In 1977 Muharrem Özdemir was 19 and his friend just 18, both gifted Cypriot teenagers studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Istanbul when they were forcibly abducted and held captive for a day before being shot by Turkish fascists. Before his death, Muharrem’s friend had begun a portrait of him. This unfinished […]
Bedük has been rocking audiences worldwide for 15 years, but surprisingly this multi-talented Turkish artist has never performed in London. All that is set to change on Thursday when the dance musician / producer / singer takes to the stage at the O2 Academy Islington. With a capacity of just 900, Londoners will be able […]
He’s been in the spotlight on Turkey’s The Voice (O Ses Türkiye) and as a London busker he brought Marble Arch tube station to a standstill following his lively set that went viral. Now singer-songwriter Ali Köse has turned judge as one of a hundred talented music professionals on BBC 1’s new Saturday night entertainment […]
If you have an interest in the history and heritage of Turkic peoples, then this new book is for you! Edited by Razia Sultanova and Megan Rancier, Turkic Soundscapes From Shamanic Voices to Hip-Hop is the culmination of a long-running project exploring the story of Turkic peoples around the world through music and the […]
I finally had the chance to listen to the legendary Turkish musician Selda Bağcan live at her recent concert at KOKO in Camden. I have known of her since my early childhood (the 90s), thanks to my parents who admire her just like many other people their age in Turkey. Today, it’s funny to think […]
If you’ve ever fancied yourself as a TV personality and live in London, here’s your chance to build your profile. The Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations in Britain (CTCA UK) – the national umbrella group for the UK’s 300,000 Turkish Cypriot community – is looking for new faces to present its new TV programme […]
Ever since I moved to London from Istanbul three years ago, I am always keen to check out Turkish origin musicians in London. I met Gazel about a year ago during one of her gigs at 93 Feet East. I didn’t know at the time that she had Turkish roots, but when I heard the […]
ITV’s topical lunchtime show Loose Women will be welcoming male guest panellists for a special Valentine’s Day episode. Reality TV star Kem Cetinay, singer and TV presenter Peter Andre, actor Jamie Lomas and celebrity stylist Gok Wan are all going to feature on Wednesday’s show (February 14). The quartet will be joining Coleen Nolan, Linda […]
A romantic comedy set in Cyprus and written in the Turkish Cypriot dialect is set to hit the stage in Catford later this month. Parsel Parsel, written by Zalihe Susuzlu and Aygün Kencer, will make its UK theatrical debut at Conisborough College, which is also home to Dr. Fazıl Küçük Turkish School. Parsel Parsel […]
It’s not often an event promoter combines amazing live music with art in a historic setting and all for a good cause, but that’s exactly what consultant Zeynep Ober sets out to achieve with Painting Meets Music. While the event name lacks imagination, the evening’s contents certainly sparkle. Renowned flautist Şefika Kutluer performs, accompanied […]
