The new Sound Ports Festival aims to reconnect Istanbul and Tel Aviv, two cultural capitals of the larger region. The festival's Istanbul leg will take place between March 10 and March 13 in various venues in the city, including Babylon, Coop, Kargart, and Bantmag.

"Istanbul and Tel Aviv, stretched between Europe and Asia in the geographical and cultural sense, are immersed in music from dusk to dawn," the organizers said. "For ages, these two cities were in constant exchange and mutual inspiration. Sounds Ports is trying to bring this connection back," they added.

Some of the bands that will be performing at the festival are Baba Zula, Boom Pam, Tahribad-i Isyan and Stormptrap as well as divas Noga Erez and Gaye Su Akyol.