Wednesday 15 MARCH 7.30pm
Erkan Ogur’s Telvin - UK premiere!
“simply magical” Antonio Forcione
“a remarkable musician” Fiona Talkington BBC Radio 3
Anatolian-tinged jazz from one of Turkey’s best-loved guitarists. Support from Parisian guitarist Yan Vagh.
Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre, Waterloo
08703 800 400 or go to the Royal Festival Hall Box Office in person www.rfh.org.uk

Friday 31 MARCH 7.30pm
Erol Parlak Baglama Quintet - UK premiere!
“The baglama saz is to Turkey what the flamenco guitar is to Spain.” Simon Broughton, Evening Standard
Erol Parlak is one of Turkey’s leading players of baglama, the long-necked lute. Dynamic and gentle at the same time, the instrument shimmers in the hands of a master player. In this concert five young virtuosi play tight sparkling arrangements of Anatolian folk music. An unmissable experience. www.erolparlak.com.tr
St. James’ Church, Piccadilly
08703 800 400 or go to the Royal Festival Hall Box Office in person www.rfh.org.uk

Saturday 8 APRIL 6.30 - 10pm
Baba Zula & Mad Professor - UK premiere!
Featured in the film Crossing the Bridge (see below), the band Baba Zula takes Turkish folk music as a starting point, and then mix it up with reggae, dub and bellydance sounds. So who better to be their sound engineer than legendary British-Guyanan producer The Mad Professor, who worked on Baba Zula’s last two albums, Psychebelly Dance Music (Ruhani Oyun Havalari) and Duble Oryantal. With dancer and live stage sketch artist. The Sound of Istanbul. www.babazula.com
Carling Academy, Islington
Tickets £12 in advance £17 on the door : 0870 163 3833 also available from the Royal Festival Hall Box Office

Crossing The Bridge (Film. directed by Fatih Akin) will be shown in cinemas in the UK from 25th February. This is a great music documentary about Istanbul. Featuring Baba Zula, Mercan Dede, Sezen Aksu, Ceza, Orhan Gencebay and many more…
“Does for Istanbul what Buena Vista did for Havana…” (The Wire) See the film, then come and hear the music at one of our concerts.
Barbican Cinema, Curzon Soho, Rio Dalston, Cineworld Wood Green, Ritzy Brixton, Picturehouse Cambridge.

Orient Express Party
Danceable music from Vienna to Istanbul.
We have a Turkish (2nd Friday) and Balkan edition (4th Friday)
at Bar Academy, N1 Centre, Angel Islington. 10.30pm - 2.30am
See www.kazum.co.uk for details and for guest list.

• 24th February with the Balkanatics live!
• 10th March Istanbul Edition
• 24th March Balkan Edition