Marking its fourth edition this year, the Bosphorus Open Air Metal Festival goes beyond music to achieve a groundbreaking milestone. On September 19, the festival will host the “Metal in Türkiye” music conference at Nişantaşı University Conference Hall at 1:30 PM.
Supporting the festival’s vision of being a “cultural festival,” the conference will explore the historical development and cultural impact of metal music in Türkiye. Moderated by Dr. Şener Yıldız, known from TRT’s Rock Market program, the conference will cover topics such as the global origins of metal, its introduction to Türkiye, the “underground explosion” of the 90s, its evolution in the digital age, societal reactions, and the role of women in metal.
The conference features an impressive lineup of speakers, including Aptülkadir Elçioğlu, Süreyya İzgi, Tuna Vural, Yelda Aktuna, Doğu Yücel, Ali Mert Alan, Anıl Özbek, Bahadır Uludağlar, İbrahim Karakurt, Boğaç Gökmen, and Hicri Bozdağ. Additionally, international festival organizers Roman Hödl, Asmund Prytz, Laetitia Abbenes, Adrian Sibru, and Silje Wergeland will discuss “Metal Festivals and Cultural Tourism.”
With this conference, the Bosphorus Open Air Metal Festival underscores that metal music is not just a genre but also a lifestyle and a form of cultural expression. The festival invites all music lovers and culture enthusiasts to join this special event to discuss the journey of metal music in Türkiye and shed light on its future.
