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Music and dance festivals in Turkey: A calendar for 2018-2019
Music and dance festivals in Turkey: A calendar for 2018-2019
Music and dance lovers can find something interesting for themselves this year, whether they like jazz or rock, latin or folk and whether they go to western or eastern Turkey... Click through for the 2018-2019 calendar for music and dance festivals in Turkey...
SEPTEMBER 2018 - Chill-Out Festival Istanbul 2018 - After two events in Çeşme and Bodrum, Chill-Out Festival Istanbul will be held on Sept. 15-16 this year at Garden Fiesta in Sariyer, Istanbul. The music will go on uninterrupted from Saturday to midnight on Sunday for the first time. Passionate artists from all around the globe such as Abstraxion, Alsarah & the Nubatones, Crussen, DETMOLT, Dolph, Dunwich, El Búho, El Mundo (live), Elfenberg, Fulltone and many more will share their music with audiences. The festival offers a unique atmosphere in Lounge FM’s wonderful world of talented artists and delicious food and drink alternatives.
fizy Istanbul Müzik Haftası (Music Week) - The festival sponsored by Atlantis Production, Zorlu Performance Arts Center and SM Production Group will be held for the first time this year on Sept. 18-23. Mixing popular culture and Turkish pop music, many popular and talented pop music artists and bands such as Alper Erözer, Athena, Ayhan Sicimoğlu, Baran Bayraktar, Bülent Ortaçgil, Ece Seçkin, Edis, Emre Altuğ, Erlend Øye & La Comivita, Gökcan Sanlıman, Gripin, Kalben, Kenan Doğulu, Kruder & Dorfmeister, MFÖ, Mor ve Ötesi, Nil Karaibrahimgil, Ömür Gedik, Şebnem Ferah, Sena Şener, Selda Bağcan, Simge Sağın, Teoman, Tuna Kiremitçi and many more will be staged in different parts of the city.
Rock’N Burger Concept Festival, İzmir - Organized in Pamucak Beach in Selçuk, İzmir, the festival will be held on Sept. 6-9 this year. Sponsored by Rock’N Burger, the festival aims to organize a clean, safe and comfortable camping zone, beach, food courts, concerts and different events. Many famous Turkish artists and bands such as Emre Aydın, Feridun Düzağaç, Kurtulan Express, Can Bonomo, Can Gox, Necati ve Saykolar, Demir Demirkan, Koray Candemir and Yüksek Sadakat will be giving performances.
Gezginfest, Van - The first music festival in the eastern province of Van, the festival will be held from Sept. 7-9. Hosting one of the richest line-ups of Turkey, the organization is beside the beautiful Van Lake. Many artists and bands such as Athena, Kardeş Türküler, maNga, Selçuk Balcı, Sena Şener, Emir Can İğrek, Kurtalan Ekspres, Mohsen Namjoo, İlkay Akkaya, İlyas Yalçintaş, Fatma Turgut, Pera, Can Gox, Timsahin Gözyaşları, Teoman, Selda Bağcan & Boom Pam, Cem Adrian, Can Bonomo, Melek Mosso, Ahmet Aslan, Yener Çevik will give concerts at the festival. In addition to music performances from Armenia, Iran and Azerbaijan throughout the day, the festival also has events like Van Lake tours, libraries, workshops and gaming areas.
Bodrum Jazz Festival - The festival, which will be held for the second time this year, will take place on Sept. 1-8 at various spots in Bodrum. The theme of the festival is pop and jazz and with the contribution of local and foreign artists, the rich program will include concerts, workshops, exhibitions and more.
OCTOBER 2018 - Ekim (October) Festival, Istanbul - The famous Oktoberfest will be held for the first time in Istanbul on Oct. 13-14 at UNIQ Istanbul. Bands will entertain the audience with German songs and famous Turkish artists. Competitions, different surprises and various food opportunities await festival-goers.
Benim Festivalim (My Festival) Istanbul - Organized for the second time this year, the festival takes place in KüçükÇiftlik Park on Saturday, Oct. 20. Famous artists such as Teoman, Edis, Aleyna Tilki, Yok Öyle Kararlı Şeyler and Ekin Beril will be performing in the festival this year. Educating and entertaining workshops, VR experience areas, color-up activity, inspiring talks and social responsibility projects also await young people.
NOVEMBER 2018 - 28th Akbank Jazz Festival - Akbank Jazz Festival was launched in 1991 and became the most significant jazz festival in Turkey. Each year, the festival hosts prominent jazz figures from around the world and presents panels, workshops, film screening sessions, concerts and social responsibility projects. This year, Jehan Barbur feat. Fırat Tanış, Karl Hector & The Malcouns, Avishai Cohen Quartet, The Bad Plus, Jamie Cullum, Nubya Garcia and Bixiga 70 will be performing during the festival.
MARCH 2019 - İzmir European Jazz Festival - This festival has been organized every year since 1994. Performers and bands from Turkey, France, Austria, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland present the finest examples of European Jazz with their experimental and electronic works. The organization is supported by the Austrian Culture Office, İzmir French Culture Institute, Italian Consulate in İzmir, Luxembourg Embassy, Luxembourg Honorary Consulate in İzmir, Luxembourg Export Office, Adam Mickiewicz Institute and Consulate General of Poland in Istanbul, Slovakian Honorary Consulate in İzmir and Consulate of Switzerland in İzmir.
Istanbul International Dance Festival - This festival is considered one of the most popular Latin dance festivals around the world and more than approximately 5,000 social dancers from over 80 countries arrive each year. Participants of the festival have the opportunity to attend a variety of workshops, parties, live concerts and competitions and watch amazing shows performed by world renowned dance artists from the United States, South America, Canada, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Scandinavia and the Balkans.
APRIL 2019 - International Ankara Music Festival - This festival is organized by Sevda-Cenap and (SCA) Music Foundation and the Sabancı Foundation. One of the most significant trademarks of the festival is the opening and closing concerts by a symphonic orchestra. Moreover, young talents in the festival program and the organization of joint performances enable the meeting of Turkish artists with foreign artists and groups. Another important specialty of the festival is the surveys made each year, the inclinations of the citizens of Ankara, as well as the changes and vitality in their social life, are analyzed and reflected in the festival program with various categories including chamber music, jazz, nostalgia, vocal, modern dance and flamenco.
MAY 2019 - International Bodrum Dance Festival - The festival held in Bodrum includes Latin dance workshops such as salsa, bachata, kizomba, shows by participants, parties and competitions.
International Fethiye World Music Festival Turkey - Musicians from different countries around the world come together to contribute to this world famous city’s culture. Thanks to the festival, Fethiye is becoming a showcase for international musicians to promote mutual respect and cultural exchange. All concerts are free of charge.
Mersin International Music Festival - In addition to Turkish artists, performers from Spain, Italy, United States, Hungary, Germany, France, Russia, Japan and Korea have participated in the festival. Mersin International Music Festival is a non-governmental project sponsored by private companies, Mersin University, local municipalities and the Culture and Tourism Ministry.
Çukurova Rock Festival - Organized in the last two years, this rock music festival hosts prominent rock music bands and artists Turkish artists over four days.
JUNE 2019 - Istanbul Music Festival is considered one of the most prestigious, famous and established classical music event in Turkey. The organization is nationally and internationally acclaimed with its creative programs and its major role in building up an appreciation for classical music in Istanbul and Turkey. Being one of the oldest of the Istanbul Festivals, which became a landmark of cultural life in Turkey, the Istanbul Music Festival has also earned a reputation for its major role in encouraging research in musicology and in launching special projects on shared cultural values through its productions. The festival hosts the world premieres of the new works of many artists such as Arvo Pärt, Giya Kancheli, Peteris Vasks, Alexander Raskatov, Fazıl Say and Tigran Mansurian.
Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival - This festival has been organized by the Turkish State Opera and Ballet directorate since 1994. The festival takes place in the 2,000-year-old ancient Roman Aspendos Theatre of Aspendos near Antalya, Turkey with international participation by opera and ballet companies from several different countries. The theater is one of the best preserved and intact antique theaters in the world.
Istanbul International Jazz Festival - The Istanbul International Jazz Festival offers a selection of jazz music performances with the participations of famous artists from all over the world. From its beginning, the festival hosted world-renowned artists and groups like Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Stan Getz, Oscar Peterson, Al Di Meola, Al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, Astrud Gilberto, Tania Maria, George Benson, Spyro Gyra, George Duke & Stanley Clarke, Eric Clapton, Massive Attack, Björk, Deep Forest, Dead Can Dance and Charlie Haden, among hundreds of other top names in the music industry.
JULY 2019 - Cappadox, Cappadocia - Cappadox was organized for the first time in 2015. During the festival, the magical geography of Cappadocia is intertwined with music, contemporary art, gastronomy and outdoor adventures.
Electronica Festival, Istanbul - The Electronica Festival is the first and pioneering electronic music festival of Turkey. The festival has gathered more than 150,000 music lovers, accompanied by more than 600 musicians since its beginning in 2004. Usually spanning over two days and with two editions in Istanbul and Çeşme, İzmir, the festival hosts young talent and international artists as well. The festival is organized by Turkey’s leading dance music station, FG 93.7.
Şaymana Festival - Located on the peaks of the Taurus Mountains, the festival mixes different activities like concerts, library, outdoor cinema and panels. Nature and art are fused together in the festival, which was sponsored by “İnsan Kütüphanesi,” the concept of having conversations with people from different backgrounds, in order to understand their cultures and their problems.
AUGUST 2019 - Zeytinli Rock Festival - The biggest festival organization of Turkey, the festival is a parade for epic rock group artists and bands of Turkey. The festival is a pioneer for the newly establishing events of camping festivals and concerts in Turkey. Taking place on different beaches of Turkey each year, the festival has a rich program with amazing concerts and entertainment opportunities.
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