Experience a fusion of traditional and contemporary Iranian music with Karaj Collective featuring Sahar Zibaei, followed by the captivating sounds of Turkish singer Çiğdem Aslan: Infusing Rebetiko, Balkan, and more.

Vaak Records and Art Stage are thrilled to present Vaak Stage Festival, which will take place over two weekends in July. This two-day event will take over Kings Place’s iconic ‘Hall One’ and feature a diverse lineup of world-renowned musicians and composers from the Middle East and beyond.

Kicking off the July 1st event is the Karaj Collective, a contemporary music group from Iran composed of three accomplished musicians: Pouya Mahmoudi, Saleh Zarei, and Ali Nourbakhsh. Each member brings their own unique musical style and tradition, resulting in a sound that blends their diverse experiences. Pouya Mahmoudi incorporates folk scales and melodies into blues and rock, Ali Nourbakhsh explores Iranian, Western, and South American rhythms, and Saleh Zarei Lal Abadi moves from metal to experimental jazz. Karaj Collective promises to offer an exciting and fresh take on contemporary Iranian music.

Joining Karaj Collective is Kurdish singer Sahar Zibaei, born in Kermanshah, Iran, in 1993. Having learned Kurdish folk music and Iranian classical music at a young age, Sahar brings a diverse range of musical styles and traditions to the group, allowing Karaj Collective to highlight the rich cultural tapestry of Iran and its surrounding regions.

Following Karaj Collective is the amazing Çiğdem Aslan, who will perform rebetiko and Balkan songs. Her music is infused with influences from neighbouring regions and genres, creating a unique and captivating sound.

Çiğdem Aslan is a versatile and talented singer from Istanbul, Turkey, who grew up in a Kurdish-Alevi family and was exposed to a rich musical heritage from an early age. She began her musical journey by performing traditional music from her culture while exploring sounds from Istanbul and beyond. After studying English literature at Istanbul University, she moved to London to pursue her passion for music. Since then, she has collaborated with various groups, including Dunav Balkan Band, SOAS Rebetiko Band, and the award-winning She’koyokh. Her clear and effortless singing style, along with her ability to sing in multiple languages and regional styles, including Turkish, Greek, Kurdish, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Romany, and Ladino, has earned her accolades. In addition to her performances with various groups, she also performs Anatolian folk songs alongside Tahir Palali on kopuz/baglama while accompanying herself on frame drums.

The night concludes with the highly much-awaited debut performance of Ehsan Karami and the Kourosh Kanani Trio. Ehsan Karami, a celebrated actor and singer from Iran, presents a captivating blend of authentic Iranian music. Meanwhile, Kourosh Kanani’s musical exploration traverses Iranian folk, Persian classical, the intricate rhythm systems of South India, jazz, and improvisation, resulting in a thrilling fusion with a progressive rock touch.

The performance will last approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, including an interval.