Elias Kakaroukas

Elias “Kakaroukas” Aristopoulos, born in 1955 in Agrinio, Aitoloakarnania, is considered one of the leading virtuosos of the pipiza. Self-taught, he started playing at the age of 14, inspired by his father, also a virtuoso of the same instrument. Elias is accompanied by Chrysovalantis Soutas, born in 1974 in Agrinio, on “iso” or drone pipiza. Chrysovalantis started as his apprentice at the age of 15. Kostas “Bekos” Theodoropoulos, also a self-taught musician, born in 1976 in Messolonghi, performs on the small drum. Elias’s group will be accompanied by members of the “St. Symios” Association of Feast-Goers, as they present an authentic snapshot of the ‘panigyri’ [feast] that takes place in Messolonghi.