Thievery Corporation, The Wailers and BALTHVS at Release Athens 2026

Release Athens 2026 welcomes Thievery Corporation, The Wailers and BALTHVS on Saturday, July 11, at Plateia Nerou, for a truly summery and vibrant night where the contemporary, electronic and rhythmic expressions of the global music scene meet the timeless musical legacy of Bob Marley.

A major celebration marking ten years since the festival’s launch, this anniversary edition could not be complete without artists who are inseparably linked to its journey. Joining them is one of the greatest reggae bands of all time, delivering a set packed with classics by the legendary Jamaican musician, alongside one of the most exciting new names in the psychedelic funk / R&B scene.

Formed in Washington, D.C. in 1995 by Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, Thievery Corporation are one of the most enduring forces in modern electronica, with a career spanning three decades. Drawing from their deep love for Brazilian music and inspired by the DIY philosophy of their city’s punk scene, they created the conditions early on to preserve their artistic independence for thirty straight years.

With an inexhaustible pool of influences ranging from dub and reggae to jazz, bossa nova, hip hop and Middle Eastern music, Thievery Corporation not only became one of the most successful acts in their field, but also helped define the downtempo / trip-hop scene through their innovative productions and standout songs. From the classic Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi (1996) to Mirror Conspiracy (2000), The Richest Man In Babylon (2002), The Cosmic Game (2005) – featuring collaborations with The Flaming Lips and David Byrne – as well as the more recent The Temple of I & I (2017) and Treasures From the Temple (2018).

The Wailers are the most historic band in reggae: the legendary group with which Bob Marley toured and recorded from the very beginning of his career until 1974, when he decided to pursue a solo path. Following Marley’s death in 1981, The Wailers continued under the guidance of iconic bassist Aston Familyman Barrett, while since 2016 the band has been led by his son, Aston Barrett Jr.. Today’s lineup consists of acclaimed musicians from the reggae scene who keep the band’s signature sound alive while also pushing it forward – as proven in 2024 with the release of the excellent Evolution, an album rightly nominated for a Grammy in the Best Reggae Album category.

In their live shows, The Wailers perform all the classic Bob Marley hits – including “Is This Love,” “I Shot The Sheriff,” “Stir It Up,” “Jammin’,” “One Love,” “Get Up Stand Up,” “Could You Be Loved,” and many more – honoring the legacy of a music that defined an entire era and left an indelible mark on the global stage.

BALTHVS were formed in Bogotá in 2020 and consist of Balthazar Aguirre (guitar, vocals), Johanna Mercuriana (bass, vocals) and Santiago Lizcano (drums, vocals). In just five years, they have risen to become Colombia’s leading alternative band, blending funk, Middle Eastern sounds, cumbia, surf rock and disco into a psychedelic mix rooted in Grateful Dead and Santana. They have already surpassed 45 million streams and completed nine international tours across 56 cities, 19 countries and three continents. They have appeared at SXSW for three consecutive years, as well as at festivals such as Austin City Limits, Outside Lands and Electric Forest, and have been featured on KEXP, BBC and Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Café. With four critically acclaimed albums under their belt, the Colombian trio is coming to Greece for the very first time.