Solidarity concert to support Van

VAN - Anatolia News Agency

The concert was free for residents of Van, but citizens across Turkey purchased tickets to support the city.

Famous left-wing Turkish singers such as İlkay Akkaya, Pınar Sağ and others staged a unique concert April 11 in the eastern province of Van to raise money for the earthquake-hit province.

Dubbed “One Ticket for Van,” the concert was free for residents of the province, but citizens across Turkey purchased “tickets” to the concert in lieu of payment from locals.

Revenue from the concert will be given to a local association for the purchase of food aid to be distributed to Van residents under the supervision of the local municipality and the Green Party.

The concert of songs in Turkish, Kurdish and English drew a full crowd despite rain. Every set of singers sang three songs before all performers gathered at the event’s conclusion to sing the famous leftist anthem Ciao Bella.

In addition to Akkaya and Sağ, the concert also featured performances by Aynur Doğan,
Metin Kahraman, Nevzat Karakış, Servet Kocakaya, Sevinç Eratalay, Suavi, Yasemin Göksu, Züleyha and Deniz Arcak.