Eastern Mediterranean University’s annual Rock ‘n’ EMU festival has pulled in some major headliners since its inception, but none as big as the band that performed last night. Led by globally renowned Sir Bob Geldof, veteran Irish punk rockers The Boomtown Rats took to the stage in a packed stadium in Mağusa/Famagusta, eastern Cyprus, […]
At once a saxophone player, composer, music producer, club owner, jazz festival curator, and proprietor of his own record label. İlhan Erşahin wears many hats, but ultimately it’s the music that best defines him. Growing up in Stockholm to a Swedish mother and Turkish father, Erşahin’s musical ear was immersed in the coolest of sounds: […]
It’s the last few days to catch the Design Museum’s fascinating ‘Fear and Love – Reactions to a Complex World’ exhibition, which closes this Sunday evening. The exhibition contains eleven installations by some of the most innovative and thought-provoking designers and architects of our time, among them fashion designer Hussein Chalayan, architects OMA and […]
Everyone’s invited to a special party on Friday night in North London where there will be talent galore and oodles of positive energy to kick-off the weekend. Three live acts and DJs line-up alongside singer-songwriter Olcay Bayır as part of her fundraising efforts for her new album Rüya/Dream. Hailing from Turkey, Olcay Bayır is now […]
A new musical stage adaptation of Bliss or Mutluluk, a novel of the same name originally written by the politician, singer and artist Zülfü Livaneli, played at the Arcola Theatre in Dalston, East London last week. A joint production with Istanbul’s experimental theatre Talimhane, this was an outstanding, emotive and powerful performance. This UK run […]
Currently on their Do NOT Obey XX world tour, sonic rebels BaBa ZuLa return to the capital for an exclusive gig at the award-winning venue Under the Bridge, in southwest London on Thursday 27th April. Renowned for their ritual-like performances, expect a tantalizing audio-visual feast of Anatolian electro dub beats, belly dancers, elaborate costumes, […]
There doesn’t seem to be a day when Turkey is not in the news and for the most part, it’s often pretty negative. These days the UK, like the rest of the West, is preoccupied with lambasting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his authoritarian ways and inflammatory comments, a far cry from a […]
Later this month, the UK’s first Turkish-owned mosque will be busy turning Britons’ perceptions of mosques on its head. Shacklewell Lane Ramadan Mosque in Dalston, East London, has teamed up with PranaMotion to deliver an interactive multi-faith festival of music, dance, eclectic prayer and storytelling to celebrate diversity and unity. The Golden Egg Love Fest […]
One of Turkey’s best loved actors passed away in Istanbul earlier today. Halit Akçatepe, who had suffered a stroke last year, was rushed to hospital on Thursday after experiencing breathing difficulties. A statement issued by the hospital said the veteran actor died as a result of a blockage to the upper part of his […]
A Turkish pop diva is set to return to the city where her musical dreams started. Işın Karaca, who is celebrating two decades in show business this year, will make her debut appearance in London when she sings at Indigo at The O2 in May. Blessed with a powerful, soulful voice, Işın’s repertoire spans […]
