Selda Bağcan sings at major fests in London and New York

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Selda Bağcan, a prominent figure in the Turkish music scene, will serenade New York and London as part of Istanbulive, an event designed to spread Turkish music in the United States. Bağcan will perform at the Lincoln Center as part of the Out of Doors program on July 28. She will also make an appearance during the London Olympic Games on Aug. 2 at Queen Elizabeth Hall as a part of the Meltdown Festival at the Southbank Centre.

Istanbulive, called “Turkish Woodstock” by the New York media, will be celebrating its fourth year. Over the past three years the event has attracted a total of 18,000 people in Central Park.

The free event will also host İlhan Erşahin and Hüsnü Şenlendirici. After New York, Bağcan will go to London to sing at the Meltdown Festival at the Southbank Centre, which is directed by Antony Hegarty, the lead singer of Antony and the Johnsons, this year. Since 1993, the Meltdown Festival has presented many famous singers such as Nick Cave, John Peel, Laurine Anderson, Patti Smith, David Bowie and Ray Davies. According to Hegarty, Bağcan is Turkey’s Edith Piaf. Bağcan will be the only Turkish singer performing at the festival.