Giorgos Xylouris

Giorgos "George" Xylouris (, born September 25, 1965), also known as Psarogiorgis (Greek: Ψαρογιώργης), is a Cretan laouto player and singer.

Xylouris was born into a musical family (his father is Psarantonis (Antonis Xylouris), himself born in 1937; his uncle Nikos Xylouris (1936-1980); his cousin -Nikos's son- Giorgis Xylouris (1960-2015), etc.?), and he grew up in Anogeia, their mountain village in Crete, with a rich musical culture. Xylouris started playing the Cretan laouto, a relative of the lute, at an early age,Περιοδικό "Τα Κρητικά", Τεύχος 5ο, Ιούνιος 2008 ("Ta kritika" Magazine - Issue 5, June 2008) guided by his uncle Psarogiannis. From eleven years old, he would accompany his father at village functions, and participate in recordings. Giorgos lived for eight years in Melbourne, Australia, where he formed the Xylouris Ensemble "in the early 1990s". Two of the Xylouris Ensemble's albums, Antipodes (1998) and Drakos (1999), were nominated for the ARIA Fine Arts Awards in Australia. The Xylouris Ensemble later expanded to include a younger generation of players, including Psarogiorgis' sons Nikos and Adonis Xylouris.

Xylouris plays the laouto as a solo instrument, in contrast to the traditional accompaniment role the laouto has in Cretan music. Normally in an ensemble, the laouto provides the rhythmic backing to the lyra, which is par excellence a singer's instrument. In the less usual role of lead instrument he has made the laouto a melodic instrument to frame and adorn song.Περιοδικό: "Δίφωνο", Τεύχος 130, Ιούλιος 2006 ("Difono" Magazine - Issue 130, July 2006)Musical Workshop Labyrinth "Lute master returns, Neos Kosmos 11 March 2010

Xylouris has performed extensively both in his native Crete, in his second home Australia, and internationally at world music festivals, collaborating with musicians from both folk and rock traditions, including Australian drummer Jim White in the duo Xylouris White, and with Bill Callahan and Bonnie "Prince" Billy on their 2021 album Blind Date Party.

Discography Albums Title Details Xylouris Ensemble Released: 1995 Daphne Released: 1996 Antipodes Released: 1998 Label: Hi-Gloss Records Drakos Released: 1999 Label: Hi-Gloss Records Antipodes 2 Released: 2002 Label: Σείστρον Live in Melbourne Released: 2010 Label: Xylouris Ensemble In a Strange Land / Επί Γης Αλλοτρίας An anthology of Greek-Australian songs and music. It features the musicians of the Xylouris Ensemble on two tracks: "Pink Lakes" and "There Are Moments". The latter is a Giorgos Xylouris composition. Released: 2011

Giorgos Xylouris

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