Once upon a time…

Parea was created in 2014 in Uppsala, Sweden.

Our driving force lies in our need to communicate and share Greek culture with the people around us.

What we do

With concerts in theaters, catering venues and participation in festivals, we mainly present thematic performances by Greek composers and the various genres of Greek music (rebetiko, traditional etc.).

Who we are

  • Vassilis Varelas

    BOUZOUKI - GUITAR - LUTE - OUD - VOCALS

    Vassilis holds a master’s degree (MA) in musicology from the department of Musicology at Uppsala University. He holds a MA and BSc degree (integrated master) in music performance (classical guitar as main instrument) and musicology from the department of Music Studies at Ionian University in Greece. He also holds a soloist diploma in Byzantine Music performance from the Music School of Byzantine and traditional Music of Holy Archdiocese of Athens, a soloist diploma in Classical Guitar and degrees in Fugue, Counterpoint and Harmony from his conservatory music studies in Greece. He has been performing and teaching music for 30 years.

  • Areti Belou

    GUITAR - VOCALS

    Areti is coming from a musical family. She learned to play the piano and guitar at an early age. Alongside her studies, she was working in small music venues by playing and singing “rebetika” songs. She also has some features in Greek discography.

    Her pursuit and ambition is to highlight the past and present of Greek music in Scandinavia for Greeks who feel nostalgic and foreigners who are fascinated by Greek music.

  • Panos Karathanasis

    BASS

    Panos has worked as a musician from 1990 to 2014. From year 2004 to 2014 he was teaching electric bass and rhythmic solfège at the Municipal and at “Neapolis” Conservatory of Kavala and the “Modern Music Academy D.C.” in Drama. He was also directing the institute's rock bands and workshops.

    Active today with the bands: “Parea”, ”Kontrabando” and ”Funny Thing Mankind”.

  • Iraklis Chatzinikolaou

    GUITAR - BOUZOUKI - VOCALS

    Iraklis has studied Classical Guitar, Fugue, Counterpoint and Harmony in music schools Alexandreio, Neon and Didili.

    He is working as a musician since 1985. He has played along many well known musicians.

  • Anastasis Benetatos

    CLARINET - BAGLAMA - VOCALS

    Anastasis has studied Clarinet Theory in the Municipal school of Kavala and special Clarinet Harmony in the Contemporary music school of Thessaloniki. He has been playing different genres for the past 40 years such as rock, soul, funk, rebetika, folk and traditional music. Anastasis is also a street musician playing around Stockholm.

    Active today with the bands Parea and Vazda progressive Balkan Rock