Ozcan Ates

Ablaye Cissoko & Cyrille Brotto + support from Özcan Ateş
2026-09-30 19:30 - 22:30 UTC | THE JAM JAR, 4a, The Old Malt House ,Little Ann St,, Bristol, BS2 9EB
The Jam Jar & Music At The World Junction present:
Ablaye Cissoko & Cyrille Brotto
+ support from Özcan Ateş
Wednesday 30th September 2026
Doors Open 7.30pm
The Jam Jar, Bristol
“Masterful collaborations of kora and accordion … a gem from start to finish” – Songlines UK **** top of the world
ABLAYE CISSOKO & CYRILLE BROTTO
As their album’s evocative title, Djiyo (‘water’) suggests, the meeting of kora player & vocalist Ablaye Cissoko & accordionist Cyrille Brotto weaves together a tapestry of grace & flowing movement. A dancing waltz brings to mind the lapping of musical waves in its arpeggiated and intricate interplay: a conversation of friendship, close listening & musical wandering. The duo give us ancient histories of the Manding & Occitan traditions with gentle melancholy & poetic poise.
Ablaye Cissoko is a Senegalese griot, a moving storyteller & one of his generation’s finest kora players, a virtuoso in the company of other acclaimed kora masters Toumani Diabaté & Ballaké Sissoko. Cissoko continues an ancestral line going back centuries to the time of the Mandinka Kingdom: a line of musicians, teachers and oral historians known as griots – West African storytellers and praise singers who preserve and address the personal, historical & societal concerns of their people. The kora is a 21 string instrument with an 800 year history that is somewhere between a lute & harp. With this Cissoko has always maintained an expansive, internationalist & open musical approach. There have been celebrated & rich collaborations with German trumpeter Volker Goetze, Moroccan guembri & oud player Majid Bekkas & now French diatonic accordionist Cyrille Brotto.
Accordionist and multi-instrumentalist, Cyrille Brotto has had a distinguished performance & educational presence for over twenty years and takes his music on the road, not just to concert halls but to places where people love to dance. A significant musician and teacher on the traditional & folk music scene, Brotto is deeply knowledgeable of the rich European folk idioms and this is very evident in his sensitivity in new interpretations of old musical traditions. Following hundreds of international concerts, in a variety of solo projects and collaborations with other musicians, this is a very special Bristol debut.
ÖZCAN ATEŞ
Of Kurdish / Turkish heritage and now based in Bristol, Özcan Ateş has performed widely across the UK, including a lead role with the Dovetail Orchestra & a guest appearance at this year’s WOMAD festival. Özcan is a gifted younger member of the new generation of Turkish bağlama players, the long-necked lute central to Turkish and Kurdish folk traditions, and is celebrated for his deeply expressive playing and teaching. Following in the footsteps of celebrated players such as the great Erkan Oğur & Aşık Veysel, his music draws on traditional Anatolian melodies alongside his own compositions, shaped by years of listening, learning, and emotional resonance.
Drawn from an early age to the melancholy in folk songs, his intimate performances are rich with weighted feeling – meditations on memory, longing, and identity. A special voice in the UK’s traditional music diaspora, Özcan invites audiences into a musical world both ancient and deeply personal, of vital preservation & soulful storytelling.

Ozcan ATES at " Niki Groom - PRIVATE VIEW "
2026-09-04 18:00 - 21:00 | CENTRESPACE, 6 Leonard Lane, Bristol, BS1 1EA
Everyone is welcome for a free evening of art, live music and samosas!

Please join me on Friday 4th September to celebrate the launch of my solo show. We will be joined by musician Ozcan Ates who will be performing Kurdish & Turkish folk songs, there will be an art stall and a donation bar with wine, soft drinks & samosas too.
This September I’ll be transforming Centrespace Gallery, in the heart of Bristol, in to a giant sketchbook. The illustrated stories of people I’ve met over the past 10 years will adorn the walls, resulting in a colourful & joyful display of community.
Expect to see life-sized paintings of dancers & musicians, and a celebration of events that have encouraged people to come together, such as festivals, protests, sport and food.
I provide an ethical and beautiful alternative to generative AI and event photography, allowing guests to remain anonymous in all imagery. I’ve worked with organisations such as Refugee Women of Bristol, Superculture, Reclaim The Sea, Choose Love, Diverse Artist Network.

Kazdoura + Özcan Ateş
2026-09-03 19:30 - 22:30 | jamjar, Bristol, BS2 9EB, United Kingdom
‘Sensuous Levantine neo-psych threading together hypnotic tarab melodies with soft pop grooves and a nostalgic nod to 70s Turkish rock, funk and soul. Kazdoura are set to drench The Jar with trance-inducing vocals, swirling rhythms and sun-washed instrumentation FFO: Khruangbin, Bedouin Burger, Altin Gün.’ – Headfirst Editors Pick
With roots in Syria and Lebanon, their music is a fusion of Arabic sounds with a soulful and psychedelic feel. Their irresistible groove and presence has been wildly successful online, reaching millions around the world, and we can’t wait to have them back on our stage.
Thursday 3rd September Kazdoura + Özcan Ateş Doors Open 7.30pm The Jam Jar, Bristol
KAZDOURA Kazdoura is a Toronto-based band that serves up Arabic fusion with a modern twist. Equal parts nostalgia and reinvention, their style is a cross-cultural blend of Eastern and Western music that blends Arabic with jazz, funk, electro-pop, and disco. Singer Leen and multi-instrumentalist Johnny Abou Chacra founded the project together, quickly finding success online, where their videos have collected more than 3 million views on Tik Tok. Leen is a Syrian singer whose passion for classical Arabic music led her to collaborate with both classical and contemporary artists in order to reinvigorate this music and introduce it. Johnny is a jazz-trained musician who jumped at the idea to learn and play songs from his Lebanese background.

"Summer Lates at Bristol Zoo Project"
2026-08-14 18:00 - 21:00 | Bristol Zoo Project, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol, United Kingdom
Explore Bristol Zoo Project after-hours with live music and performance, bespoke animal talks and delicious food and drinks.
Watch the zoo come alive at night, experiencing the different ways our animals behave in the evening.
Members and company members get 10% off!

"SS GREAT Summer Lates"
2026-08-06 18:00 - 21:00 | SS Great Britain, Great Western Dockyard, Gas Ferry Rd, Bristol, BS1 6TY
Back by popular demand: Summer Lates at Bristol Dockyards
Twice this summer, we’re opening the gates after hours – allowing you to step into the new SS Great Britain Experience while the crowds have gone before exploring the iconic ship. As the light softens over the harbour, enjoy a tipple on the top deck, stay for a BBQ and live music in partnership with Diverse Artists Network.

• Thursday 6 August: Live music from Özcan Ateş – serenading the Dockyards with the bağlama, the long-necked lute at the heart of Kurdish-Turkish folk music.
Please note: Being Brunel Museum will not be open on these evenings.
Early Bird Offer: £10 until 31 July.

Home from Home - Curzon Cinema
2026-06-19 18:30 - 21:00 | Curzon Cinema, Curzon Community Cinema Ltd 46 Old Church Road Clevedon, Bristol, BS21 6NN, United Kingdom
Experience the soulful sound of the bağlama, the heartbeat of Turkish folk music, with singer/ musician Ozcan Ates, accompanied by three UK based musicians. The evening will be hosted by Michael Loader of Somerset Storyfest. This unique concert filled with emotion, tradition, passion and personal stories is part of the national Refugee Week celebrations, building on our ‘Four Voices’ event last year.

There will be food, time to talk, stalls and most importantly – community and connection. Please note: doors open at 6:30pm and there will be food, stalls and conversation in the bar before the live part of the event starts at 7pm

Calstock Festival - Ozcan ATES & Eastern Strings
2026-06-13 19:00 - 21:30 | Calstock, Calstock Arts, The Old Chapel, Sand Lane, Calstock, Calstock, PL18 9QX
Calstock Arts Festival
Eastern Strings and Ozcan Ates
A tapestry of Turkish and Kurdish songs featuring baglama master and superb vocalist Ozcan Ates. Also included in the set are special arrangements of Ladino pieces translated by Ozcan and Eastern Strings compositions.
Daphna Sadeh-Neu is a top class double bassist and composer. She has released 4 CD’s on major UK and US labels (including the Tzasik label by John Zorn) and has received commissions to compose for both small ensembles and full orchestra in a style that crosses genres including jazz, world music and Baroque. Daphna has performed internationally in Europe,Asia and the USA.
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Knud Stüwe is fast establishing himself as a unique and brilliant voice on the oud. He also is a composer and arranger. His recent collaboration with the Ligeti Quartet led to a sold out concert at St.Georges Bristol (..”the Ligeti quartet found brilliant collaborators in Knud Stüwe and Ali Elmubarak..” David Harrington founder of the Kronos Quartet).

Spirit of SWANA - Dance, Music, Film & Food
2026-05-04 13:00 - 21:00 | Trinity Centre, Trinity Road, Bristol, BS5 7An
1pm: Doors Open
1:15pm: Family Song & Dance Workshops (Chalguh Chengi)
2:15pm: Adult Song & Dance Workshops (Chalguh Chengi)
2:30pm: Taste of SWANA + DJ’s
4pm: Ayse Roza (Live)
5pm: Özcan Ateş (Live)
6pm: Vilk Collective (Live)
7pm: Dunya (DJ Set)
7:45pm: Short Films from Iran, by Vilk Collective + Q&A
9pm: Finish
This is a free entry event as part of Diaspora festival.

Ozcan Ates and Charlie Groves
2026-04-16 19:30 - 21:30 | El Rincon, 298 North Street Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 1JU, United Kingdom
About the show
We’re really excited about this one. Turkish-born Ozcan Ates is a rare master of the baglama, a long-necked lute central to Turkish and Kurdish folk traditions, as well as an accomplished singer.
He has performed across the UK, and is a key member of Dovetail Orchestra, Bristol’s creative music group for refugees & asylum-seekers. His music blends traditional Turkish and Kurdish folk songs, Anatolian melodies, and his own compositions.
“A unique voice in the UK’s folk landscape, Ates invites audiences into a musical world both ancient and deeply personal” (Bristol Beacon).
Tonight he’ll be performing with acoustic guitarist, and member of Bristol Ensemble, Charlie Groves.

Ozcan ATES solo concert at St. Stephen Church - Bristol
2026-01-05 00:00 - 13:00 | St. Stephen Church, 21 St Stephen's Street, Bristol, BS1 1EQ, United Kingdom
https://www.saint-stephens.com/concerts

Dovetail Orchestra at Cotham Club
2025-12-19 07:30 - 21:00 | Cotham Paris Church, Cotham Parish Church Cotham Road, Bristol, BS6 6DR, United Kingdom

Dovetail Orchestra Trinity
2025-11-25 19:30 - 21:30 | Trinity Centre, Trinity Road, Bristol, BS5 7An

Dovetail Orchestra
2025-11-04 19:00 - 21:30 | St. Ambrose Church, 7 Stretford Ave, Whitehall, Bristol, BS5 7An

Özcan Ateş Singer Lantern Hall
2025-09-28 07:00 - 23:00 | Lantern Hall, Colston Street, Bristol, BS15AR, United Kingdom
Click for ticket
Join us for a magical night of Anatolian melodies as Özcan Ateş takes the stage at Lantern Hall on 28 September.
Experience the soulful sound of the bağlama, the heartbeat of Turkish folk music, in a unique concert filled with emotion, tradition, and passion. Whether you’re a lover of world music or discovering Anatolian sounds for the first time — this night will stay with you.
