About Turkish Tunes
Turkish Tunes is a community music event organized by the Turkish-Canadian Society (TCS). This year, we are excited to announce that Turkish Tunes will take place at the Biltmore Cabaret on Sunday, October 6th, 2024. Supported by the Cultural Grants Program of Vancouver City Council, this event will continue to grow our audience, fostering a more inclusive society in BC that shares the universal language of music. Join us and experience an evening filled with the vibrant sounds of cultural diversity, bringing people from different cultural backgrounds together through the unifying power of music.
First held in 2009 at the Scottish Cultural Centre in Vancouver, BC, the event was born from a volunteer initiative with the vision of reaching a broader Canadian audience and introducing the rich musical genres of Anatolia, a region known as the cradle of civilizations. Turkish music is a unique synthesis of various ethnic cultures that have coexisted in Anatolia for centuries.
The first-ever Turkish Tunes event was led by the TCS Vancouver Turkish Choir in 2009, and it has since been held in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022, and 2023. Each event showcases choirs, bands, and musicians—both local and international—performing solo or in groups, offering a platform for artists whose work intersects with Turkish music. While the event was paused during the Covid-19 pandemic, it returned stronger than ever in 2022 and continued its momentum in 2023.
Who is performing this year?
Super Krystal is a four-piece instrumental group based in Vancouver, BC. Guitarist Mik Bewsky and trumpeter Nikola Tosic write music rooted in their southern Balkan heritage and interpreted in contemporary styles such as surf, jazz and electronic music. Finishing touches by drummer Alex Reid and bassist Andrew Fyvie make the intricate grooves danceable for all audiences. Always searching for new sonic shapes and colours, Super Krystal offers a refreshing perspective on traditional sounds. This year, the band has received generous funding from the Canada Council for the Arts and will soon be releasing its debut full-length album.
Yannis Fyssas Having immigrated to Canada in 1981, Yannis found a new home while still carrying the essence of his Greek roots. Five years of global studio work unfold into Xenitemena Tragoudia, uniting musicians from Canada, Mexico, Greece, Turkey, France, and Cyprus. Melding Western and Greek instrumental flavors, Yannis crafts a distinctive auditory experience that beautifully blurs the lines between Contemporary Folk, Greek Tradition, and Western tonalities.“Xenitemena Tragoudia,” which roughly translates to “Expatriated Songs,” delves into a sentiment that words struggle to capture. This album encapsulates the profound longing and connection to one’s roots, a feeling cherished by a global community of over seven million Greeks dispersed around the world.
Aslan & Yusif Dr. Yusif Bayramov (Tar) and Aslan Aslanov (Piano) are enigmatic and versatile musicians who have been performing, sharing, and creating together since childhood. As best friends in Azerbaijan, their journey began at the Bülbül Private Music School where they each discovered their individual passion and strengths as performers, leading Aslan to pursue a bachelor’s degree at the Baku Academy of Music and a masters degree in piano performance at the University of British Columbia; with a passion for folk music, Yusuf received his bachelor’s degree in the Department of Folk Instruments of the Azerbaijan National Conservatory and completed his doctoral studies in composition at the Akdeniz University Antalya State Conservatory. Despite both holding competitive accomplishments and national recognition, they experience the most joy and artistic fulfilment when they are able to explore the depths of storytelling found in multidisciplinary mediums and in a collaborative spirit. They are excited to share their journey with the Turkish community in Vancouver.
Group Dost was established as a music band in early 2023 by a group of musicians and singers from the Vancouver Turkish Choir Ensemble. The purpose of this music band is to present a wide range of melodies from the rich Turkish folkloric music from around Anatolia. After their first performance at the Doors Open event in Richmond, on June 4th of 2023, the Group also took the stage at the SFU Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre on October 9th for the 6th Turkish Tunes and attracted a large audience. Group Dost will be honoured to meet with their audience again, at the 7th Turkish Tunes of the Turkish-Canadian Society (TCS) and will be performing a colourful potpourri from various regions of Turkiye.
Ordan Burdan Alaturka, pop, rock, folk, even a touch of jazz. Ordan Burdan, Here N’ There, covers songs from the 80s to the present. We are
looking forward to reaching your souls through music.
