Music breezes from Balkans, Middle East at Babylon

One of the most popular music venues in Istanbul, Babylon, will host musicians ranging from the Balkans to the Middle East next week with Syrian Omar Souleyman, Turkish bands Adamlar and BaBa Zula, and Shantel ready to wow audiences.

Performing songs from his new album "To Syria, With Love," Omar Souleyman will once again be a guest at Babylon with a performance on Dec. 16 at 10:30 p.m. through the sponsorship of S-World concerts. With more than 500 videos under his belt, Souleyman has been featured in many festivals, including Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, Pitchfork Paris and Roskilde. The artist, who performed at the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, has continued his charity work with "Doctors without Borders," an international humanitarian medical organization.

Babylon will host Nusaibin after Omar Souleyman as part of the Midnight Session at 11:45 p.m. Formed by four people but later turned into a large community with guests and common projects, Nusaibin successfully combines eastern instruments and western electronic substructures. The band's specialty is experimental fusion inspired by Eastern cultures.

Adamlar, a rising star in the local alternative scene, will take the stage on Dec. 20 at 9:30 p.m. The band, comprised of Emre Malikler on electronic guitar, Can Aydemir on bass, Tolga Akdoğan with vocals and guitar, and Berkan Tilavel on the drums, has made a name for themselves with their album "Eski Dostum Tankla Gelmiş." After releasing their second album in 2016, the quartet has become known for their dynamic stage performances. Adamlar combines the Turkish language with various styles to present a compact musical experience.

One of the most authentic bands in modern Turkish music, BaBa ZuLa, will perform at Babylon on Dec. 22 at 10:30 p.m. After releasing their new album "XX," which embodies their 22-year journey, the band was praised by many prestigious publications, including The Guardian and Record Collector. "XX," which rose on the top of the February list of the World Music Charts Europe, also includes a remix featuring Mad Professor, Dr. Das, Sly & Robie and Dirtmusic.

The shows in Babylon will continue with Shantel, the cosmopolitan voice of Balkan and gypsy music, on stage after BaBa ZuLa in the Midnight Session at 11:59 p.m. Shantel will DJ for the "Shantology // 30 Years of Club Guerilla" tour, organized parallel to the 30th anniversary of Club Guerilla. The German DJ has inspired dance floors with his songs "Bucovina," "Disko Boy" and "Disko Partizani." He is best known for successfully combining tunes from well-known artists, like Goran Bregoviç, Boban Markoviç, The Rootsman and Fanfare Ciocarlia in his sets.