exotic, handmade instruments such as French gypsy guitar, Greek bouzouki and accordion. Greek-Texan Brisco's hauntingly urgent melodies are complemented by the panoramic poetics and portrait-driven lyrics of Margraff.

£6 / £5 Concessions / £4 ICA Members.