Locomondo is a 7 member band based in Athens, Greece. It is the first band which fused the Caribbean sound together with Greek musical elements and Greek lyrics. Locomondo often incorporate traditional greek instruments in their sound such as the violin, the gaida (the Greek version of the bagpipes) and the baglama, producing a fresh sound and a new approach to the already known forms of the Caribbean as well as the Greek music.
Since 2004, they have released 5 albums and have toured extensively in Greece, Germany and the Netherlands with great success. During the course of these four years, they have shared the stage with bands such as Manu Chao, the Skatalites, Chumbawamba, Alpha Blondie, Ojos de Brujo, the Wailers, Aswad and Ska Cubano among others. They have collaborated with Amparo Sanchez from Amparanoia and Natty Bo from Ska Cubano on their third record “Me Wanna Dance” and have participated on the single of the German group Beat n’ Blow “Hey Girl (Greek version)” which received ample airplay on Funkhaus Europa and Radio Multiculti. Vin Gordon, the veteran trombonist of Studio One, the world famous Jamaican studio, has participated in their second album, which was recorded in Jamaica in 2005.
Locomondo have entered the charts of Radio France Internationale with one of the songs of their first album “stin Athina”, been included in the cd of the German reggae magazine "Riddim" in the issue of August 2008, and have been part of the “Radio Chango” family since 2007.
In their live shows, Locomondo try to capture the energy and the feel of a party, where the crowd and the band share the common experience of a great “fiesta”. Many of their songs have been big hits in Greece.
In 2008 they have written the soundtrack for the film “To gamilio party (The wedding party)”, which was directed by Christine Crokos, an upcoming Greek-American director.
In November 2009 Locomondo released a double live cd. "Locomondo Live!", was recorded during their summer 2009 tour in various shows in Greece. They also had the honour of having their cover of the traditional song "Frangosyriani" being included in Fatih Akin's latest movie, "Soul Kitchen". The film won the Special Jury Prize award in Venice film festival.
