Bus detour and music info!

[Sahand Sahebdivani]

Hey everyone,

This morning I had a very surreal incident. I took the bus to open the door for some storytellers. When the bus reached my stop, it took a detour, ignored it altogether, went on for quite a bit and finally stopped at a place which made me have to walk back the same distance if I hadn't taken a bus at all. When I asked the driver why she hadn't told us poor passengers who needed to get off, she said: "I don't need to, it's been communicated in the media." What an absurd thing to say, what is the media? The Dutch national news channels? I can't remember the last time I watched them. And when I did, was it for the detour info? Social media? Who of you was responsible for sending me the latest on bus routes? Then it hit me, I am also a media. That's what this weekly newsletter is. So today, for the first and hopefully last time in our existence, I present you with info on cultural events and one particular bus detour. Let's go!

Tomorrow (March 18) we have our wonderful Tuesday storytelling event. This edition is the monthly Samizdat, hosted by Raffi, who will bring a night that combines the personal with the political. A wide range of tellers share their stories that touch on the bigger issues in life! Free entrance, though donations appreciated

Thursday (March 20) we smile because of the arrival of spring and the great Turkish, Kurdish & Armenian fusion concert by the Nasin Quartet! What? Yes, spread the word! Also, go here and get your tickets!

Saturday (March 22) we bring back our yearly storytelling Marathon! Stories (and some music) from 12.00 till 24.00. Yep. Of course, you don't have to stay for the whole thing, but you know you want to. Look!

Sunday (March 23) we have a jam session with the lovely folks of Orchestre Partout. Because we like music events that connect. You are welcome to listen and/or to play (though please don't play without listening, Beethoven used to do so, and he's dead now)

Monday (March 24) is our Comedy Open Mic. That's some free comedy for you, from more and less experienced folks grabbing a stage and a mic. 

Thursday (March 27) is the night in which we bring together a band from Colombia and a band from Mexico for some raw jumping and dancing! What you need to do is go to this page, listen to the songs and grab the tickets! 

Saturday (March 29) there's another edition of the tropical Vintage Voudou night, for lovers of the vinyl, listening in the dark and dancing your butt off. Info and tix.

Then finally on Thursday April 3 we present the Amsterdam world music powerhouse Afro Anatolian Tales. These guys are something else, crossing the divides of time and geography with their instruments and compositions. Seriously, your Thursday nights music cravings are covered by these (and other bands') greats. Just listen here.

And from now, until some time in the future, the Haarlemmerplein public transport stop is out of service. Plan your Haarlemmerplein travel needs accordingly.

See you at the events (not at the Haarlemmerplein), soon!

Sahand & Team

www.mezrab.nl

PS, I realize I am not a media, but a medium. I still wrote media because I don't want you to think I have some weird Persian ghost talking abilities. 

PPS, Why I have to get out at the Haarlemmerplein to attend Mezrab business? It's because of the new location we are opening. I really wanted to write you about it, but this mail filled up with travel info. So, next mail!

PPPS, I really want you to buy tickets for the music events. And tell your friends about them. Or just buy tickets for them. These musicians are great and deserve an audience. Otherwise we have to stop booking them and all international acts just end up playing the Tivoli stage in Utrecht. If you think Amsterdam transportation is a mess, just wait till you have to go there for your world music.