Jack Savoretti Live at Lycabettus Theater, Athens

Venue: Lycabettus Theater, Athens
Date: September 25, 2026
Review: Maria Varyti
Photography: Dimitris Fatisis

For Jack Savoretti, Athens has long been more than just another stop on the road.

Jack Savoretti smiling on stage at Lycabettus Theatre in Athens — Jack Savoretti performing live at Lycabettus Theatre in Athens on September 25, 2026. Photo: Dimitris Fatisis

On a cool September night in Athens, Jack Savoretti returned to Lycabettus Theatre for another meeting with an audience that has followed him closely for years. There was an immediate sense of familiarity around the show, not simply the excitement of seeing an artist return, but the feeling of a relationship that has been built gradually through repeated visits to Greece.

For some of his most dedicated fans, the evening had begun much earlier. Supporters had travelled to Athens from Greece, Italy, Scotland, England and even Australia, with some gathering at Lycabettus Theatre from midday. As the afternoon passed, the sound of Savoretti and his band beginning their soundcheck drifted out of the theatre, prompting those waiting outside to sing and dance along.

Savoretti himself reflected on that recent encounter with Athens during the evening, recalling the unplugged performance he had given on Ermou Street earlier that same month, when Pepper 96.6, in collaboration with High Priority Promotions, brought him to the heart of the city. He admitted that he had not expected many people to turn up, but a crowd soon gathered around him to watch him perform. Less than three weeks later, he was back in Athens, this time on the stage of Lycabettus Theatre.

A little after nine, the first notes came from Sam Lewis’s guitar before Savoretti appeared on stage. The concert opened with “Do It For Love” and “Candlelight”, followed by “The One”, setting up a show that moved naturally between different periods of Savoretti’s catalogue. Rather than concentrating on a single album or era, the set travelled across his career, alternating between the more intimate singer-songwriter side of his music and fuller arrangements driven by his band.

Jack Savoretti performing with acoustic guitar at Lycabettus Theatre in Athens — Jack Savoretti performing live at Lycabettus Theatre in Athens on September 25, 2026. Photo: Dimitris Fatisis

That balance is one of the elements that works particularly well in Savoretti’s live performances. Songs that can feel restrained on record, gain additional weight on stage, while the quieter moments still leave enough room for his distinctive voice and guitar playing to remain at the centre. His band provided a rich foundation throughout the night without overwhelming that core, allowing the arrangements to expand and contract depending on the song.

Nikolaj Torp Larsen performing with Jack Savoretti at Lycabettus Theatre in Athens on September 25, 2026. Photo: Dimitris Fatisis

Sam Davies performing with Jack Savoretti at Lycabettus Theatre in Athens on September 25, 2026. Photo: Dimitris Fatisis

Shannon Harris performing with Jack Savoretti at Lycabettus Theatre in Athens on September 25, 2026. Photo: Dimitris Fatisis

Jesper Lind performing with Jack Savoretti at Lycabettus Theatre in Athens on September 25, 2026. Photo: Dimitris Fatisis

The connection between Savoretti and the audience became even more apparent between songs. One of the most memorable moments came when he invited a fan from the crowd onto the stage to join him for “Only Gonna Cry For You”. What could easily have become an uncomfortable spotlight for someone suddenly standing in front of a packed theatre instead turned into one of the warmest moments of the evening, with Savoretti doing his best to make her feel at ease before they sang together.

There was a similar spontaneity when he discovered that someone in the audience was celebrating a birthday and encouraged the entire theatre to wish them “Happy Birthday”. These small interactions were not elaborate pieces of stagecraft, but they helped remove the usual distance between performer and audience and gave the concert a much more personal character.

That sense of connection was visible in smaller, almost accidental details too. At one point, the sweat on Savoretti’s shirt had formed the shape of a heart, a detail that did not go unnoticed by fans near the stage. In a night defined by the warmth between performer and audience, it felt like an unexpectedly fitting image.

Jack Savoretti singing into the microphone at Lycabettus Theatre in Athens — Jack Savoretti performing live at Lycabettus Theatre in Athens on September 25, 2026. Photo: Dimitris Fatisis

As the set progressed, songs including “Back Where I Belong”, “The Other Side of Love”, “When We Were Lovers” and “Greatest Mistake” brought more energy into the latter part of the show. Another unexpected inclusion was “Love Is on the Line”. Performed alone with his guitar, the song became one of the evening’s most communal moments, with the entire theatre singing along. Savoretti explained that it had found its way back into the set after he happened to hear it during two separate taxi rides, an unlikely reminder of one of his own songs that ultimately influenced that night’s performance.

What stood out throughout the evening was how little Savoretti relied on spectacle. The stage, the warm lighting and the setting of Lycabettus certainly added to the atmosphere, but the performance remained centred on songs, musicianship and communication. Whether playing with the full band or moving into quieter sections of the set, there was a relaxed quality to his stage presence that made even a large outdoor theatre feel more intimate.

Jack Savoretti raising his acoustic guitar during his performance at Lycabettus Theatre in Athens — Jack Savoretti performing live at Lycabettus Theatre in Athens on September 25, 2026. Photo: Dimitris Fatisis

The final stretch brought the evening full circle, before a short encore closed another chapter in Savoretti’s long relationship with the Athens audience. By that point, the concert had become more than a straightforward run through familiar songs: it had mixed music with stories, spontaneous interaction and moments that could only belong to that particular night.

Jack Savoretti’s return to Lycabettus ultimately showed why his connection with Greece has endured. He has often spoken warmly about the country, and during the evening even remarked that, if he were younger, he could imagine moving here. That affection seemed to be returned in equal measure by the audience, giving the concert an intimacy that felt remarkable for a venue the size of Lycabettus Theatre.

Jack Savoretti singing with acoustic guitar at Lycabettus Theatre in Athens — Jack Savoretti performing live at Lycabettus Theatre in Athens on September 25, 2026. Photo: Dimitris Fatisis

Setlist

Jack Savoretti delivered a set that moved through different chapters of his catalogue, balancing intimate acoustic moments with fuller band arrangements, before closing the night with a short encore.