Release Athens x SNF Nostos 2023: Rosalía, Central Cee, Tinashe, IAMDDB, Ayra Starr

Don’t you love it when music festivals showcase artists right when they’re happening? We know we do. Two of Athens’ biggest summer festivals, Release Festival and SNF Nostos, have announced their first collaboration (the first of many to come, we bet) and their first headliner is none other than Rosalia. Even if the name doesn’t ring a bell, we’re sure that her viral TikTok tune Bizcochito has earwormed its way through to your subconscious during the last year.

The Spanish-born global superstar, however, is not just known for a one-off TikTok hit. With her debut album El Mal Querer (2018) she introduced flamenco to GenZers across the world and during her short career she has managed to challenge pop music norms—not quite an easy feat nowadays. Her explosive live performances have been described as some of the best ones of late and New York Times have compared her to global pop icons like Rihanna and Beyonce.

Central Cee is one of the hottest names in British rap at the moment, with his concerts selling out in a matter of minutes. This year, he is performing at most major festivals in Europe (Primavera Sound, Reading, Glastonbury, to name a few) and also making a stop in Athens. Tinashe, the R&B artist who has collaborated with Britney Spears, A$AP Rocky, Usher, Charli XCX and Travis Scott among others, rising star of trap and neo soul IAMDDB, and Nigerian Afrosoul talent Ayra Starr complete the day’s line-up.

Release X SNF will take place at two venues; the seaside concert space of Water Plaza and the Great Lawn of the SNFCC, which are connected via a lovely promenade and only a short ten minute walk from each other. Legendary goth goddess Siouxsie, Manhattan indie-rockers Interpol, Norwegian electro-pop magicians Röyksopp and Australian buskers-turned-global sensation Tash Sultana are also announced on different dates under this collaboration. Release Festival has also announced its own dates throughout June and July, with names like Arctic Monkeys, Madrugada, Disturbed and more.