Best Istanbul Concerts in 2012
If one of your New Year’s resolutions involves getting out and going to more concerts this year, then you’re in luck: 2012 promises to be a great year for music lovers in Istanbul. Here is a list of some not-to-be-missed upcoming concerts, courtesy of The Guide’s editorial staff.
To hear a tried and true rock band:
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Red Hot Chili Peppers most likely need no introduction. This alternative band from LA has been going strong for nearly three decades now since its founding in 1983, and has turned out one great hit after another: “Otherside,” “Under the Bridge,” “Californication,” and many more. The Red Hot Chili Peppers will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year; you surely don’t want to miss your chance to see them live in Istanbul. Stay tuned for the location of this concert.
When: September 13, time TBA
Where: TBA
How much: TBA
To hear an Anglophone songstress from Spain:
Russian Red is the colorful stage name of young Spanish singer/songwriter Lourdes Hernández, who writes and performs her own songs entirely in English. (Her moniker is not an instance of nostalgic Communist chic but refers to the shade of lipstick Hernández typically wears). Russian Red – who will represent her native Spain at this year’s Eurovision contest in Azerbaijan – is in Turkey for the first time thanks to Avea’s Escape to Music series, and will enthrall audiences at Garajistanbul with well-loved songs like “The Sun The Trees” and “I Hate You But I Love You.”
When: January 13, 10:00pm
Where: Garajistanbul
How much: From Biletix: 45 TL.
To see a 60s acting and singing legend:
Jane Birkin sings Serge Gainsbourg “Via Japan”
The protean Jane Birkin is a living legend of 60s London, known for her modelling, her roles in films like Antonioni’s Blowup, and – last but not least – her romantic relationship and musical collaboration with French musician Serge Gainsbourg. Unfortunately Gainsbourg is no longer with us, but you surely don’t want to pass up the chance to see Birkin performing songs like her and Gainsbourg’s duet “Je t’aime...moi non plus” (I love you...neither do I), as well as other classic songs by the late great singer. Birkin will be accompanied by an ensemble of Japanese musicians consisting of Nobuyuki Nakajima on piano, Hoshiko Yamane on violin, Ichiro Onoe on drums, and Takuma Sakamoto on horns. All proceeds from this concert will benefit the victims of the 2011 tsunami in Japan.
When: January 18, January 19, 9:30pm
Where: Babylon
How much: January 18:From the venue: 180 TL (table); 100 TL (standing).From Biletix: 195 TL (table); 110 TL (standing); 88 TL (standing). January 19: From the venue: 180 TL (table); 100 TL (standing); 50 TL (students).From Biletix: 195 TL (table); 110 TL (standing); 88 TL (standing).
For fans of shoegaze:
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Shoegaze isn’t dead...and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, the hot new shoegaze/dreampop foursome from New York City, are here to prove it. Described by the New York Times as “irrepressibly light, a band at ease with melody and softness,” The Pains of Being Pure at Heart have been winning audiences over with their sound that puts you into a reverie without ever becoming somnolent. Come to Babylon and give the group (consisting of singer Kip Berman, singer/keyboardist Peggy Wang, bass player Alex Naidus, and drummer Kurt Feldman) the warm welcome it deserves.
After the concert there will be an Indie Club party hosted by DJ Mabbas of Radio Eksen.
When: January 20, 10:30pm
Where: Babylon
How much: From the venue: 40 TL; 35 TL. From Biletix: 44.50 TL; 39 TL.
To see a great indie act from Liverpool:
The decade-old indie duo known as Robots in Disguise consists of two women from Liverpool, UK: guitarist/vocalist Dee Plume and bassist/vocalist Sue Denim (not their real names). Shrinking violets they’re not: Plume and Denim’s onstage performances are every bit as bold and in-your-face as their tough, resilient vocals. The group’s third album, We’re in the Music Biz, came out in 2008, and they’re currently hard at work on a fourth one. If you’d like a preview of what this eagerly-anticipated release will be like, all you need to do is come to Salon İKSV to hear Plume and Denim live.
When: January 28, 10:30pm
Where: Salon İKSV
How much: From the venue: 35 TL; 25 TL (students). From Biletix: 39.50 TL; 28 TL (students).
To hear a voice from the American South:
Cat Power is the stage name of the versatile Charlyn Marie Marshall, from Atlanta, Georgia, who over a twenty year career has composed nine albums and two EP’s, and played in several movies such as Wong Kar-Wai’s My Blueberry Nights. Marshall’s soulful vocals, combined with her raw, minimalist guitar sounds have earned her great critical acclaim. She’s especially noted for her interpretations of Bob Dylan’s “Hard Times in New York Town” and Oasis’s “Wonderwall.”
When: February 9, 9:00 PM
Where: Garajistanbul
How much: From Biletix: 55 TL; 45 TL.
To hear a little-known musical instrument:
Gheorghe Zamfir, a.k.a. “The Master of the Pan Flute,” started his musical journey at the age of 14 in Romania. After being discovered by Swiss organist Marcel Cellier, Zamfir moved to Western Europe, where he began to perform on film soundtracks such as Picnic at Hanging Rock, Once Upon A Time In America, The Karate Kid,and more recently Kill Bill Vol. 1. Zamfir is also known for expanding the traditional Romanian pan flute from 20 to 30 pipes.
When: February 13, 8:30pm
Where: Caddebostan Kültür Merkezi
How much: From the venue: 89 TL, 69 TL (students). From Biletix: 112 TL, 72 TL (students).
To hear a vintage 70s punk band:
Here’s your chance to see a punk legend live on stage! The Buzzcocks came together in 1975, and soon became one of the most important punk bands around, sharing the stage with other legends like the Sex Pistols, Siouxsie and The Banshees, The Clash, and The Damned at the 100 Club Punk Festival. The Buzzcocks’ positive, upbeat music is sometimes referred to as “pop punk.” Don’t miss your chance to see their original line-up, including Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle, live at Babylon.
There will be a warm-up and an after-party with a DJ Set by Rashit.
When: February 15, 9:30pm
Where: Babylon
How much: From the venue: 50 TL, 40 TL (students). From Biletix: 55.50 TL.
For fans of reggae:
1963 was the year that Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer came together to form The Wailers, a legendary Jamaican Ska / Rocksteady / Reggae band that would go on to sell 250 million albums over the next four decades. After Marley’s death, The Wailers carried on his legacy, with members like Aston Barrett and new vocalist Koolant, uniting millions of people worldwide with their rhythmic sounds. It would be a crime for any reggae fan not to go see The Wailers perform in Istanbul – get your tickets today.
When: February 15, 9:00pm
Where: Küçükçiftlik Park
How much: From Mephisto Kitabevi (Beyoğlu), Zihni Müzik (Kadıköy), Zero Müzik (Kadıköy): 20 TL. From Biletix: 24 TL.
To hear a great band from Scandinavia:
Don’t waste your time trying to figure out what “Mando Diao” means. The name of this Swedish foursome is the whimsical invention of founding member Björn Dixgård. The band picked up speed when Dixgård, together with vocalist/guitarist Gustaf Norén, supposedly embarked on a marathon 14-month songwriting session in a beach house in the late 90s. It was only a matter of time before they signed on to the EMI Sweden label and released their first album, 2002’s Bring’Em In. Their latest album, Give me Fire,came out in 2009, and was produced by the Salla Salazar from the hip-hop band The Latin Kings.
When: February 18, 9:00pm
Where: Küçükçiftlik Park
How much: From Biletix: 40 TL.
To hear an American indie success story:
Traveling back and forth between indie-rock and jazz, Annie Clark, better known by her stage name St. Vincent, recorded her first album Marry Me in 2007 together with Brian Teasley (The Polyphonic Spree) and David Bowie’s pianist Mike Garson. Her second album Actors had such great reviews (including from Bowie himself) that St. Vincent’s success was assured. St. Vincent now comes to Istanbul, ready to perform her songs, including some from her latest album, last year’s Strange Mercy.
When: February 21, 9:30pm
Where: Salon İKSV
How much: From the venue: 35 TL, 25 TL (students). From Biletix: 39.50 TL, 28 TL (students).
To hear an up-and-coming young talent:
Often compared to Amy Winehouse and Adele, Selah Sue is a young talent from Belgium inspired by artists such as Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill. Her major breakthrough followed after her collaboration with Cee Lo Green on his album The Lady Killer, and soon she was performing and major international festivals such as Lowlands, Sziget, and the North Sea Jazz Festival. Selah Sue will now perform in Turkey for the first time as part of the Garanti Caz Yeşili concerts. Don’t miss out.
When: February 23, 9:30pm
Where: Babylon
How much: From the venue: 60 TL, 40 TL (students). From Biletix: 66.50 TL; 55.50 TL; 44.50 TL.
For jazz aficionados:
Known for his innovative and experimental compositions, jazz pianist Brad Mehldau will be the second guest musician in İş Sanat’s jazz series. Mehldau is widely known among jazz aficionados for his unique blend of jazz with rock and classical music; he has recorded arrangements of works by Nick Drake, The Beatles, Radiohead and Paul Simon. Mehldau will play play together with the other two members of his trio: Larry Grenadier on bass and Jeff Ballard on drums/percussion. Come to İş Sanat and hear them live on the 8th of March.
When: March 8, 8:00pm
Where: İş Sanat
How much: From Biletix: 55.50 TL; 50 TL; 39 TL; 34 TL (students); 22.50 TL (students).
To hear a unique mixture of East and West:
Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra & Erdal Akkaya
The Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra, with a 134-year-old history, is one of the most prestigious orchestras in Germany. The orchestra, currently directed by Hendrik Vestmann, will perform Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 for audiences at Hagia Irene. Joining the Duisburg Philharmonic will be Turkish bağlama master Erdal Akkaya, with his own original compositions arranged for orchestra. All profits from this concert entitled Doğu’dan Batıya Sesler (Sounds from East to West) will be donated to Türkiye Sakatlar Derneği’s housing initiative for the disabled in Balıkesir.
When: March 10, 8:00pm
Where: Hagia Irene
How much: From Biletix: 100 TL; 83 TL; 61 TL; 34 TL.
To hear a hardcore DJ:
After last summer’s Rock ‘n’ Coke performance, DJ Gaslamp Killer will return to Istanbul on the 10th of March, to perform at Babylon. The Killer’s first influences include musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Dr. Dre and DJ Shadow. The Killer is the founder of LA’s Low End Theory theme party, a popular event which still continues today. Since the release of his latest EP Death Gate (2010), The Killer hasn’t been sitting still but has been touring at internationally renowned festivals like Coachella, Reworks and Decibel. His set at Babylon will include old Turkish funk and rock samples – we’re sure it will be a night to remember.
When: March 10, 12:00am
Where: Babylon
How much: From the venue: 35 TL, 25 TL. From Biletix: 39 TL.
For fans of electronica:
Modeselektor
Modeselektor, a duo consisting of Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary, is one of Germany’s best-known electronic bands. Founded in 1990s Berlin, in 2001 the group signed onto the BPitch Control label, with whom they’ve released the albums Hello Mom!, Happy Birthday!, and Moderat. In the group’s own words: “Modeselektor emerged out of the tangle of post-wall Berlin, monkey men with beats clenched between their teeth and ideas that would soon force music journalists to make up new words: bastard dancehall, euro crunk, acid rap, big bass techno, labstyle, happy metal, psychedelic electro.” If that sounds like your cup of tea, come to Babylon on March 16th.
When: March 16
Where: Babylon
How Much: TBA
For those in need of a feel-good concert:
American singer Bobby McFerrin rose to fame with his 1988 song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” which won him numerous awards at the 1989 Grammys. In fact, the versatile McFerrin, who has over a dozen albums to his name, is not only a singer but also performs regularly as a guest conductor with major symphony orchestras in the US and Europe. McFerrin’s upbeat, spontaneous personality is hard not to like. In his own words: “Listening to Bobby McFerrin sing may be hazardous to your preconceptions. Side effects may include unparalleled joy, a new perspective on creativity, rejection of the predictable, and a sudden, irreversible urge to lead a more spontaneous existence.” Need we say more?
When: March 28, 8:00 PM
Where: İş Sanat
How Much: From Biletix: 117 TL; 107 TL; 92 TL; 77 TL (discount); 20 TL (students).
To hear the sounds of West Africa:
Salif Keita
Malian singer Salif Keita, known as the “Golden Voice of Africa,” became well known in the 70s as a member of the Malian group Les Ambassadeurs, later embarking on a successful solo career, the latest product of which is his 2009 album La Différence. Keita’s message of hope and tolerance is a good accompaniment to his singing, which has won him a huge fan base internationally. In Keita’s words, “Happiness isn’t for tomorrow; it starts here and now.”
When: April 3
Where: Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall
How much: TBA
To see a one-of-a-kind electronic act from the UK:
Gold Panda
Gold Panda is the stage name of UK musician and producer Derwin Schlecker, whose song “Quitters Raga” made number 75 of Pitchfork magazine’s Top 100 Tracks of 2009. Of his 2010 debut album Lucky Shiner, the UK’s Guardian newspaper has written: “It's an album that sits on a pleasant fence between invention and homeliness. Armed with an ear for a skilful beat and an array of weird samples, it's a mixture the Peckham-born producer expertly facilitates.” Curious? Then come to Babylon on April 20th to see Gold Panda in the flesh.
When: April 20
Where: Babylon
How much: TBA
To see a Latin musical legend:
The singer Susana Baca is the current Minister of Culture in her native Peru, a fitting honor for a musician whose long and productive career has been instrumental in bringing Afro-Peruvian music to the world’s attention. Baca has over a dozen albums to her name, including her 2002 Latin Grammy-winning Lamento Negro; she attaches particular importance to the lyrics of her songs and has put to music poems by eminent Latin American poets like her countryman Cesar Vallejo. Her upcoming concert in Istanbul – which will take place at the unique location of Hagia Irene – promises to be an enthralling experience.
When: April 27, 8:00 PM
Where: Hagia Irene
How much: From Biletix: 220 TL; 165 TL; 133 TL; 112 TL; 89.50 TL; 56.50 TL.
To hear some great psychedelic rock:
The two core members of the psychedelic/electronic UK band known as Death in Vegas are Richard Fearless and Tim Holmes. From their 1997 debut album Dead Elvis to last year’s Trans-Love Energies, Death in Vegas have consistently shown that they have their fingers on the musical pulse of contemporary audiences. Come give them a warm welcome as they perform in Turkey for the first time. P.S. Fans of Sophia Coppola’s Lost in Translation will recognize the track “Girls”...
When: April 28, 11:30 PM
Where: Babylon
How much: From the venue: 45 TL (standing); 30 TL (students). From Biletix: 50 TL.
To hear a classical concert pure and simple:
The BBC Philharmonic, regarded as one of the UK’s best symphony orchestras, was founded in Manchester in 1934 as the BBC Northern Orchestra, and performs regularly on BBC Radio 3. The orchestra has eagerly embraced 21st century technology, having made its performances of all of Beethoven’s nine symphonies available for download in 2005. Spanish conductor Juanjo Mena has taken up the Philharmonic’s baton for the 2011/12 season. Their concert program at İş Sanat will consist of Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in E Flat Major, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 in C Sharp Minor, with cello playing by accomplished cellist Sol Gabetta.
When: May 14, 8:00 PM
Where: İş Sanat
How much: From Biletix: 127 TL; 112 TL; 92 TL; 77 TL (discount); 22.50 TL (students).
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