The evening opens with performance artist and storyteller Maya Ndiaye, who, with humour, sharp insight, and a deeply human sense of recognition, shares stories about who we are – alone and together. Drawing from her own experiences, she creates stage narratives that entertain, challenge, and strengthen the foundations of community.

Later, you can experience Hilal Kaya, whose roots in the Anatolian singing tradition merge with a contemporary artistic expression that moves between psych-folk, ethno jazz, and roots – where strength and vulnerability go hand in hand.

On August 28, Hilal releases her debut album Süm­bül and will mark the occasion with an exclusive release tour featuring four special concerts. We’re excited to welcome her back to turkis.

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HILAL KAYA

The Danish-Turkish vocalist is one of the most distinctive new voices on the Danish music scene, known for intense and intimate live performances where audiences encounter an artist with a rare ability to create connection and leave a lasting impression.

Süm­bül marks a new chapter in her artistic journey, presenting a boundary-crossing soundscape where Anatolian tradition and Nordic tones meet in a form that is both modern and timeless. The album is produced by Søren Bigum and Orhan Özgür Turan and will be released on vinyl, CD and digital platforms via CPL Music / Nordic Notes (DE).

Since 2019, she has made a strong mark through collaborations with Kalaha and Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, received two nominations at DMA Roots 2025, and performed at leading venues and festivals such as SPOT Festival, Vinterjazz, Resonator Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival and MIX Festival in Istanbul.

LINE UP

Hilal Kaya – vocals, acoustic guitar
Søren Poulsen – drums & percussion
Orhan Özgür Turan – ud, bağlama
Søren Bigum – guitar, steel guitar
Henrik Poulsen – bass

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MAYA NDIAYE

MAYA is a performance artist who has received support from the Danish Arts Foundation and has been performing storytelling since 2019. Her stories are a form of humorous knowledge-sharing about who we are, helping to strengthen the foundations of community. Each story is rooted in Maya’s own experience of a given subject, but written to feel universally recognisable. They are always about us.

In addition to countless storytelling performances, Maya has opened for comedians Dane Baptiste (UK) and Alex Blake (UK), written theatre for Blaagaard Teater, and created and performed a range of artistic experiences, including at Art Matter Festival, Byhaven at Pumpehuset, and Nørrebro Teater. In 2025, she premiered her first solo show at Comedy Zoo, and this year she joins the lineup as one of the new names at the UP Comedy Festival.