If you have never been to the BBC Proms before, next Friday may be the perfect night to start.
Altın Gün will make their Proms debut at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Friday, 28 August, performing their distinctive fusion of Anatolian folk, psychedelic rock and funk alongside the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor Jules Buckley and special guest Derya Yıldırım.
And for British Turkish music fans wondering whether the rarefied surroundings of the Royal Albert Hall and one of the world’s most famous classical music festivals are really for them, the message from the BBC is reassuringly simple: “Come as you are and enjoy the experience.”
Even Turkish flags are permitted.
In responses to questions from T-VINE ahead of the concert, the BBC Proms and BBC Symphony Orchestra have revealed more about why Altın Gün were invited, what audiences can expect from the collaboration and why newcomers should not feel intimidated about attending their first Prom.
The BBC says it was “immediately captivated by Altın Gün’s unique sound” after conductor Jules Buckley, who has a longstanding relationship with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, introduced the group to the Proms team.
“Once we heard their music we knew they would be a fantastic fit for the Proms,” the BBC told T-VINE.
“Their vibrant blend of contemporary and traditional influences felt perfect for a summer Proms audience, while the involvement of special guest Derya Yıldırım made the project even more exciting.
“The band were also enthusiastic about exploring their music in an orchestral setting, making this a perfect collaboration.”
Anatolian sounds on a symphonic scale
It is difficult to imagine a more intriguing setting in which to hear Altın Gün.
As T-VINE previously reported, the Grammy-nominated Dutch-Turkish group have spent the past decade taking music rooted in Türkiye’s folk and Anatolian rock traditions to audiences around the world, mixing bağlama, traditional melodies and Turkish vocals with psychedelic guitar, funk, disco, electronica and rock.
Their latest album, Garip, brings them particularly close to their Turkish folk roots. Released earlier this year, it consists entirely of interpretations of compositions by the late Neşet Ertaş, one of Türkiye’s greatest folk musicians and masters of the bağlama.
At the Proms, that music will be expanded again, this time with the full force and colour of the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
The concert is being led by Jules Buckley, a conductor and arranger particularly renowned for bringing orchestral music together with jazz, electronic, soul and contemporary artists.
The BBC Symphony Orchestra told T-VINE that its recent collaborations with Buckley have included an impressive list of internationally acclaimed performers, among them Lianne La Havas, Paul Weller, Father John Misty, Arooj Aftab and Ibrahim Maalouf. Another collaboration, with influential American producer and turntablist DJ Shadow, is due later this year.
That experience of taking music created outside the traditional classical world and reimagining it on an orchestral scale should make Altın Gün an especially fascinating proposition.
The published description for next Friday’s Prom promises to transform the band’s “cool riffs and Anatolian folk textures into rich orchestral colours”, with Derya Yıldırım adding her distinctive voice and musicianship to the proceedings.
Never been to the Proms? Don’t worry
The appearance of Altın Gün and Derya Yıldırım is likely to attract plenty of people from Britain’s Turkish community who have never previously attended the Proms.
T-VINE therefore asked the BBC whether there was anything first-time visitors should know — including whether they could bring their Turkish flags.
“The best advice is simply to come as you are and enjoy the experience,” came the reply.
“One of the wonderful things about the Proms is that everyone is welcome, and there’s no dress code, so wear whatever makes you feel comfortable.
“Flags are permitted at the Proms, although they are most commonly associated with the celebratory atmosphere of the Last Night of the Proms.
“Above all, we’d encourage first-time visitors to relax, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy what promises to be a very special evening of music.”
It is an important point.
For all the grandeur of the Royal Albert Hall and the enormous prestige attached to the BBC Proms, the festival was founded on the idea of making high-quality live music accessible to as broad an audience as possible.
So there is no need for dinner jackets, evening dresses or specialist knowledge of classical music. Jeans and an Altın Gün T-shirt will do just fine.
And if a few Ay Yıldız flags appear around the Royal Albert Hall as the opening strains of a Neşet Ertaş song ring out, they will be entirely within the rules.
The BBC Symphony Orchestra’s Turkish connection
Altın Gün are also not the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s only current connection with Türkiye.
Asked whether the orchestra had previously worked with Turkish artists, the BBC highlighted its relationship with rising Turkish-Italian conductor Nil Venditti.
“We love working with Turkish-Italian conductor Nil Venditti,” the orchestra told T-VINE.
BBC Symphony Orchestra. Photo © BBC / Sim Canetty-Clarke
Venditti recently conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus at this year’s Proms and is due to return during the orchestra’s new season at London’s Barbican, conducting works by Manuel de Falla, Gabriela Ortiz and Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
Turkish musicians and composers have appeared at the Proms at various points over the years, while the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra made history in 2014 as the first orchestra from Türkiye to perform at the festival.
Altın Gün’s appearance, though, represents something quite different.
This is Turkish folk heritage arriving at the Royal Albert Hall not as a museum piece, but through musicians who have spent years dismantling, remixing and reimagining it for a new international generation.
One night only
There is also a good reason not to assume you can simply catch the same show the next time Altın Gün come to London.
The combination of the band, Derya Yıldırım, Jules Buckley and the BBC Symphony Orchestra makes next Friday’s performance a one-off orchestral event rather than a standard Altın Gün tour date.
For British Turks in particular, there should be something quite special about hearing melodies associated with Anatolia, the bağlama and Neşet Ertaş reverberating around one of Britain’s great cultural institutions with a full BBC orchestra behind them.
And you may even be able to dance.
Just perhaps not in front of the person sitting behind you.
Performance details
Event: BBC Proms: Altın Gün
Performers: Altın Gün; Derya Yıldırım, vocals; BBC Symphony Orchestra; Jules Buckley, conductor
Date: Friday 28 August 2026
Time: doors open 6.30pm, concert starts 7.30pm. There is no interval.
Venue: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP
Tickets: Seated tickets are listed from £16.28 to £59.12, including booking fees. The Proms also offers a limited number of lower-priced standing “Promming” tickets on the day.
Further information and tickets: via the Royal Albert Hall / BBC Proms.
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