About this Event
Greek, Roma, Armenian, Albanian, Turkish & Jewish songs with Kostantis Kourmadias, Laura Shannon and special guest Heloise Pilkington.
Date: Friday 27th March 2026
Glastonbury, Somerset at the Goddess Hall.
This concert presents ancient traditional songs from Eastern Europe and the Middle East, as well as original compositions. Christian, Jewish and Muslim love songs can be read as mystic poems which honour the earth and witness the soul’s journey. We honour shared musical, cultural and spiritual traditions of East and West, singing songs to emphasise our connection and plant seeds of acceptance and understanding among different peoples and faiths.
The Saz is a Byzantine long-necked lute, played by all religious and ethnic groups in the Near East. It is tuned to ancient non-tempered Eastern modes, based on microtones which have been excluded from our Western musical scale. The Saz creates a meditative atmosphere and allows rich emotional expression for both musician and listeners, honouring all the feelings of life’s journey. Since antiquity, the Saz has been used to channel healing energy. As you listen, we invite you to relax, enjoy, and dream.
Kostantis Kourmadias plays the Byzantine saz (long-necked lute) with virtuosity and deep emotion, specialising in the oldest forms of traditional music, particularly island music and the Greek music of Asia Minor, where his grandparents were born. He teaches Byzantine music at the Pallini Music High School in Athens, where for nearly 40 years he has helped pioneer the rebirth of the saz in Greek music. He is also an accomplished singer and master of the violin.
Laura Shannon has dedicated her life to researching and teaching dance and music of the Balkans and Near East since 1985, particularly women’s ritual dances. Since 1981 she has studied frame drum and traditional percussion, as well as modal/microtonal music from various cultures, exploring the inherently healing powers of ancient rhythms and 'lost frequencies'.
Kostantis and Laura perform regularly in Greece, Europe, and the USA. Their CDs Taxidi, Limani, and Lavra are available from www.laurashannon.net.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Goddess Hall, 29 Benedict Street, Glastonbury, United Kingdom
GBP 16.96
