Derya Yildirim & Grup Şimşek
Origins Series
Saturday, June 20, 2026
National Sawdust – 80 N 6th Street, Brooklyn
Doors: 7 PM | Show: 8 PM
Tickets: Advance $35 | Day of Show $40
Member prices: Advance $28 | Day of Show $32
Co-presented with National Sawdust
Based in Hamburg, Germany, Derya Yıldırım and Grup Şimşek have gained international acclaim since their 2014 inception for their distinctive sound, blending Anatolian folk with infectious rhythms and elements of psychedelia, pop, and soul. Leading the band is vocalist Derya Yıldırım, who also plays the bağlama or saz – a long-necked lute central to Turkish and Armenian folk music. The Guardian describes the band’s signature style as “a feast of woozy Turkish psych…fuzzy, hypnotic beats, soulful saz-funk, and emotive balladry”.
The COUNTERPOINT series focuses on contemporary artists who push the boundaries of what “world music” can mean in the 21st Century.