Celtic Connections presents: Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek and support

14+ (under 16s with an adult) Celtic Connections presents: Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek and support Derya Yıldırım is singing the song her grandmother used to sing - an old Anatolian folk standard called “Hop Bico”, which roughly translates as ”Hop Around Bico”. But the version Derya’s grandmother sang was different — she’d put her own slant on it. And Derya’s is different still —brought into the 21st century with a slow psychedelic twist and her own hypnotic vocals. This is by design. Derya insists that if you’re going to play an old folk song then you have to contribute something new, “otherwise you might as well just put the old record on.” Born in Hamburg, Germany to Turkish parents, she grew up influenced by her family’s Anatolian background and the myriad of cultures in the city. Derya’s musical roots started at home playing folk music with family members. Her father pushed her to learn various instruments, beginning with the bağlama, a seven stringed Turkish lute. Then she picked up the guitar, piano, and saxophone. Although she is a multi-instrumentalist, Derya always felt drawn to the sound of the bağlama - “there’s just something very magical about it”. With her band Grup Şimşek’s forthcoming album Yarın Yoksa, which translates to If There’s No Tomorrow, Derya continues her journey revitalizing Anatolian folk music and instrumentation by infusing timeless melodies with a modern psychedelic flair.