Concerts in Istanbul and Turkey Istanbul is a very rich city when you think about cultural events. In summer, concert halls are working full time to provide colorful cultural events and some events are also held in football stadiums. If you come to Turkey on the summer, get the program and you will be lucky to be able to see a famous concert in an open air amphitheater, in the Ataturk Cultural Center or many of the concert halls in Istanbul. This year Eros Ramazoti will give a concert at a football stadium and the sponsors are giving also free entrance tickets ! Elton John will play at the ancient city of Ephesus. Can you imagine listening to Elton Jonh in a 3000 years old ancient amphitheater ? Wonderful isn't it ?! Sting will also come to Istanbul and give a concert in an open air amphitheater.

The international Istanbul Jazz festival, organized by the Istanbul foundation for Culture and arts will take place from the 6th through the 21st of July 2001. In addition to standard and contemporary jazz acts, the festival includes many other forms of music in the program, from Rock to pop, salsa to Rai, electronica to acid jazz and funk to hip hop. This event offers a remarkable variety of great music experience at the vibrant venues and clubs of Istanbul.

There are concerts for each taste ! Mostly events were held in summer, but now there are also winter festivals. Festivals take place mostly in Istanbul, but you will also find concerts in Ankara and some cities of the Mediterranean and Aegean sea. Here are some great and famous English speaking musicians that have been to Turkey: Oscar Peterson, Lisa Minelli, Madonna, Dave Brubeck, Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, John Mclaughlin, Sarah Vaughan among others... Some Spanish speaking musicians that have also been to Turkey: Paco de Lucia; Buena Vista Social Club came to Turkey last year and will also come again this year. Some Brazilian musicians that have played in Turkey : Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Ivan Lins, Daniela Mercury, Tania Maria, Hermeto Pascoal, Milton Nascimento, Sergio Mendes, Chico Cesar, among others ...

Turkish people are very musical and enjoy going to concerts, dancing and also singing. All musical events held in Turkey are very popular and different kind of musicians and styles are mostly welcome. When you think about Turkish Music you will find also a complete different style of music which is performed in summer at the festival. (Please have a look at the Music CDs recommended by this web site). The number one in the pop Turkish hits nowadays is Tarkan with the song "kuzu kuzu". There are some others like Tarik and Sezen Aksu with very nice pop songs and Balik Ayhan who plays very nice gipsy music !

Date: June 17th, 2001
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