Left-wing folk band Grup Yorum attracts tens of thousands to public Istanbul concert

ISTANBUL

Dozens of guest musicians took the stage with the band members. DHA photo

Popular left-wing Turkish band Grup Yorum organized their third annual free public concert on April 14 in Istanbul’s Bakırköy district, drawing tens of thousands of people. 

Members of the public flocked to the square in Bakırköy for the third “Independent Turkey” concert, singing in unison the group’s most famous folk songs and “türküs.” 
 
Dozens of guest musicians, including Derya Petek, Apolas Lermi, Cahit Berkay, Marsis and Niyazi Koyuncu, accompanied the group on the stage while actor Genco Erkal read poems.  
 
Some 150,000 people came to the first of the concert series in 2011, while the second last year drew 350,000 people. 
 
Five members of the band, which is known for its revolutionary stance, were arrested as part of a police operation on Jan. 18 against alleged members of the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C).
 
Band members Selma Altın, Dilan Balcı, Ali Aracı, İnan Altın and Caner Bozkurt were among the 85 people, including 15 lawyers, arrested in the operation. They were released Jan. 21.