Release Athens Festival and Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
together again for
Release Athens x SNF Nostos 2026
GORILLAZ, ΤΗΕ FLAMING LIPS, JEHNNY BETH
| Plateia Nerou, Thursday, June 25
On Thursday, June 25, Gorillaz, Damon Albarn’s groundbreaking project, are coming to Greece for the first time ever to treat us to an explosive audiovisual experience at Plateia Nerou. Alongside them, The Flaming Lips, one of the most adventurous bands in alternative rock and the former frontwoman of the Savages, Jehnny Beth.
To celebrate 30 years of philanthropic work, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is collaborating with Release Athens to bring music and culture closer to everyone. Thanks to SNF's contribution, ticket prices are 40-50% lower than is typical for similar events.
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Created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, Gorillaz is singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, drummer Russel Hobbs and Japanese guitar prodigy Noodle. The BRIT and Grammy-winning virtual band formed following a collision of mishaps, meetings and pure luck to blow up a pre-digital world with their colourful backstory and ground-breaking virtual ways. Based at Kong Studios, Gorillaz settled into a life of musical innovation with an eye-wateringly exciting roster of collaborators, a list that includes musical legends, geniuses and future stars from Elton John to Little Simz, MF Doom to Jean-Michel Jarre, Grace Jones to slowthai, Kali Uchis to Sidiki Diabaté, plus so many more.
With eight albums to their name, Gorillaz (2001), Demon Days (2005), Plastic Beach (2010), The Fall (2011), Humanz (2017), The Now Now (2018), Song Machine: Season One – Strange Timez (2020) and Cracker Island (2023), Gorillaz is a truly global phenomenon, achieving success in entirely new and unique ways, touring the world from San Diego to Syria, Montevideo to Manchester and winning numerous awards including the coveted Jim Henson Creativity Honor. The band’s recent acclaimed run of London shows to celebrate 25 years of Gorillaz saw The Guardian declare: “Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s cartoon band are still riveting and relevant”, with London’s Evening Standard adding “Albarn and Hewlett are still legions ahead of the pack,” and The Observer headline proclaim “Gorillaz stun in star-studded show of lush visuals and borderless music.” Gorillaz’ new studio album The Mountain will be released in 2026.
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Even within the unique landscape of alternative rock, few bands have been as bold, inventive, and idiosyncratic as The Flaming Lips. Since their formation in Oklahoma in 1983, they have evolved into one of the most restless and creative forces in American rock music.
After spending their first decade as a well-kept secret for those “in the know” in alternative rock, the release of Transmissions From The Satellite Heart (1993) and the success of “She Don’t Use Jelly” introduced them to a wider audience and paved the way for what was to follow. At the turn of the millennium, Wayne Coyne’s band delivered two albums that are now considered seminal works of contemporary rock: The Soft Bulletin (1999) and the Grammy Award-winning Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002).
Since then, the Flaming Lips have continued to relentlessly explore new musical paths, striking a balance between pop, psychedelia, and avant-garde, while collaborating with artists such as Miley Cyrus, Chris Martin, the Chemical Brothers, and Yoko Ono. With 22 studio albums and dozens of experimental projects on their resume, the band remains an inexhaustible creative force—one of the most daring and authentically original bands of their generation.
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From her explosive presence as frontwoman of Savages—the Mercury Prize-nominated post-punk band known for their charged live performances—Jehnny Beth has evolved into one of the most restless and multifaceted creators on the contemporary music scene. Her solo debut album, To Love Is To Live (2020), spectacularly expanded her artistic vision: bold, cinematic, and deeply emotional.
Since then, Beth has multiplied her collaborations (Idles, Gorillaz, Sextile, Bobby Gillespie), while continuing her successful acting career, with notable appearances in Audiard’s Paris, 13th District and Justine Triet’s Palme d'Or and Oscar-winning Anatomy of a Fall. In 2020, she created the ECHOES series, giving a platform to emerging artists such as Wet Leg, Fontaines D.C., and Kneecap.
In 2022, she returned to the stage with IDLES, toured with Depeche Mode in Europe, and accompanied Queens of the Stone Age in the US, where her performances at hardcore and metal festivals rekindled a new creative fire. Returning to France, she teamed up with her close collaborator Johnny Hostile to create You Heartbreaker, You, her second solo album, which was released last August.
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Tickets are already sold-out.
Tickets available:
By phone at 211770000
Online / releaseathens.gr + more.com
Retail at: https://www.more.com/el/physical-spots/
All information (prices, schedule, access) is available at releaseathens.gr & snf.org
*Ticket proceeds go exclusively to Release Athens. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is a philanthropic organization that makes grants to nonprofit organizations. SNF does not accept funds from private individuals, corporations, or any other organizations.
Ticket availability for persons with disabilities:
The Festival ensures access for persons with disabilities by offering a special area with an unobstructed view of the stage. The special area is wheelchair accessible and has seats, separate toilets, and free parking.
To purchase tickets for persons with disabilities, please send your request electronically to support@releaseathens.gr, attaching your disability card. To enter the disabled areas, you will need to show this card upon arrival at the Festival.
More about Release Athens 2026
Since its inception in 2016, Release Athens has evolved into one of the most significant summer music events in Greece. This year, to celebrate its 10th anniversary, the festival is returning to Plateia Nerou to write a new chapter in its history. Over the past decade, Release Athens has hosted some of the biggest names in international music, including Arctic Monkeys, Iggy Pop, Massive Attack, Pulp, Slipknot, The Offspring, PJ Harvey, Pet Shop Boys, Kylie Minogue, The Prodigy, Judas Priest, London Grammar, Alice in Chains and Liam Gallagher.
With the slogan “Making Memories Together,” the festival remains faithful to the main principle that has been its inspiration since day one: artists, music fans, and our staff all shaping, together, the unique experiences and memories that will stay with us forever.
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More about the anniversary SNF Nostos 2026
SNF Nostos 2026 will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). In this context, the music program is just one aspect of this multifaceted, open event. The most dynamic SNF Nostos in recent years will take place from June 21 to 28, not only at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) in Athens, where it is usually hosted, but also at other locations throughout the country, from Northern Greece to the Peloponnese, so that people can learn about the Foundation's activities in a practical and hands-on way.
Under the central theme of "Focus on People," which is also the central message of the SNF, the established SNF Nostos Conference, the SNF Dialogues, and the SNF Nostos Run will return. Along with them will come a series of new experiences, such as an interactive digital installation that will take visitors on a virtual journey through the Foundation's activities, special performances by the Greek National Opera (GNO), a magical intermission, and much more to be announced throughout the year. Stay tuned!
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