- The Jamaican trio debut in a city with a bustling DIY scene.
- In the past year, a German graffiti crew has taken over the streets of Athens, causing a stir in the local arts scene. A polarizing motto has crept onto the walls of many buildings in the city center, asserting that "Athens Is The New Berlin." Many locals have been quick to denounce this, rallying against any glamourization of the city's continued struggles, as well as the gentrifying perspective of foreign creatives relocating in search of cheap thrills and radical politics.
Despite a massive influx of Western capital and youth, Athens' resilience to gentrification endures. Housing prices remain among the cheapest in Europe, with the student and militant district of Exarcheia serving as a base for squatters, musicians and activists. A DIY ethos also runs through the local nightlife. Venues have sprung up in unexpected locations, from university courtyards to ring-road tunnels. Even in the more standard spaces, such as Boiler, Astron Bar or Cantina Social, the vibe feels looser than in most European cities: entry is often free, smoking restrictions are wilfully disregarded and musical purism is rejected in favour of an anything-goes approach.
For both financial and geographical reasons, international bookings are unusual in Athens, which allows homegrown collectives to hone their skills and develop vivid aesthetics. Lower Parts and Hypermedium are particularly exciting examples, with a mutual focus on footwork and futuristic bass music. Astytekk, head of the Lower Parts label, was chosen by Hypermedium to share the bill with Equiknoxx, who made their Athens debut on Friday. Also booked were Jay Glass Dubs and Echo Canyon, whose mesmerising live sets opened the night gracefully. Echo Canyon took advantage of Romantso's huge Funktion-One setup to drown the first 50 dancers in a torrent of looped vocals and apocalyptic beats. Jay Glass Dubs went a more subtle route, maintaining the shadowy atmosphere but avoiding frantic drum patterns.
It was obvious the audience were there to see Equiknoxx. As soon as their vocalist, Shanique Marie, appeared, petite and silhouetted in front of the rack of hardware, the tension in the room went up a notch. Gavin Blair and Jordan Chung's beats were astoundingly crisp throughout, ranging from 80-BPM reggae to grimy subwoofer jams. But it was Marie's feisty charisma that won everyone's hearts, her performance bridging the gap between experimental club music and lighthearted pop. Astytekk, cashing in on the floor's high energy levels, followed with a fun set full of sudden twists and turns, blending ghetto house, footwork and dancehall edits. By that point, though, the crowd was thinning out quickly.
Even so, the promoters had made their point: novelty is celebrated in Athens and it pays to make bold booking choices. With an ever-expanding array of venues and forward-thinking local acts, the city is experiencing a critical moment: either the scene bends to the effects of gentrification or its underlying DIY ethos remains intact. We can only hope the second path prevails.