Welcome to the official website of Chicago based writer/photographer Andy Argyrakis. Enjoy your visit and be sure to check back often for updates on all the Andy action. But before browsing, here’s the latest and greatest for Summer 2008:

The season started out with a string of traveling, including a trip to Nashville to cover the Country Music Television Awards as a red carpet photographer (scoring shots of Keith Urban & Nicole Kidman, Miley Cyrus, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Paula Abdul, Eagles, Rascal Flatts, Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Naomi Judd and Crystal Gayle). While in town, he also photographed the Music City Hall of Fame induction ceremony, featuring Garth Brooks, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steven Curtis Chapman, Kirk Whalum and Steve Wariner.

From there, it was down to New Orleans for the famed Jazz & Heritage Festival, which featured his Concert Livewire review and photography coverage of Billy Joel, Dr. John, Al Green, Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint and Tim McGraw (to name a few).

Returning to Chicago, Andy spent a day at Styx singer Dennis DeYoung’s home studio for an extensive Illinois Entertainer interview and photo shoot (in front of the legendary “Mr. Roboto” mask) for the May issue. Come June, the same publication featured his interview with iconic alternative rock act R.E.M. about its new CD and current tour.

The Daily Journal is also loaded with celebrity interviews courtesy of Andy’s “Friday Feature” column, including singer/songwriter Richard Marx, actress Georgia Engel (of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” fame) and cast members of Broadway In Chicago’s “Avenue Q.”

For those on the west coast, Andy continues writing for L.A.’s monthly alternative rock magazine MeanStreet, including summer interviews with Phantom Planet (the group behind the theme song to “The O.C.”)  and Universal Republic buzz band Flobots.

The May issue of Hear/Say Magazine includes Andy’s interview with English art rock act Elbow, while the special summer edition unfolds with a feature and photo spread of spending a day in the recording studio with Less Than Jake.

Fashion magazine Image Chicago continues to bring Andy aboard for music coverage, such as current interviews with Jimmy Eat World and Every Time I Die, both being featured this season at www.imagechicago.com).

Andy officially added alternative/indie rock outlet Air Raid (www.airraid.net) to his freelance roster, kicking off June via interviews with The Roots and The Futureheads.

Current Chicago Tribune features in the “At Play” section include Andy’s exhaustive exploration of celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home and Studio, giving a firsthand take on its new “Design Detectives” tour.

# # #