Babylon Istanbul
Babylon Istanbul is a music venue located in Istanbul, Turkey.[1]. It was opened by Pozitif on April 23, 1999 with a concert by John Lurie & the Lounge Lizards.
In 2010, Babylon launched its Lounge restaurant, which is located just a street behind the main venue. They started "happy hours", warm-ups and after parties hosted by various DJs, before and after the concerts in Babylon. In earlier hours before the concerts, the audience can have a sit in the restaurant and have a dinner.
Since then, the venue in Beyoğlu has hosted hundreds of bands and over 1,500 concerts. The venue can accommodate 450 standing or 350 tables & standing audience.
Babylon's past hosted acts include: Patti Smith & Band, Marianne Faithfull, Of Montreal, Ed Harcourt with Sean Parker Band, The National, Roy Ayers, Omara Portuondo, Jane Birkin, Gotan Project, Matthew Herbert, Balkan Beat Box, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Meshell Ndegeocello, İlhan Erşahin’s Wax Poetic featuring Norah Jones, Elbow, Stereolab, Mouse on Mars, Rachid Taha, and Natacha Atlas.[2][3]
Some of the artists, who performed in Babylon are:
- Rock / Indie: Patti Smith, Broken Social Scene, Marianne Faithfull, The National, Of Montreal, Fujiya & Miyagi, Caribou, Jens Lekman, Sebadoh, Zita Swoon, Art Brut, Elbow, Ed Harcourt (with Sean Parker), Stereolab, Cat Power, Brazzaville, Rubin Steiner, Chicks on Speed, Easy Star All Stars, Tunng, Piano Magic, Infadels.
- Electronica: Uffie&DJ Feadz, Amon Tobin, Mouse on Mars, Plaid, Scanner, Swayzak, Bent, Tortured Soul, Buscemi, Dani Scilliano, Metro Area, Freaks, Pantha du Prince, FM Belfast.
- DJs: Afrika Bambaata, Grandmaster Flash, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Gilles Peterson, Mark Farina, Hot Chip, Tiefschwarz, Joakim, Alter Ego, Kraak & Smaak, DJ Mehdi, Gus Gus, Ian Pooley, Kid Loco, DJ Patilife, Asia Argento.
- Jazz: Mike Stern, Courtney Pine, Jane Birkin, Nguyen Le, Alice Russell, Roy Ayers, Gwyneth Herbert, Ray Anderson, Bill Frisell, Jimmy Scott, Stacey Kent, Soullive, Marc Ribot.
- Nu Jazz & Jazz Dance: Bonobo, Nostalgia 77, Gotan Project, Matthew Herbert, Belleruche, Five Corners Quintet, Erik Truffaz, Jimi Tenor, Groove Collective, Nojazz, De Phazz, The Spooks, De Lata, Brooklyn Funk Essentials, Ursula Rucker
References