Poster for Iranian Music Festival, featuring a stylized number 2 with colorful lines, event dates October 23-26, 2024, and logos for Cozy Stage and NSW Government.

SECOND IRANIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL

SECOND IRANIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL

Haymarket Creative
23 – 25 October 2024

North Ryde School of Arts
26 October 2024

New South Wales Government logo with a red stylized flower above "NSW GOVERNMENT" text.

The Second Iranian Music Festival in Sydney, presented by CozyStage and proudly funded by the NSW government, took place from Wednesday, 23 October, to Saturday, 26 October 2024.

The festival brought together over 1,100 audience members across two vibrant venues: North Ryde School of Arts and Haymarket Creatives.

Across four days, attendees experienced nine remarkable music performances that celebrated the rich diversity of Iranian musical traditions. Each performance offered a unique journey through the evolution of Iranian music, blending traditional melodies with contemporary compositions to create an unforgettable experience.

Program

Six men posing together indoors in front of an abstract art piece on an easel.

CozyMinimal

  • The festival opened with a soul-soothing performance blending Persian instruments with live calligraphy by Reza Taghipour, highlighting the meditative power of Iranian music. CozyMinimal fused Persian melodies with Minimalism, drawing on rhythmic traditions like Khayyam Khani. The steady pulses and flowing visuals created a tranquil, reflective experience.

  • Reza Taghipour – Calligrapher

    Shervin Mirzeinali – Piano & Electronics

    Ehsan Kachooei – Setar

    Ali Yarmohammadi – Tar

    Arman Gouniaei – Tombak

Musicians performing on stage at the Iranian Music Festival, with a singer, pianist, guitarist, and flutist, under a backdrop with the festival's logo and date in October 2024.

FolkXperimental

  • FolkXperimental, led by Dr. Shervin Mirzeinali, brought together diverse musicians to push musical boundaries. Featuring opera singer Agnes Sarkis, Setar player Ehsan Kachooei, percussionist Niki Johnson, and flutist Jessica Scott, the ensemble reimagined ancient Iranian melodies into an experimental soundscape, bridging past and present.

  • Agnes Sarkis – Vocal

    Ehsan Kachooei – Setar

    Jessica Scott – Flute

    Niki Johnson – Percussions

    Shervin Mirzeinali – Piano

A jazz band performs on stage with a drummer, double bassist, and two other musicians playing string and wind instruments. The stage has purple lighting and speakers.

Eishan Ensemble

  • From Womad and the Auckland Arts Festival to the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Recital Hall, ARIA-nominated Eishan Ensemble has performed worldwide since 2016. Led by Persian-Australian tar virtuoso Hamed Sadeghi, the ensemble blends Eastern and Western traditions into a fusion of “Persian chamber jazz.” Featuring Sadeghi’s original compositions, its rich improvisations showcase Michael Avgenicos on saxophone, Adem Yilmaz on percussion, and Maximillian Alduca on double bass.

  • Hamed Sadeghi – Tar

    Michael Avgenicos – Saxophone

    Maximillian Alduca – Double Bass

    Adem Yilmaz – Percussions

Musicians performing live, including a man playing a traditional string instrument, a woman on bass guitar, a drummer, and a trumpet player. The stage has red carpet and blue ambient lighting.

Ashkan & Friends

  • Ashkan Shafiei takes listeners on a journey through Iranian Modern Ethnic music, weaving poetic lyrics with evocative melodies to explore love, sorrow, and passion. Rooted in Iranian folk traditions and the vibrant Tehran scene of the 1960s and ’70s, his sound blends narrative depth, funk-inspired grooves, and impassioned vocals. Now based in Sydney, Ashkan revitalizes his music through collaborations with local musicians, fusing Middle Eastern chant vocals, groovy rubab lines, and innovative rhythms to create a hypnotic blend of tradition and modernity.

  • Ashkan Shafiei – Vocal & Guitar

    Diego Contreras – Drums

    Ama Kamalasuriya – Bass guitar

    Marcus Goffage – Trumpet & electric guitar

Live performance at the Iranian Music Festival with one person on drums and another person sitting by electronic equipment and a violin, under a spotlight on a stage with a large banner above.

ZÖJ

  • ZÖJ is an experimental cross-cultural duo featuring Gelareh Pour on kamancheh, voice, and qeychak, and Brian O’Dwyer on drums and percussion. Blending their traditional roots with contemporary experimental influences, they create a dynamic and immersive sound. Gelareh’s virtuosic strings and vocals intertwine seamlessly with Brian’s rhythmic energy, resulting in a captivating fusion. A fixture on the Australian festival scene, ZÖJ has performed at WOMAD, Mona Foma, and The National Folk Festival, showcasing their innovative approach to intercultural music.

  • Gelareh Pour – Vocal & Kamancheh

    Brian O’Dwyer – Drums

Musician playing handpan and percussion instruments on stage

Sohrab Kolahdooz

  • Sohrab is a passionate percussionist dedicated to exploring and sharing rhythms from around the world. Through years of study, travel, and collaborations with maestros from diverse cultures, he has deepened his understanding of percussion. As both a performer and educator, he brings a unique blend of global percussion sounds to Sydney audiences. With his music, embodied in the essence of Noofeh, he aims to captivate listeners and transport them through the rich and diverse world of percussion.

  • Sohrab Kolahdooz – Iranian percussions

Musicians performing on stage with various string and percussion instruments

Dela Ensemble

  • Dela Ensemble, founded in 2015, is dedicated to showcasing the rich traditions of Persian classical music. Blending improvisation with composition, their music features indigenous Iranian instruments like the tar, santur, setar, tanboor, violin, tombak, and daf. Deeply connected to Farsi poetry, they interpret works from classic poets like Rumi and Hafez, as well as modern figures like Ebtehaj and Farokhzad. Dela Ensemble has performed with Maestro Saket and appeared at Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, Illawarra Music Festival, Canberra Multicultural Festival, and multiple concerts in Sydney.

  • Aran Dekar – Tar & Band lead

    Ramin Etemadzadeh – Vocals

    Ashkan Gahffari – Tonbak

    Amir Ghadiri – Violin

    Ali Tahamtani – Tar Bass & Cello

    Mehdi Mansouri – Setar & Oud

    Sina Arbabzadeh – Santour

    Amirsalar Makhzani – Daf, Dayere & Udu

Group of musicians on stage, holding instruments and posing for the audience, with stage lights overhead.

Sama Ensemble

  • The Sama Ensemble, led by Mahya Panahi, is based in Sydney and focuses on the tanbur, one of Iran's oldest string instruments, traditionally used in religious ceremonies by the Yarsan people. Over the last fifty years, the tanbur has gained international recognition as the contemporary tanbur. The ensemble combines ancient modes with innovative performances, showcasing the instrument’s rich heritage. At the upcoming festival, they will present a unique fusion of traditional tanbur compositions and a collaboration with the didgeridoo, highlighting a cultural exchange between Iran and Australia.

  • Mahya Panahi – Tanbur

    Bahador Ghahramani – Tanbur

    Faezeh Sepehrsadeghian – Singer & Daf

    Martin Rudelle Greig – Didgeridoo

    AmirSalar Makhzani – Daf

Musicians performing on stage with various instruments including an oud, drums, and double bass. They are accompanied by vocalists and instrumentalists in a dimly lit venue.

Avaye Rood

  • Avaye Rood is an award-winning Persian-fusion ensemble based in Sydney, founded by Behzad Ansari in 2006. Known for transcending cultural boundaries, they captivate audiences worldwide with their blend of Persian-inspired music. After relocating to Australia in 2022, Behzad revitalized the group by incorporating fresh cultural influences, expanding their sound. The band integrates traditional Iranian instruments like tar, setar, and santoor with modern elements like electric guitar, drums, and the Indian tabla, creating a unique fusion. Their compositions, inspired by the poetry of Rumi and Hafez, bridge Persian and English languages, enhancing their intercultural appeal.

  • Behzad Ansari – Tar & barbat

    Martin Harris – Vocal & strumstick

    Pegah Kheirdoush – Kamancheh

    Joseph Tabua – Electric Guitar

    Mark Szeto – Double Bass

    Raymond Abdishou – Drums

    Abhijit Dan – Tabla

PLATINUM SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSOR

Logo of Kargar & Associates, Certified Practising Accountants, in blue and gray text.

GOLD SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSOR

VISAYAB Migration Services logo featuring a globe and text.

SILVER SPONSORS

Gold swirl and 'FREEDAH' logo on black background
Sydney Pain Management Centre logo with abstract design.
Logo for Diba Luxury Wedding & Events with decorative elements.
Logo featuring a map of Australia inside a circle, with yellow and green text reading "Select Australia".
Logo featuring a stylized sturgeon fish outline and the text 'CG Caspian Gems' inside a circle.
Minimalist drawing of a bird with the text 'clay by S'

BRONZE SPONSORS

Logo with the letters "SSI" in a bold font, flanked by orange dots on top and bottom, followed by the text "For equality of life."

TEAM

Artistic Director: Shervin Mirzeinali
Operations Manager: Ehsan Kachooei
Graphic Designer: Reza Taghipour
Marketing Manager: Ben Robinson
Public Relations: Hamed Ebrahimi
Admin: Fereshteh Mehrnia & Mahsa Vaez
Sound Engineer: Mason Ostad
Photo & Video: PALMYRA STUDIOS
Stage Manager: Pegah Shahrokhi

VOLUNTEERS

Alireza Sadeghi
Behdad Delavari
Rose Mousavi
Maryam Talebi
Sasan Rose
Banoo Khorshidi

Concert at Iranian Music Festival with musicians on stage, audience in foreground, and event banner on side screen.
Two men in a room with a microphone and laptop, one speaking, one standing.
Live band performing on stage with musicians and vocalists under stage lights.
A group of people socializing in a large auditorium with red tiered seating and a digital keyboard and sound equipment in the foreground.
Group of six men standing in front of a screen displaying "Iranian Music Festival, 20-26 October 2024."
Musician playing a traditional string instrument on stage
Two people standing on a stage with musical instruments in the background, including a drum set and a music stand with sheets. A man with a beard and a woman in a patterned top and skirt are present. The setting has colorful lighting and a red carpet
A young woman playing an electric guitar seated in a music studio, with various musical instruments and a person playing drums in the background.
Musicians performing on stage at an Iranian Music Festival, featuring a drummer, bassist, guitarist, and an additional instrumentalist, with an audience watching. The stage is lit with purple and blue lighting, and a banner above indicates the festiv
Four people standing in a row on stage, smiling and holding hands, under stage lighting with music equipment in the background.
Two musicians performing on stage in purple lighting, one playing a keyboard with a laptop nearby and the other playing a string instrument, with audience silhouettes in the foreground.
Musicians performing with purple lighting, man playing a goblet drum.
Performer bowing on stage with instruments and audience in foreground.
Person painting calligraphy on a round black canvas with colorful curved lines.
Music performance with a seated man playing a hand drum on stage with a microphone nearby.
Group of people at an indoor event with artwork in the background, holding flowers and conversing.
Musician playing a traditional string instrument on stage with purple lighting.
A musical band performing on stage with traditional instruments and a backdrop of dim lighting. Five musicians are seated, wearing traditional attire, playing various instruments including drums and string instruments, under colorful stage lights.
Man playing drums with brushes on a drum set under stage lighting
Musician seated on stage playing music with a microphone and an amplifier nearby, wearing a black dress with a shimmering overlay. A sheet music stand and traditional string instrument are also visible.
Group of people talking in a room with a large circular artwork and black curtain backdrop.
Musicians and singers performing on stage with various instruments.
Live music performance with multiple musicians on stage, various instruments, colorful stage lighting, and audience in foreground.
Musicians performing on stage at the Iranian Music Festival, with a backdrop showing festival details for October 2024. The stage is lit with red and blue lights, and the performers include a keyboardist, traditional string player, singer, and flutis
Musician on stage with drums and microphone, audience watching
Musician playing percussion instruments on stage with microphones and audience.
A band of five musicians performing on stage, one playing a violin and another a guitar-like instrument, with two singers and a third person, under colorful stage lighting.
Musicians performing on stage with various string and percussion instruments in front of an audience.
Group of musicians performing on stage with various string and percussion instruments, under soft stage lighting.
Musician playing a string instrument on stage, with a drummer and bassist in the background, under stage lights.
Woman singing on stage with a microphone, wearing a black outfit, standing next to a music stand with a tablet.
Musician playing a traditional string instrument on stage, wearing a red jacket.
Musician playing an oud on stage with microphone and drums in the background.
Musical ensemble performing on stage with various instruments including an oud, double bass, and drums, against a black curtain backdrop, in a dimly lit venue.
Musicians performing on stage with various instruments, including a tambourine and oud, surrounded by microphones and sound equipment.
Musicians performing on stage with various instruments including an oud, drum, and microphone stands, under colorful stage lights.
Band performing on stage with two female singers and male musicians, dim lighting, colorful stage lights.
Band performing on stage with musical instruments and microphones, illuminated by stage lights, with audience watching.
Musician playing violin on stage with others in background.
Two musicians playing traditional frame drums on stage, seated, with microphones in front of them.
Man in checkered shirt sitting on stage with a microphone, playing music.
A group of musicians playing traditional instruments on stage during a concert, with an audience in front.
A group of men standing on a stage receiving applause and holding flowers, with an audience in front capturing the moment.
Musician playing a traditional hand drum on stage, wearing a white embroidered shirt, with other musical instruments like a drum set and microphones in the background.
A musician in a white traditional outfit singing into a microphone and playing a large frame drum on a stage, with musical notes on a stand beside them.
A group of five musicians performing on stage, dressed in traditional attire. They are playing various instruments including a tabla, guitar, and wind instrument. The stage is set with microphones and lighting, and a drum set is visible in the backgr
Musician playing a didgeridoo on stage, surrounded by drums and musical equipment, dressed in a white tunic and light pants.
A man sitting on a blue chair playing a drum, with a microphone nearby, on a stage with a red carpet.
Two women dressed in traditional attire performing on stage; one playing a large frame drum and singing into a microphone, the other playing a stringed instrument.
Musician playing a traditional string instrument on stage with a microphone
Musicians performing on stage with traditional instruments in a dimly lit venue, audience in foreground.
Musicians performing on stage at the Iranian Music Festival 2018 with colorful stage lighting, audience in silhouette, and a screen displaying the festival logo and date.
A musician seated on a chair playing a traditional drum on stage, with a handpan instrument visible beside him.
Person painting colorful abstract brushstrokes on a circular canvas in dim lighting.
Musician playing a traditional drum with microphones on stage, additional drums nearby, seated in front of a dark curtain.
Musician playing hang drum on stage with percussion instruments
Musician playing drum on stage with audience watching
Performer bowing on stage with musical instruments, microphone stands, and a camera on a tripod. Audience members are partially visible in the foreground.
Drummer playing a kit with mallets on a stage with red lighting and spotlights.
A woman playing a string instrument on stage with a microphone.
A bearded drummer performing on stage, playing a drum kit with cymbals and microphones set up.
Drummer playing a drum set on stage with microphones and sound equipment around.
Drum set with cymbals being played with drumsticks in a music studio.
Two musicians on stage, one standing with a microphone and the other near a drum set. A large screen behind them displays black and white images of two people with instruments, accompanied by text listing performers. Stage lights create a colorful ba
Audience watching a performance, dimly lit theater
Two musicians standing on stage next to each other, with a drum set and sheet music in the background.
A musician seated on stage playing a trumpet, surrounded by microphones and musical equipment, with a guitar resting against a wall in the background.
Person playing a stringed instrument on stage with a microphone, under purple lighting.
Musician playing a traditional string instrument with a trumpet player in the background, set in a dimly lit performance venue with brick walls.
Woman playing guitar on stage with a drummer in the background during a live performance.
Musicians performing on stage at the Iranian Music Festival, October 2024.
Musician playing percussion instruments on stage with conga and doumbek
Musicians performing on stage with string and wind instruments.
Four people standing in a line on a stage, smiling and looking towards the audience, with stage lighting and musical instruments visible in the background.
Musician playing an upright bass
Musicians performing, one playing a tar, another on a double bass, with a microphone and music stand nearby.
Side view of a man playing a saxophone on stage with colorful lighting.
Two musicians performing on stage; one playing a saxophone and the other playing a string instrument.
Musicians performing on stage with a double bass, drums, string instrument, and microphones. Audience silhouettes in the foreground.
Four men standing together on a stage with instruments in the background, under blue lighting.
Two musicians performing on stage with purple lighting, one playing a string instrument and the other with a drum. Microphones and audio equipment are visible.
Musicians performing on stage with purple lighting, featuring a keyboard player and a guitar player, viewed from an audience.
Four musicians performing on stage with purple lighting, playing keyboard, string instruments, and a percussion instrument.
Person painting on a large circular canvas in dim lighting, creating abstract orange and blue patterns.
Person playing a traditional drum in purple lighting
Person playing an electric keyboard with purple stage lighting.
Musicians performing on stage with colorful lighting, sitting on chairs, playing instruments like a keyboard and guitar.
Two men performing on stage with microphones, audience in the foreground, colorful lighting.
Two musicians performing on stage, one playing a keyboard and the other playing a string instrument. The stage is lit with purple and red lights.
Musical band performing on stage with guitarist, bassist, drummer, and singers under stage lighting.
Group of people on stage taking a bow during a performance with an audience clapping in the foreground.
A group of people standing and interacting in a dimly lit room with rows of chairs.
Audience seated in a hall, people chatting and using smartphones, some empty blue chairs in the foreground.

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