George Xylouris was born in Anogia, a village in Crete with a long tradition of poetry, dance, and music. He grew up there within the well-known musical family of Xylouris. In this environment, with music ever present, George naturally turned to it. He began to play the mandolin, lyre, and lute, which eventually became his main instrument of expression. Hanging out with friends, serenades, deep human relationships, and experiences stood as the basis of the sound that would later define his musical personality.
He was guided by his father, Psarantonis, a pioneer lyra player and composer of Cretan music, whom he has been accompanying intensively since the age of 11 from celebrations, folk gatherings, nightclubs of Crete and Athens to festivals and concerts in Europe and further abroad, in America and Australia.
He was also influenced by his uncles; Psarogiannis, a leading lute player of his time, and the legendary Nikos Xylouris. These familiar figures for George at that time would determine the later course of Cretan music. He remembers as a child the feasts they used to play in the village and Nikos’ historical performances in the bouquets of Plaka during the years when the dictatorship in Greece was coming to an end.
At a young age, seventeen, he began working with Labyrinthos, a musical organization founded by Ross Daly, based on the music of the Eastern Mediterranean. Today, George teaches the lute, conducts workshops, recordings, and participates in performances within Labyrinth.
At the age of eighteen, the great lyre teacher, Kostas Moundakis, invited him to record together for the music department of the University of Crete.
From 1989 to 1997, he lived in Melbourne, where he formed the “Xylouris Ensemble” with musicians from different cultures. Together they created a distinctive sound, which will become a spark of inspiration for the younger generation of Cretan musicians. They recorded five albums and repeatedly toured Australia and Europe. They performed several times at the Melbourne Concert Hall, the Recital Centre, and the Sydney Opera House, as well as at the city’s music nightclubs, where musicians from the Melbourne rock scene were often in the audience.
It was there that George would meet “Dirty Three” (Jim White, Warren Ellis, Mick Turner). He collaborated and recorded with them at that time, which much later led to the formation of “Xylouris White”. At the same time, during his stay in Australia, he never stopped appearing at social events of the Cretan and Greek communities.
In 1997 he returned to Crete, and in his familiar environment, he continues to perform and record with well-known musicians of the local music scene. He develops an authentic style with a wide sonic range that has become a reference and inspiration for the younger generation of Cretan lute players. He collaborates with artists such as Nikos Veliotis, Yannis Angelakas, Ross Daly, Stelios Petrakis, Achilleas Persidis, and others.
Since 2013 he has been collaborating with the Australian drummer Jim White in the band “Xylouris White”. Together they have recorded five albums, all produced by Guy Picciotto of Fugazi. “Xylouris White” have toured extensively around the world, invited by world, jazz, rock, country, and electronic music festivals. They have performed with ‘Godspeed You! Black Emperor’, Marisa Anderson, Emmett Kelly, Bonnie Prince Billy, PJ Harvey, Bill Callahan, Jonathan Richman, and others.
Recently, George and his children, Nikos, Adonis, and Apollonia, and the Netherlands Blazers Ensemble performed “Rameau and the Greeks” at the Athens Concert Hall and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. A musical performance with the NBE wind orchestra, lyre, lutes, and percussion, which was a great success and was warmly received by the audience.
He has performed with Jem Cohen’s “Gravity Hill”, based in New York, where he, along with Jim White, Guy Picciotto, and DJ Rupture, play live at the screenings of Jem Cohen’s short films.
Currently, George is also presenting his solo concert, “Psaris”, performing with his lute and voice, which embodies his musical experience, independent expression, and personal style.
His music is the soundtrack of the film “A Family Affair”, directed by Angeliki Aristomenopoulou (Anemon, 2015), in which he also stars. The film approaches George’s life and musical journeys. He composed and performed the music for Efthymia Zymvragaki’s non-fiction film “Light Falls Vertical” (Gris Medio, 2022), which had its world premiere at the IDFA Envision Competition 2022. He collaborated with Jim White for the soundtrack of Rebecca E. Marshal’s creative documentary “The Forest in Me” (LUSH film production, in post-production), soon to be released.
Restless and resourceful in the face of new challenges, he is working on and recording his first solo album, which reflects some of the research and demanding choices he has made over the years.