The second edition of the Sound of Europe Festival has concluded

The Sound of Europe Festival, which met with audiences for its second edition this year, brought together everyone looking to listen to new sounds after performing for music lovers between September 22-24 at Istanbul Alan Kadıköy, Ankara Çankaya Ahlatlıbel Atatürk Park, and Izmir Bostanlı Viewing Terrace, and finally visiting the Hatay Samandağ Ali İsmail Korkmaz Park on September 26.

Featuring a wide selection ranging from jazz to rock, hip-hop and rap to solo piano and electronic music, the Sound of Europe Festival concluded its second edition with intense interest from music lovers. Within the scope of the festival, nearly 6000 people watched over 30 concerts performed by more than 70 local and international artists at four different venues.

INNOVATIVE NAMES IN MUSIC FROM EUROPE AND TURKEY MET

Visitors fully experienced the never-ending energy of summer during the festival's concerts held simultaneously in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir between September 22-24. In the three major cities, audiences met with Chefket, one of the newest names in hip-hop and rap; 7th Sense with their simple yet powerful performances; and Sunkissed Child, who delivered a unique performance with the vocals of Yasmina Nahas.

Martin Brunner captivated listeners with his calm yet compelling solo piano performance. The duo of Brunner and Coşkun Karademir, a master of the bağlama and kopuz in Turkey who was a guest on Brunner's stage, offered festival visitors the opportunity to listen to the sounds of different cultures together. Monika Bulanda, who is well-known to Turkish audiences as well as European music lovers for her concerts featuring Polish and Turkish folk music, and the Danish-Turkish psych-rock band Tuhaf provided listeners with unique concert experiences.

NEW MUSICAL GENRES

Within the scope of the festival, in Ankara, Kid Colling with the warmth of his voice and creative approach to music, Candlelight Ficus with their energetic performance that swept listeners off their feet, Effetto Carsico Trio with their original jazz pieces leaning towards rock and pop-rock, Mara Aranda, known for her cultural references in pieces extending to Sephardic music, and master drummer and percussionist Tarık Aslan, whom she hosted on stage, were there for those who wanted to listen to unconventional and new musical genres.

At the Sound of Europe Festival, which brought everyone together in Hatay with the unifying and empowering energy of music, music lovers gathered for concerts by many artists, including Sarp Keskiner, one of the most successful names on the Turkish blues scene; Dutch guitarist Jan Wouter Oostenrijk, who shuttles between jazz, blues, and rock; Deli Teli, with their never-ending enthusiastic stage presence and pieces referencing the çiftetelli; and renowned Turkish Folk Music musician Ulaş Özdemir, accompanied on stage by Adile Yadırgı, a well-known voice of the genre.

ORIGINAL INTERPRETATIONS OF BARIŞ MANÇO SONGS

In addition to these names, the Sound of Europe Festival featured Salut de Smyrne, who emphasize the cultural richness of Anatolia and the Mediterranean with songs in Turkish, Greek, Arabic, and Ladino (an old Spanish language) from the Turkish music scene; the Ukulele Ankara Ensemble with their colorful and energetic Hawaiian songs; Goril Reggae Band, who provided a unique concert experience for everyone with their music blended with dancehall, afrobeat, and dub sounds inspired by reggae; Doludizgin, with their original interpretations of songs by the contemporary bard of Turkish Music, Barış Manço; and Sercan Debelec Sextet, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and productive name on the local jazz scene.

By further expanding its program this year with masterclasses that brought amateur and professional musicians together, the festival helped develop and reinforce cultural dialogue.