Step into the smokey cafes and shadowed streets of old Piraeus... for a brief lunchtime concert featuring Greek rebetika songs—music born of desire, heartbreak, and ultimate resilience. This concert features rebetika songs about love and speaks to the many dimensions of the human heart—affection, longing, separation, and enduring connection.

The Rebetiko Roots Ensemble is committed to the sound and spirit of early rebetika. Featuring Yona Stamatis (voice, bouzouki, violin), Dimitris Glaros (voice, bouzouki, violin, oud), Joe Sandy (accordion), and Trenton Perry (guitar), the ensemble brings together rich textures and expressive performance to honor this monumental Greek urban folk tradition. Their repertoire focuses on early-style rebetika, highlighting its raw emotion, intimate storytelling, and distinctive instrumental sound.

The concert is co-hosted by the UIS Music Program and the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield.