Joan Baez

Joan Baez is known as one of the leading names among activist musicians since 1953, or since she was 18 years old. She became immortal as the indispensable voice of songs written for freedom and human rights in the music world since the first Newport Folk Festival. 

 Folk legend Joan Baez will be in Istanbul as part of the world tour of her album 'Whistle Down the Wind.' She will take the stage at the Harbiye Open Air Theater on July 22.

Folk legend Joan Baez on Dec. 20 announced her first album in a decade, a collection of covers that returns to her longtime theme of global peace.

World renowned folk singer Joan Baez has issued a statement expressing solidarity with members of the Turkish protest music group Grup Yorum, arrested on charges of terrorism, obstructing and insulting police.

We are not afraid, the lyrics of this remarkable song goes. But, here in reality, on this February day in the land of the Turks, in the year 2016, oh, dear, we ARE afraid. At least I am exceptionally afraid that one day one of the bombs will strike me or one of my loved ones. 

From a concert by Joan Baez to 'Soccer in the Dark' (a new twist on 'Dialogue in the Dark') here is a calendar for Istanbul's culture and arts events for July 2015.

Reuters Photo

JULY 1 

Following concerts in Adana and ?zmir, famous protest band Grup Yorum's third 30th anniversary concert took place in Istanbul on June 28, after the first two attempts to organize the concert earlier in the year were banned by the Istanbul Governor's Office. The ban was ultimately reversed by a court decision and the concert was held in the Bak?rköy Public Bazaar. 

Legendary folk singer Joan Baez and world-renowned artist Ai Weiwei - both committed activists - will be the joint recipients of Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award for 2015, the human rights organization announced yesterday.

Amnesty International awarded its top honor Tuesday to Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei, who has spent years shining light on his country's restrictive political atmosphere, and to U.S. folk singer Joan Baez for her civil rights activism.
     
Both were named recipients of Amnesty's Ambassador of Conscience Award, which recognizes lifetime human rights leadership.