Get off the stage you loser!

[Sahand Sahebdivani]

Hey everyone,

On Liberation day there were some amazing bands playing on various stages in Amsterdam. I managed to catch a few tunes from bands I know and love, but specifically, from one I had never heard before: Panville. A sublime quartet which played the Manouche songs as well as the melodies of the Roma of Hungary and Romania. The music was amazing, but more than that, it reminded me of my own carefree days in which I traveled to far off lands to live off the music we made. We did so playing some of the same songs!

In fact, the music of Panville inspired me so much I jumped on stage to share a particular saga of being in Transylvania with my ragtag band of Amsterdammers to play to a bemused local crowd. I thought I was doing well, until I got booed off by the local drunks. We don't want stories they shouted, we want music! Get off the stage you loser! And even in those shouts I felt a bit of nostalgia.

Now, I don't know where you can hear Panville play, but we have plenty of other bands that will bring out tears of melancholy or some beads of sweat from dancing. And if you do like to hear a story or two, we can provide those as well:

Tuesday May 12 / LGBTQ storytelling night! A lovely (and free) night to listen to moving stories. Doors 19.00, stories 20.00

Thursday May 14 / The Magic Carpet sessions bring us some funky Anatolian Folk Jazz. Seriously, want to remember staying up late at night under the Galata tower, getting drunk on Raki and listening to the best music you've ever swaggered on? This night will make you remember, even if you've never experienced it! Here's info and tickets. Tell your friends!

Saturday May 16 / The Alt Comedy night! Probably the weirdest night for laughter in Amsterdam. I don't know how they do it, but the best acts from the Edinburgh festival headline here! Tickets for this edition.

Sunday May 17 / Social Dance in the Mezrab. Don't sweat individually on a monotonous beat, rather dance together on live music, with the steps explained to you (unless you know the ol timey European folk dances. Event starts in the afternoon.

Now, after this week here's a few concerts to keep an eye (or an ear) out for:

May 21 / Gidiki Live. Greek hoppa hoppa!

May 23 / La Murga presents Basile Maneka & Band (Congo!) 

May 24 / Shushiki band in the Other Mezrab (de Wittenstraat 27) Armenian angelic singing (seriously)

May 28 / South Italian night of music and food! With the incomparable Vincenzo!

Some of these are selling out already, so go to mezrab.nl and grab the tickets. I'm not telling which. 

That's it! Enjoy!

Sahand & Team

www.mezrab.nl

PS. Apparently I have a birthday tradition. On May 18, for the second year in a row, I'ḿ not with my family, but telling protest stories. This time as part of the Illustratie Ambassade exhibit Drawing into equality. Read more here!

PPS. We are still signing up students for our intro courses into storytelling! The next one is already starting this Friday! Come! More info on the storytelling courses on www.mezrabstorytellingschool.nl