Near East Collective + DJ CLan Dextine

The Near East Collective are a 6-piece ensemble and were formed in early 2016. We explore and perform rebetika and folk music of Asia Minor, Istanbul, the Balkans and the Aegean sea. Our members have extensive experience from collaborating with other award winning bands and performing in several folk music festivals in Greece, Turkey and the Balkans. We also really enjoy playing for traditional weddings and dance groups.
Our latest performances involve a musical trip starting from the Ionian coast, through the mountains of Albania, Epirus and Macedonia, stopping over in Thrace and ending in the musical melting pot of Istanbul. Our band deploys diverse and dynamic arrangements to faithfully reproduce traditional forms and give a new improvisational dimension to popular folk tunes. And above all give its listeners the opportunity to dance, sing and have a good time! We are very proud to be part of the thriving London world music scene and want to continue evolving musically through our interaction with audiences across the UK and beyond.
We have been playing at venues such as Jamboree, the Green Note, Balabam, Hootananny and the Cable Cafe in London and have successfully reached for world music fans through Sofar London and the Rebetiko Carnival. Our performances are both esoteric and energizing and bring the fresh Aegean air and Istanbul atmosphere to the UK!
Videos:

(more videos under “Near East Collective” on youtube)

To learn more about us, try the Near East Collective facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/near.east.collective/

FREE before 7pm / £7 after!