Kontrabando, founded by qanun player Alkis Zopoglou, features music from the southern Balkans and serves as a connecting link between the dynamic sound of the Balkans and the tropical music of the Mediterranean, creating an original sonic experience.

Under the sounds of seagulls and fishing boats, amidst the paved alleys of the Old Town and Mohammed Ali’s Imaret, the grandiose monument overlooking the port of his birthplace Kavala in Northern Greece, is where kanun virtuoso and composer Alkis Zopoglou composes his music.

Profoundly melodic, at times rhythmical almost Dionysian and at times lyrical and cinematic, his tunes exchange contraband musical cargoes with the musicians aboard his band “Kontrabando” journey.

With his qanun at the forefront (the “canon” for the maqams, the musical scales of the East), Zopoglou’s compositions are enriched with the introduction of various both eastern and western instuments (violin, guitar, accordeon, oud, clarinet, drums etc.) evoking timbre bearing Greek, Balkan, Mediterranean, Jazz, Classical, even Rock colors.

This sound combination results in an original sonic journey that captivates the listener with its uniqueness.

​Kontrabando is available all year with a music program that can be customized to meet the requirements of any festival or venue.