NOW IN ISTANBUL
This summer will be rich in culture in Istanbul, from mid-July you will find many concerts in the city and in August the music festivals season resumes. On the menu there is something for everyone: metal, jazz, rock, electronic music festivals and pop stars like Sia or Sting. You will also find the Istanbul Shopping Festival which is held throughout the month of July and beautiful exhibitions. Here the cultural program of this summer 2016 in order not to miss anything during your stay in Istanbul:
CONCERTS
/July
The Scorpions
July 10 – Megadeth: the legendary American thrash metal band will be on the stage of Parkorman, a beautiful space in the forest, as part of the Rock Off Festival. This is also an opportunity for metal fans to listen to some local artists.
July 11- Fazıl Say & New Talents: the Turkish piano virtuoso, known for his militant atheism and his positions against the government, will be performing at the Enka outdoor theater accompanied by some new talents.
July 12 – Scorpions: the German hard rock band that has sold more than a 100 million albums throughout the world will be at the Küçükçiftlik Park. They will be followed by the singer Sebnem Fera, a popular Turkish artist.
July 13 – Nicholas Payton trio: the trumpeter from the New Orlean will be accompanied by two other musicians for a concert at the Sakip Sabancı museum.
July 14 – Kamasi Washington: the jazzman and American composer, known for playing tenor saxophone (jazz’s iconic instrument) is at the Beykoz Kundura Fabrikası, the new underground and trendy art venue in Istanbul.
July 15 – Hugh Coltman French Quater: this concert at the outdoor theater UNIQ is a musical performance specially created for the International Istanbul Jazz Festival IKSV. Together for the first time, the French jazz group French Quarter and Hugh Coltman, an English musician and singer whose vocal style recalls Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake.
One Love Festival
July 15 – Baba Zula: the Turkish alternative pop band with psychedelic rhythms will be performing at the Akasya Kültür Sanat. Do not miss it!
July 17 – One Love Festival : for its 15th consecutive year, the annual festival organized by the Efes beer return to Parkorman. On the menu this year: Two Door Cinema Club, Django Django, Balthazar, Arthur Beatrice HVOB and many others. More information on the official page of the festival: oneloveistanbul
July 17 – Pink Martini: the worldwide famous band, especially for their song “Sympathique”(Je ne veux pas travailler), will be on stage of the outdoor theatre Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu.
July 17 – Metropool: the Hilton Bosphorus hotel organizes pool parties in the afternoons of the 17th, 23th and 30th of July, several local DJs will mix there on the occasion.
July 18 – Cyrus Chestnuts / Buster William: Cyrus Chestnut is an American pianist who played with the biggest names in jazz such as Miles Davis and Herbie Mann, he will be accompanied by bassist Buster William on the stage of the Zorlu Center PSM.
July 19 – Scofield – Mehldau – Guiliana: the trio composed of the pianist Brad Mehldau, the talented percussionist Mark Guiliana (that contributed to the last album of David Bowie) and the guitarist John Scofield will be performing at the Zorlu Center PSM within the 23rd Jazz Festival in Istanbul.
Pink Martini
July 20 – Ernest Ranglin & Friends: the Jamaican guitarist virtuoso Ernest Ranglin will be at the Küçükçiflik Park as part of his international farewell tour, he will be accompanied by big names of jazz and world music as Tony Allen, Courtney Pine and Ira Coleman. Not to miss!
July 21 – Night Out: the district of Kadikoy organizes a jazz festival in its streets on the evening of the 21st of July. No fewer than 35 concerts are planned with over 200 local and international artists and some great names in the industry such as Joan Baez, Jools Holland, Marcus Miller, Melody Gardot and Tigran Hamasyan. For more information: caz.iksv.org
July 21 – Skunk Anansie: the rock band, part of the British alternative rock movement (Britrock) will be at the Zorlu Center PSM.
July 23 – Joss Stone / Vintage trouble: the R&B and Soul Bristih singer Joss Stone is at the Küçükçiftlik Park, she will be followed by the R&B Californian group Vintage Trouble.
July 26 – Muse: the British rock band, known worldwide and having sold over 20 million albums will be on the stage of the Küçükçiftlik Park as part of their European tour.
July 29 – Damian Rice: the singer, composer and performer of Irish rock will be performing at the Zorlu Center PSM.
Muse
July 30 – YavuzFest: the third tribute guitar festival to the famous Turkish rock musician Yavuz Çetin will be held in Parkorman this July 30, you will find in the program many Turkish rock bands.
/August
August 3 – Steve Vai: the guitarist, singer, songwriter and American composer will be at the Zorlu Center PSM, he was voted 10th best guitarist of all time by the Guitar World magazine.
August 6 – Life in Color Festival: the Life in Color festival will cover Istanbul in paint once again, the festival is known to be the biggest party where spectators splash paint on each other around the world. After the success of last year, the festival is back with a bigger production, more artists and tons of paint! Do not miss this amazing event at the Life Park. More details on lifeincolor.com
Sia
August 7 – Buika: the Spanish singer of African origin, mixing flamenco with soul and funk, will be at the outdoor theater Cemil Topuzlu for a colourful performance.
August 8 – Sia, Selah Sue, Oh Land…: the festival Masstival at the Küçükçiftlik Park is probably the most anticipated one of the summer of 2016, on the program there are only big names like the pop star Sia (Chandelier, Elastic Heart ….), Selah Sue (Alone, Fear Nothing … ) Oh land (Wolfe and I) and other local artists. Consider buying your tickets in advance as they can be quickly out of stock!
August 13 – Renkli Çadır Festivali: the Tirmata Beach of Kilyos organizes a festival lasting 24 hours of music and light with the possibility of staying camp on site. For more information click here.
August 13 & 14 – Electronica Festival: the annual electronic music festival will be held in Istanbul’s Suma Beach, a northern beach of the city where every weekends local and international DJs come mix at night in the forest and on the beach during the day. This is an event not to be missed if you like electronic music!
August 19 – Minipax Festival: Suma Beach hosts another electronic music festival that is also highly anticipated, especially as this year’s line-up looks pretty exiting with the arrival of David August and many other DJs. On the menu: sun, sea, beach and music! For the occasion some spaces will be dedicated to drinks, beach volleyball and food with several restaurants stands such as Shake Shack, Pinkberry, NYC Hotdogs and many others. Not to be missed! More information on www.minipaxfestival.com
The Minipax Festival
August 27 – 100% Metal Fest: Headbangers’s Weekend: this festival, as its name suggests, is the “rendezvous” of the “metalheads” of Istanbul, and the biggest metal festival in Turkey and the Middle East. The line up has not been disclosed yet, but among the participants of previous years you can find the groups Kreator, Arch Enemy, Helloween, Overkill, Children of Bodom, Katatonia, Epica, Carcass, Therion, At The Gates and Sonata Arctica. At the Küçükçiftlik Park
Meanwhile in southern Turkey:
Bodrum’s Chillout Festival
July 5 & 6 – Electronica Festival Çeşme: the favorite resort of the Turkish people, a mecca for the party but also windsurfing, hosts the highly anticipated Electronica festival. Electronic music fans will not be disappointed because there are beautiful names in the program like Tiga, John Digweed, Ame and the Adana Twins. At the Alaçatı Sound Pool.
July 23 & 24 – Chillout Festival Bodrum: the Radio Lounge FM of Istanbul organizes like every year the Chillout Festival at the Xuma Beach in Bodrum Yalıkavak. What could be better than listening to some good music in a small cove on the Aegean Sea? For the line-up and more information: www.chilloutfest.com
July 22 to July 24 – Çesme Reggae Festival: it is the appointment of the Turkish reggae fans, the festival is held in the creek Ayasandra in Çeşme. Among the groups that will be on stage you can find Zeytin, the group of Yunus, a member of our team that makes you discover our culinary walk on two continents.
Babylon Soundgarden
August 9 – Sting: the English musician and singer Sting will perform at the Antalya Expo. This will be the 5th concert of the international star in Turkey.
August 13 – Babylon Soundgarden: the most famous concert hall in Istanbul, Babylon, organizes the summer festival Soundgarden on its beach in Çeşme. Will be present the Turkish rockers Athena group, The Avaner and DJ Funky C
August 26 – Lara Fabian: the French pop singer with 20 million albums sold worldwide will be in concert at the outdoor theater of Çeşme.
FESTIVALS
July 1 to July 31 – Istanbul Shopping Festival:
Notice to all shopping lovers, the 6th Istanbul Shopping Festival takes place throughout the month of July! It will allow you to receive discounts and special sales in many malls and shopping streets of Istanbul. There will be special sales days including with unbeatable prices, for more information about the festival and all the tips: istshopfest.com
EXHIBITIONS:
On the occasion of the fifteenth edition of the European Football Championship organized this year by France, the French Institute in Istanbul wanted to put football in the spotlight across Planet Football, an exhibition of the pictures of the greatest Magnum photographers.
The beautiful museum on the banks of the Bosphorus, the Sakıp Sabancı, welcomes the artist leader of the German modernist movement, Heinz Mack. The exhibition “Mack, just light and color” highlights the works of the artist, known for being the founder of the avant-garde movement of the mid 20th century: Zero. It brings together paintings, monumental sculptures and kinetic works produced throughout the long career of the artist. At the Sakip Sabancı Museum.
