Massive Turkish concerts draw 40,000 in Istanbul, thousands in Bursa

Turkish rock pioneer Şebnem Ferah performed a two‑and‑a‑half‑hour concert at Festival Park Yenikapı in Istanbul on 18 July, attracting an audience of about 40,000. The set included classic hits such as “Sigara”, “Mayın Tarlası” and a piano‑only rendition of “Yağmurlar”, with the crowd singing in unison throughout the show.

Pop‑folk artist Melike Şahin held a sold‑out concert the previous evening at Bursa’s Kültürpark Open‑Air Theatre. The performance received strong audience response, with many fans joining in on her well‑known songs. Şahin announced four additional pre‑birth concerts in Istanbul for late July and August, which are expected to draw significant interest.

Both events highlight a resurgence of large‑scale live music in Turkey, with high ticket demand and extensive media coverage.