Street Music Festival

This weekend was the “Sokakta Müzik Festivali”. Two days of concerts in the two main avenues of Izmir –Kıbrıs Şehitleri and Talatpaşa Bulvarı– and in Hayalbaz Bar. This event is one of the most important activity led by the association and caused a crowded month for Seçil, Açelya and Sezen. Calling, planning, organizing, even if the festival is not so big, I could see how it is complicated to set up such an event. But it was worth a shot! For me the 26th of April was particularly the deadline to finish the first “broşür” of the “Atölye” –I will come back later on this.

This festival was made up of a dozen of bands coming from Izmir, Istanbul or Ankara. Sayki, Açelya’s band, was in, of course. From six to nine, musicians played in streets, two bands following themselves, in each of the avenue. So four concerts a day and then the night went on in Hayalbaz, headquarter of the association and sponsor for these days.

For Izmir, which is not a real alternative city, I think it is really interesting to impute such events. Even if there are a lot of musicians in streets, inviting bands like “Amesh Spenta” brings here fresh air. I also think that this festival was a good way to make advertising about the association. To show projects is the best action of communication.

Otherwise, Friday, when I landed in Hayalbaz, it was really enjoyable to feel the difference between now and two months ago. Let me make myself clear: Hayalbaz is the first place I went out with Açelya and Umut a few days after my arrival in Turkey. It seemed like a cool bar, but really unknown for me like everything else at this time. And now, during the festival, it was like if I was at home, meeting constantly people I know from Erasmus, EVS, association, friends of friends etc. Pleasant sensation.

Finally the festival ended at three in the morning of Sunday, and we moved then to the “Kordon” –jetty– to eat “midye” –mussels– and drink a last beer, escorting the guys of Amesha Spenta. Nice atmosphere, even if the fatigue and the Turkish conversation made me really missing my bed.