Rebetiko-concerten en liveshows in London

Rebetiko originated in the urban centers of early 20th-century Greece and Asia Minor, primarily among marginalized refugee populations following the 1922 population exchange. Often described as the Greek Blues, the genre centers on instruments like the bouzouki and baglamas, supported by acoustic guitar and occasionally accordion or violin. Its rhythmic foundation is defined by traditional dance meters such as the heavy, introspective 9/8 Zeibekiko and the brisk, communal 2/4 Hasapiko. Characterized by themes of exile, poverty, and social defiance, Rebetiko maintains a melancholic yet resilient mood, bridging the gap between Ottoman-influenced Smyrneika and the later mainstream evolution of Laïko music as a definitive expression of the urban subculture.