With electrified saz, voice and machines, the “Shaman of Modern Times” CEM YILDIZ pushes the boundaries of Anatolian folk music and transports audiences into the universe of Istanbul’s urban sounds. Take flight with his performance of the poetically titled “I Fly, The Skies Fly.”

From the Montreux Jazz Festival to Sonar Barcelona, CEM YILDIZ has performed on stages of the major world and electronic music festivals, constantly reinventing his sound signature.

A graduate of the Istanbul National Conservatory, the artist has developed a unique musical universe blending folk and electronic music. His journey, which began with the album "HÜ"- composed of Alevi songs - has deepened with the groups Orient Expressions and Insanlar. His international hits “Stil”, “Ejma” and “Atlas”, in collaboration with Acid Arab, are also part of this ever-evolving sonic exploration.

On stage, CEM YILDIZ reinvents sounds in real time, offering a unique experience at every performance.

Nicknamed “Electro-Dede” or “Electro-Ashik” in reference to the troubadours and poets of Anatolia and to Alevi culture and poetry*, CEM YILDIZ continues the long lineage of these bards of freedom and tolerance, who, saz in hand and poetry on their lips, have traversed the centuries.

*Alevism: a spiritual movement characterized by its humanist and universal essence, conveying a message of openness and tolerance, and advocating for gender equality. This culture has been upheld for centuries by musician-poets known as “ashiks” (troubadours).

The other performer of the evening is the sensational Romanian world music star, Balkan Taksim, who will intoxicate the audience with electronic psychedelia and Balkan grooves.

This concert was supported by LivEurope.

We recommend a delightful dinner before the concert:

Starters:

● Game ragout soup with chestnuts and forest mushrooms (celery, lactose, tree nuts)

● Pumpkin hummus with beetroot falafel and pita (gluten, sesame seeds)

● Cinnamon quince cream soup with toasted almonds (tree nuts)

Main Courses:

● Bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin medallions with rosehip sauce and potato dumplings with chestnuts and Brussels sprouts (gluten, lactose, egg, tree nuts)

● Thyme-infused chicken supreme with pumpkin purée, pomegranate sauce, and croquettes

(gluten, egg, lactose)

● Jerusalem artichoke and porcini mushroom risotto with vegan parmesan and roasted beetroot chips (salt, gluten, soy)

● Confit beef neck in hunter’s sauce (*vadas*) with crispy napkin dumplings (lactose, gluten, celery, egg)

Desserts:

● Raspberry and hazelnut cream slice (soy, tree nuts)

● Coconut panna cotta with passion fruit jelly and pomegranate seeds (lactose)

● KitKat cheesecake (gluten, soy, lactose, egg, tree nuts)