When Sıla Gençoğlu returns to the stage at Indigo at The O2 on 17 May, it will have been a little over a year since her last concert in the capital. Simply known as Sıla, the 37-year-old from Denizli, southwest Turkey, made an immediate impact with her self-titled debut album back in 20...
Travelling to Sweden for my first Eurovision in 2016, I thought I had reached the pinnacle of my love for Eurovision. But here I am, on the verge of travel again to a Eurovision winning country, this time to Portugal. It’s not just the idea of warmer climes that is appealing (Stockholm is lovel...
Turkey's world renowned pianist İdil Biret returns to London to perform at the Cadogan Hall in London on 13 May. Titled ‘Mythical Trips to Romantic Lands’, the evening promises an ethereal atmosphere as Biret presents favourite works of two giants of the Romantic-era: Schumann and Rachmaninov. The...
This Thursday, 26 April, music charity Talent Unlimited presents three mini concerts in one. Each one features a special pairing, helping to showcase three emerging stars: Cristian de Sá, Renate Sokolovska, and Manu Brazo. Cristian de Sá (violin) will be accompanied by Somi Kim on piano...
One of Turkey’s most exciting rappers will be live in London in May. Ankara-born singer-songwriter and musician Ezhel stormed to public attention last year with the release of his phenomenal genre-hopping debut album Müptezhel, which he co-produced with Bugy. Over a smooth blend of hip hop, trap...
There were emotional scenes at a special commemoration event in the British capital on Thursday night. The Gallipoli Friendship Concert, held at one of London’s leading classical music venues, featured the international premiere of Can Atilla’s Gallipoli Symphony, the 57th Regiment – named after the...
On Friday, 16 March, singer-songwriter Djanan Turan released a new single Dünya, dedicating it to a peaceful world for children. As part of the world premiere of Dünya’s music video on the same day, Djanan also launched a fundraising campaign for Small Projects Istanbul, which supports refugee child...
In this centenary year of the end of the Great War, the Gallipoli Friendship Concert featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will commemorate those who lost their lives in the 1915-16 Gallipoli Campaign, and build on the enduring legacy of friendship it inspired between Turkey and the C...
When my editor asked me to pick my favourite ten songs by legendary band MFÖ in advance of their London concert on 18 March, I didn’t think it would be this hard. The band formed in 1980 – more than a decade before I was born – and they still comprise of the original line-up: Mazhar Alanso...
MFÖ have been around since the 1980s, recording some of Turkey’s biggest and most original music, including Ali Desidero and Sarı Laleler, their songs covered by countless Turkish artists. They tour regularly, but they have never quite reached our shores – until now. Finally their Briti...
