After a short hiatus, eclectic live music night Hura Nights is back for July at the glamorous Library Club in Covent Garden. Curated by musical chanteuse Djanan Turan, this monthly party is perfect for those after a night of good-time global beats: everything from disco to reggae, and t...
Next Friday, London based Nefes will be taking guests on a musical journey across Anatolia and the Balkans, playing a selection of contemporary and centuries-old folk songs from the region. The music is inspired by both Sufi and secular cultures of love. ‘Nefes’ in Turkish means breath....
This Wednesday, join drummer Tansay Omar’s band Funkshy for the official launch of their latest album A London Rhythm. The mid-week party takes place at the newly opened Five Miles club in North London, with live music from the band, special guests and DJs to keep everyone locked to the da...
After two successful dates, Turkish classical music has clearly found a new home in Honor Oak, South East London. Top Turkish singer Sezar Uğur Soy presents another fabulous Fasıl Night at Hattush Restaurant this Friday with renowned musical duo Hüseyin Cemgünal (keyboards) and Ercüment İb...
It’s only taken 19 years for me to see İlhan Erşahin live. I discovered him by chance while living in Istanbul in the late 90s, after picking up a copy of his Wax Poetic Three album in 1998 from a record store in Beyoğlu. His music was by far the coolest thing I’d heard in Turkey and inter...
The city of Istanbul inherits its name from the Greek "Eis tēn polin" meaning ‘into the city’. Born in Istanbul, Barlas Tan Özemek’s music revolves around this evolving metropolis. Strumming on his guitar, this modern-day Aşık or troubadour tells tales about his native Turkey, its people and cult...
For centuries Armenians and Turks lived side-by-side. But horrific events in the Ottoman Empire particularly during the First World War had a catastrophic impact that turned kindred spirits into bitter enemies. Today, a friendship between Armenian duduk player Vardan Hovanissian and his mu...
Earlier this year, London-based Turkish rock & folk singer Canan Sağar followed up her debut release 13 with Kalbim. The eight-track album takes its cue from the tragic events occurring in Turkey. Canan will be performing a selection of her new songs at her UK album launch party in...
After an epic launch at The Library Club in March, Hura Nights returns to the lush Covent Garden venue this Friday. Created and curated by singer-songwriter Djanan Turan, this monthly party is perfect for those seeking to surf on an exotic wave of global beats – everything from disco to re...
Deep within their unruly, freedom-loving psychedelic vibe, there is a particularness about BaBa ZuLa’s world that I love. Their front covers are always carefully considered and stunningly constructed. They are particular about their experimental sound, which never fits into any one genre b...
