To start out the show, we are pleased to introduce Filip Filipov, a virtuoso accordionist visiting from Bulgaria and performing in collaboration with local maestro percussionist Rumen Sali Shopov. At 10 pm, we will have a Greek folk dance set with Palamidi featuring Nick Maroussis, Greg Jenkins, Jenette Sellin on accordion and Michael Garibaldi. This group is coming together to celebrate the birthday of Jenette Sellin. As the midnight hour approaches, we will celebrate with a rockin’ Anatolian afterparty jam led by none other than Jarolim Gayri (guitarist and bouzouki wizard of Metanastys and Hadi Dede) with special guest Aharon Wheels Bolsta on drums and more friends sitting in.
Nick Maroussis is a musician based out of Seattle, Washington, where he grew up playing strings in various rock bands in the greater Seattle area. His involvement in the Greek community and lifelong participation in the dance program at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church ultimately steered his musical interest into the realm of Greek and Balkan folk music. In 2008, Nick joined Dromeno, a folk music ensemble led by Balkan music veterans Ruth Hunter and Christos Govetas.
Nick has dedicated himself to the musical traditions of Greece, focusing primarily on the laouto (Greek lute), bouzouki, and guitar. Nick has performed at a wide array of dance symposiums, concerts, workshops, and parties around the U.S., Canada, and Greece as a part of Seattle-based bands Dromeno, Palamidhi, and Pasatempo Rebetika.
Filip Filipov Bio
Filip Filipov was born in Varna, Bulgaria and has been a musician since he was a child. At just 6, he was taken by his sister to the Children’s Orchestra at the Macedonian House in Varna. There he began to quickly stand out as a tapan player competing with other young musicians and performed in his first concert that same year. At the age of 11, he was invited by Maria Staneva, choreographer of the Bulgarche Ensemble, to join his first international tour. He performed all across Western and Eastern Europe over the next several years.
During his military service, Filip played in the Army Ensemble in Sliven; first as a tapan player and later as an accordionist. After his service, Filip joined the Varna Ensemble and also performed in many other wedding orchestras including Aksakovska Group, Orchestra Kabile, Orchestra Panorama and many more, playing accordion and keyboard. He also formed his own wedding orchestra and performed throughout Bulgaria. Filip also performed with various bands in many restaurants and clubs while performing Bulgarian, Serbian and Greek music. He has a CD of his work and often appears on television playing many of his compositions.
While living in Denmark, Filip found like-minded musicians and joined the Orpheus Balkan Ensemble while continuing to promote Balkan music. He also had the honor of playing with the virtuoso Nedyalko Nedyalkov and his trio. Filip’s music workshops and performances have taken him to Germany, England, Scotland, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Turkey, the Netherlands, Spain, the Czech Republic and Brazil. Last year, he had the opportunity to perform across the US while accompanying Jaap Leegwater on his dance tour and this year he returns to the US again to teach, perform and play for various dance groups. Don’t miss this talented superstar!