AMKA + Support Urban Spree, Berlin am 07.05.24

Amka is a band of 4 musical humans. Separately, they have been performing for the last 20 years all over Europe, and together they work out of Dudu Loft Studio in the belly of Athens, Greece.

Each member lends their own experience in punk, kraut rock, math rock, jazz and pop to the others, and combined they create dancing music on the edge of these genres.

After meeting at Prince Claus Conservatoire in the Netherlands, founding members Dimitris Koulentianos (bass) and Dimitris Kalamaras (guitar) experimented with different constellations of collaborators, culminating in a string of wild concerts and the release of hard jazz album “First Sessions” (Polyscope, 2019).

Due to personal and global circumstances, the duo decided to return to Athens and change direction. The need for connection with the audience was greater than ever, and led them to focus on grooves and melodies that could take people to a state of ecstasy. Enlisting improviser Chris Scott (vocals, guitar) and a succession of talented drummers, they began to shape their new sound over the course of 2022.

The group’s self-produced videos caught the attention of Australian power-sextet King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, who asked them to open their two summer shows in Athens. On the strength of these performances, AMKA has been booked at festivals and venues around Greece, and they’ll be on their first European tour in May 2024. 

The band released 2 double-A-side singles, “Looking for Us / Yellow Yard”, with accompanying videos, and “Grantham / Elephant”, in late 2022. They spent the following months producing their new album, “On Patrol”, which was released in December 2023.