Turkish psychedelica?
The latest delight of the indie scene for a while now: Turkish psychedelica. Simply said, the genre can best be described as ‘Pink Floyd op saz’, the instrument that makes the genre so recognizable. Not only is folk heroine Selda Bağcan being massively rediscovered but, in recent years, a contemporary European (!) scene has developed with acts like Gaye Su Akyol, Derya Yildirim, BaBa ZuLa and Altin Gün who make the style relevant and tour successfully. What’s more, labels like England’s Finders Keepers and Spain’s Pharaway Sounds have ensured a revitalization of the heritage through a constant stream of reissues of Turkish psychedelica classics.
They are all inspired by and refer back to the heyday of Turkish psychedelica in the ‘60s-‘70s, when Anatolian rock and folk fused with Western rock-’n-roll. Artists like Erkin Koray, Bariș Manço, Selda and Cem Karaca, were the (politically engaged) Turkish heroes of that time.
AB already invited BaBa Zula, Selda, Derya Yildirim, Gaye Su Akyol and Altin Gün here last year. This year we strengthen our intention to spotlight the scene and again invite BaBa ZuLa and Gaye Su Akyol (who will be presenting brand new work). But we also dive deeper into the Turkish psychedelica scene.
To mark the release of the excellent collector ‘Saz Power’, we will be taking over music café Bonnefooi for no less than three consecutive nights of the BRDCST festival. Here, in collaboration with compiler Demir Keren Atay (aka Elektro Hafiz), we present you with the latest generation of Turkish psychedelica acts. Noteworthy: that ‘Saz Power’ collector beautifully reflects the Turkish diaspora and brings together musicians from all over Europe.
As finishing touch, Polish-born resident of Istanbul Kornelia Binicewicz will provide the dance soundtrack to various evenings. Kornelia is also the woman behind the excellent and wonderfully graphically designed ‘Turkish Ladies. Female Singers from Turkey 1974 – 1988’. The proof that Turkish psychedelica is entirely danceable!
On the programme:
Thursday 4 April > Bonnefooi – Steenstraat 8 > 21h00
Duble Salih + (Turkish) Ladies On Records (dj set)
Turkish psych meets rebetika, flamenco, blues & bluegrass
Friday 5 April > Bonnefooi – Steenstraat 8 > 21h00
MLDVA & Çinar Timur + (Turkish) Ladies On Records (dj set)
Turkish psych meets breaks and synth electronica with a touch of funk
Saturday 6 April > Bonnefooi – Steenstraat 8 > 21h00
Elektro Hafiz + (Turkish) Ladies On Records (dj set)
Turkish psych meets electronica en dub
Friday 19 April > AB Club > 20h00
Gaye Su Akyol
‘The new sound of Istanbul.’ ★★★★ (The Guardian)
Tuesday 7 May > AB Club > 20h00
Elektro Hafiz + Hudna + (Turkish) Ladies On Records (dj set)
Free entrance (!) for this exquise Turkse ‘Saz Power’ double bill
Friday 25 October > AB Club > 20h00
BaBa ZuLa
Istanbul Psychedelia, tchou la la!
