Sound of Europe Festival, where new and successful voices of European music come together with musicians from Türkiye, is preparing to meet music lovers in its third year without slowing down.

The Sound of Europe Festival, implemented with the initiative of the Istanbul and Ankara clusters of EUNIC (European Union National Institutes of Culture), one of the European networks supported by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, and with the participation of Kadıköy and Çankaya Municipalities, will once again meet music lovers on 14 and 15 September 2024 in Istanbul Kalamış Atatürk Park, Ankara Çankaya Ahlatlıbel Atatürk Park and Izmir Bostanlı View Terrace.

The Sound of Europe Festival, which aims to be an artistic and musical meeting point and a cultural exchange platform between Europe and Türkiye, will again host new voices and projects. Concerts will be held simultaneously in three cities for two days.

The Sound of Europe Festival, which extended to Izmir last year with the participation of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and the support of the "EUNIC Cluster Fund" established by EUNIC to support cultural projects to be realized in member countries, will bring music fans together for two days of concerts at Izmir Bostanlı Seyir Terası in addition to the concerts to be held in Istanbul and Ankara in its third year.

Non-stop music in three different cities for two days  

Within the scope of the festival, which is free of charge, more than 50 foreign and local artists from Europe and Türkiye will be with the audience in more than 25 concerts.

The Sound of Europe Festival aims to create a typical dialogue and interaction platform by bringing 13 European music groups and local artists from Türkiye together on the same stage. This unique approach promotes cultural exchange and understanding, and it will again bring together the new sounds of Europe with music lovers this year. The festival offers a unique platform for young European and Turkish bands.

Sound of Europe Festival is organized by the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye and realized through the joint initiative of the esteemed members of EUNIC in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir: Goethe Institut Ankara, Goethe Institut Izmir, Institut français Istanbul, Institut français Ankara, Institut français Izmir, Austrian Cultural Office Istanbul, Austrian Embassy Ankara, Italian Cultural Centre Istanbul, Embassy of Italy Ankara, Consulate of Italy Izmir, Embassy of Luxembourg Ankara, Embassy of the Netherlands in Ankara, Consulate General of the Netherlands in Izmir, Camões Institute in Istanbul, Embassy of Portugal in Ankara, Romanian Cultural Institute, Embassy of Spain in Ankara,  Consulate General of Spain in Istanbul, Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Ankara, Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Istanbul, Danish Cultural Institute and Danish Embassy in Ankara and Embassy of Malta in Ankara.

EUROPEAN UNION, 2024

YSÉ - France

Institut français - Istanbul, Izmir

French singer-songwriter and interpreter YSÉ draws attention as one of the rising pop names. YSÉ, who captivates the audience with her naive yet bold lyrics, went on a tour across France after premiering her songs at Rock en Seine 2022. In addition to her solo career, YSÉ joined Stranger Quartet as a cellist/bassist in 2021 and accompanied H-Burns' Leonard Cohen tribute tour in more than 60 concerts, and also took part in many concerts with Peter Doherty & Frédéric Lo (The Fantasy Life of Poetry and Crime).

14 September Saturday - Kalamış Atatürk Park, İstanbul

15 September Sunday - Bostanlı View Terrace, İzmir

Mezzotono - Italy

Italian Cultural Centre Istanbul, Embassy of Italy Ankara

Mezzotono, an acapella group that performs in more than 60 countries on five continents, is one of the world's most traveled European vocal groups. Mezzotono is known for its repertoire of Italian, English, and Spanish songs covering various musical styles from jazz to pop, bossa nova, mambo, tango, folklore, big band, and even classical music. Mezzotono is known for its concerts that entertain the audience with humorous songs. The Mezzotono concert, which combines the unchanging elements of Italian culture, entertainment, and quality music, appeals to a broad audience.

14 September Saturday - Kalamış Atatürk Park, İstanbul

15 September Sunday - Ankara Çankaya Ahlatlıbel Atatürk Park

Triana and Luca - Luxembourg

Embassy of Luxembourg in Ankara

With its intimate and heartfelt tracks, Triana and Luca is the collaborative project of two curious artists who explore their diasporic roots through music. Interweaving Ibero-American folklore and contemporary influences, their melodies oscillate between popular music, improvisation, and poetry. Their project is a collection of visual and poetic elements inspired by cultural traditions, creative freedom, nature, poetry, and mysticism. Drawing on their eclectic backgrounds, their compositions tell personal stories enriched by the memories of multi-generational immigrant families.

14 September Saturday - Ankara Çankaya Ahlatlıbel Atatürk Park

Zuzanna - Poland

Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Ankara

Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Zuzanna plays piano, guitar, and accordion. Sometimes poetic, sometimes energetic, and always heartfelt, Zuzanna combines folk-influenced melodies with personal lyrics and stories. Her voice and style are often compared to Zaz's and the musical atmosphere of the film "Amélie." The Polish artist has won numerous awards at national and international music festivals.

14 September Saturday - Ankara Çankaya Ahlatlıbel Atatürk Park

15 September Sunday - Kalamış Atatürk Park, İstanbul

DIVES - Austria

Austrian Cultural Office Istanbul, Austrian Embassy Ankara

DIVES, consisting of Dora de Goederen (drums), Tamara Leichtfried (guitar, vocals), and Viktoria Kirner (bass, vocals), quickly made themselves known in the music world after meeting in 2015. The band took the stage at the world's leading music festivals, The Great Escape, Eurosonic, Reeperbahn Festival, and c/o pop, gave around 180 concerts in 16 different countries, and toured with L.A. Witch and Courtney Barnett. DIVES, which has reached an enormous fan base in a short time, combines 80's vibes with surf pop and modern indie music in their songs.

14 September Saturday - Kalamış Atatürk Park, Istanbul

15 September Sunday - Ankara Çankaya Ahlatlıbel Atatürk Park

Maruja Limón - Spain

Consulate General of Spain Istanbul, Consulate General of Spain Izmir

Maruja Limón, an all-female Spanish five-piece band, has been making their voices heard more and more since their first album with their energetic music that fluctuates between flamenco, pop, and Latin rhythms. From the struggle for social equality to love stories, Maruja Limón will meet the audience with their songs full of energy, intensity, and joy.

14 September Saturday - Bostanlı View Terrace, İzmir

15 September Sunday - Kalamış Atatürk Park, Istanbul

Isolation Berlin - Germany

Goethe Institut - Ankara, Izmir

Formed in 2012 by singer Tobias Bamborschke and guitarist Max Bauer, Isolation Berlin has progressed since 2013 with Simeon Cöster on drums and David Specht on bass. Influenced by post-punk, psychedelic rock, Brit-pop, and 90s indie-rock, the band calls the genre of their music "proto-pop." Having released three EPs, two albums, and a double-A 7" single, Isolation Berlin has gained a well-deserved audience with tours in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and international music festivals.

14 September Saturday - Bostanlı View Terrace, İzmir

15 September Sunday - Ankara Çankaya Ahlatlıbel Atatürk Park

SENZA - Portugal

Consulate General of Portugal Istanbul

After a three-month trip to Asia, SENZA, the project of Catarina Duarte and Nuno Caldeira, carries a profound message of musical and cultural unity. In their music, it is possible to hear the sounds of various Portuguese-speaking countries and the meeting of different musical styles. The duo's "Lusophone fusion" music style tells a fascinating story with a unique and surprising sound. The presence of musical influences from Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, and other Portuguese-speaking countries makes SENZA a unifying representative of Lusophony with the potential to reveal the Portuguese language and culture.

15 September Sunday - Kalamış Atatürk Park, Istanbul

Gaidaa - Netherlands

Embassy of Netherlands in Ankara, Consulate of Netherlands in Izmir

Gaidaa, a Dutch singer and songwriter of Sudanese origin, first appeared on the scene in 2018 with Full Crate's "A Storm On A Summers Day." Gaidaa, who released her first single, "Morning Blue," in 2019 and her Overture EP on 24 2020, brings an alternative form to R&B and soul. The Sudanese-born Dutch singer-songwriter puts her heart and soul into her music, creating powerful R&B ballads with acoustic instrumentation and sensitive lyrics.

14 September Saturday - Ankara Çankaya Ahlatlıbel Atatürk Park

15 September Sunday - Bostanlı View Terrace, İzmir

Sebastian Burneci Quintet - Romania

Embassy of Romania in Ankara

The repertoire of the Sebastian Burneci Quintet, a contemporary jazz band consisting of trumpeter and composer Sebastian Burneci, Eugen Mamot on tenor saxophone, Johnny "Scorchy" Bica on piano, Alex Mike on double bass, and Andrei Paraschiv on drums, covers a wide range of styles from swing music to contemporary jazz and improvised music. Sebastian Burneci considered one of the most important Romanian trumpeters of all time, comes together with Eugen Mamot, one of Romania's most essential saxophonists, Johnny "Scorchy" Bica, known for his mastery of piano jazz, Alex Mike, one of the most influential musicians of the Romanian jazz scene, and Andrei Paraschiv, the first choice of essential names in jazz, in this project, promising an exquisite concert experience.

14 September Saturday - Ankara Çankaya Ahlatlıbel Atatürk Park

Alexia Micallef & Robert Muscat - Malta

Embassy of Malta in Ankara

Alexia Micallef, a versatile and accomplished performer with a rich background in the performing arts, and Robert Muscat, who has a deep love and passion for music, especially guitar playing, have become sought-after musicians for their versatility and skills and have made a name for themselves in the Maltese local music scene with their acoustic concerts.

14 September Saturday - Ankara Çankaya Ahlatlıbel Atatürk Park

Katja Šulc - Slovenia

Embassy of Slovenia in Ankara

Combining poetry and music through contemporary folk music, modern and traditional poetry, endangered languages and cultures, singer, songwriter, and musician Katja Šulc has considered music an essential part of her life since traveling to Mexico and studying at the New School in New York. Katja Šulc, who tells melancholic and sometimes static stories with her songs, draws attention with her works focusing on different cultures and languages since her first album, "Mila," released in 2018. In the spring of 2024, Katja Šulc released her fifth album, "West Wind Blow From Your Prairie Nest," inspired by Native American poetry and culture.

15 September Sunday - Ankara Çankaya Ahlatlıbel Atatürk Park

Ayanbeyan - Türkiye

Izmir Metropolitan Municipality

Ayanbeyan, consisting of Kenan Arat on guitar, Mehmet Denizci on flugelhorn, Candeğer Dülgeroğlu on synthesizer/computer FX, and Gürkan Özkan, an internationally renowned tabla player who has recently joined the team, brings a new perspective to polyphonic music. Using different improvisation techniques in their live performances, the team creates a surprising composition each time. It takes the audience on a journey in their concerts supported by stage control and visual elements. Creating a mosaic by feeding on the culture and different art disciplines of these lands from east to west, Ayanbeyan offers a brand new experience to the audience both in their live performances and in their compositions with the atmosphere created by combining the musical motifs of these lands with the basics of ambient, rock and electronic music.

14 September Saturday - Izmir Bostanlı Seyir Terrace

Buğra Uğur - Türkiye

Izmir Metropolitan Municipality

Buğra Uğur, who graduated from Istanbul University State Conservatory of Performing Arts Opera Department, took the stage in the concerts of ‘Nazım Oratorio’ composed by Fazıl Say, Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra concerts and many projects while he was at the beginning of his music career. Buğra Uğur, whose compositions are sometimes influenced by classical music and sometimes by slow rock and rock'n'roll, released his first single, ‘Bana İzin Ver,’ 2019 with Garaj music label. Taking his musical inspiration from names such as The Beatles, Muse, Radiohead, and Cem Karaca, Uğur independently released his second single, ‘Sen Bu Dünyadan Değilsin,’ in 2022 and continues his productions without slowing down.

15 September Sunday - Izmir Bostanlı Seyir Terrace

Aleyna Talınlı - Türkiye

Kadikoy Municipality

After graduating from Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory's cello department, Aleyna Talınlı participated in the İKSV Young Jazz Competition with her band August and won the right to perform at the Istanbul Jazz Festival. Afterward, she participated in İKSV's first Young Jazz album with his song ‘Kimse İçin,’ the lyrics and composition of which belonged to her. Accompanying Aleyna Talınlı in her concerts, Ertuğrul Kızmaz focused on music, which has been his passion since a young age, with the harmony and guitar education he received from Bahadır Peker. The guitarist, who is in the process of writing his songs, also accompanies many vocals. The duo's repertoire of local, foreign, and original songs includes a selection of songs that make you feel like you are in a groove or on a peaceful journey.

15 September Sunday - Kadıköy Kalamış Atatürk Park

About EUNIC

EUNIC—European Union National Institutes of Culture—is Europe's network of national cultural institutes and organizations, with 39 members from all EU Member States and partner countries. EUNIC members come together in 139 clusters in 107 countries worldwide. Established in 2012, the two EUNIC clusters in Ankara and Istanbul organize different joint events to strengthen European-Turkish cultural and artistic ties.