One of the world’s leading DJs will be performing a unique set in an eleventh century castle in North Cyprus that was said to have inspired Walt Disney.
Global dance music hit maker Kölsch will be live from Saint Hilarion Castle for a 90-minute concert on Monday, 31 May.
Organised by music events specialist Cercle, Kölsch’s North Cyprus gig is being livestreamed to the world, and will be free to view for people on or off Facebook, and other social media platforms.
The details were announced by Cercle and Kölsch on social media earlier this week.
Of German and Irish heritage, 44-year-old Rune Reilly Kölsch, or Kölsch for short, first came to prominence with his 2003 release “Calabria”. The instrumental uplifting house track with saxophone riffs received the Danish Music Award in 2004.
His critically acclaimed debut album “1977” (2013) put Kölsch on the international map, and he remains one of the world’s most sought-after DJs and remixers.
Performing and producing under multiple monikers, including Ink and Needle and Artificial Funk, his music straddles house, trance and techno. Among his timeless tracks are “Opa” (2011), “Silberpfeil” (2010), “All That Matters” (2012), and “Grey” (2016).
In 2017, Kölsch performed on top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris for Cercle, which was streamed to over 10 million people.
Event producers Cercle are behind “unique experiences” which they organise, film and broadcast in carefully selected locations around the world. They say their primary goal “is to showcase cultural heritage and landmarks throughout the prism of electronic music and video.”
Cercle declared on Facebook that it was their “First time in Aphrodite’s island!”, continuing by explaining about their “spectacular” concert with Kölsch at Saint Hilarion Castle.
“Next Monday 31st of May we will have the pleasure to receive Kölsch for an amazing show in the splendid Saint Hilarion castle.
“The castle’s location is absolutely spectacular: constructed on a peak among huge and extremely steep rocks, it is inaccessible from the north, northeast and east.
“Built during the Byzantine period at the end of the 11th century, it was named after a saint which used this peak as a hermitage.”
Part pandemic, part location, the gig will be performed “without an audience” Cercle stated, but confirmed that the livestream “will be available on our Facebook, Twitch and Oculus pages!”.
Kölsch also confirmed that it was also his “first time in Cyprus” and that he will be doing “a special live show in the amazing Saint Hilarion castle” on his social media accounts.”
The event is being sponsored by North Cyprus’ Tourism Ministry, TIKA (a cultural agency tied to Turkey’s Tourism Ministry) and Cyprus Paradise – the leading tour operator to North Cyprus.
Writing on his personal Facebook page, Muhammet Yasarata, the managing director of Cyprus Paradise, said:
“We are delighted to having CERCLE in North Cyprus, with KÖLSCH Live, in the most famous St. Hilarion Castle of Cyprus.
“Perched high in the Kyrenia mountain range, overlooking the Mediterranean and the surrounding areas of North Cyprus, stands the castle of St Hilarion. Reputedly the inspiration for Walt Disney’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’, the castle remains one of the best preserved of all the Crusader Castles!
“We are proud of being part of this organisation and we assure that we will organise more of these events soon! WELLCOME [sic] CERCLE AND KÖLSCH, to North Cyprus!”
Event Details
Event: Kölsch livestream from Saint Hilarion Castle, North Cyprus
Date: Monday 31 May 2021
Start time: 7pm (Cyprus), 5pm (UK)
Duration: 1.5 hours
Where: Online with Facebook Live, and Cercle’s Twitch and Oculus accounts
Admission: free, and open to anyone on or off Facebook
Link to live performance: click here on Monday to see the live stream via Facebook
