Jazz & Picnic in the Forest 2025
Sunday 22 June · Lifepark · 12:00 – 21:00
Jazz & Picnic in the Forest, which has given jazz and music lovers unique days at Lifepark in past years, returns even bigger. In the shade of the trees, to a soundtrack of birdsong, Latin jazz virtuoso Alex Wilson, darbuka legend Burhan Öçal & Trio Leyla, rising vocal star Elif Çağlar Quartet, the doyen of Turkish jazz guitar Önder Focan Quartet and velvet-voiced Jehan Barbur take the stage over eight hours.
Burhan Öçal’s Trio Leyla & Alex Wilson: rhythm, jazz and tradition. Percussion master Burhan Öçal, who has taken part in countless projects, invites listeners on a musical journey inspired by these lands, where jazz, rhythm and classical music meet, with his new group Trio Leyla, named after his daughter. More than a professional project, Trio Leyla is an expression of deep love — the story of the legacy a musician father wants to leave his daughter. On this journey, where Western music meets jazz and jazz meets İstanbul songs, master musicians on darbuka (Burhan Öçal), kanun (Savaş Özkök) and cello (Sedef Erçetin) are joined on piano by Alex Wilson, whose British-Latin roots carry the spirit of jazz and improvisation.
Jehan Barbur: Born in Beirut on 12 April 1980 and raised in İskenderun, she moved to İstanbul after graduating in American Culture and Literature from Bilkent University in 2002. A producer, lyricist, composer, singer and writer, she has released albums such as “Uyan”, “Hayat”, “Sarı”, “Sizler Hiç Yokken”, “Evim Neresi” and “Ürkerek Söylerim” since 2009, along with singles such as “Kusura Bakmasınlar”, “Güzel Şeyler Var” and “Yabancı”, and has published books after years of writing poems and columns for magazines.
Elif Çağlar Quartet: A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Elif Çağlar has won “Best Jazz Vocalist” in Turkey. Her album “Plumes” climbed the European jazz charts. In 2022 and 2023 she played prestigious international stages such as Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival and London Jazz Festival, and made her name in major vocal competitions worldwide, including as a DownBeat Rising Star Vocalist finalist.
Önder Focan Quartet: Led by Önder Focan, a pioneer of Turkish jazz guitar, the quartet creates its own language by bringing classic swing together with Anatolian melodies, with warm, dynamic vocals by Meltem Ege. Focan’s groups have played acclaimed concerts in 35 countries outside Turkey, from Buenos Aires to Melbourne. Meltem Ege won jazz vocal competitions in Finland and Lithuania and, after studying in the US, works in Los Angeles as a musician and lecturer. In 2011 the pair released the acclaimed album Songbook, made up of Focan’s compositions.
Leyanner Chibas Duporte: Opening the festival, the Leyanner Chibas Band gets everyone moving with lively Cuban-born Latin rhythms. Percussion, trumpet and trombone blend with salsa, son and Afro-Cuban melodies to bring warm energy to this jazz-and-picnic day in the forest — ideal for those who want to dance and those looking for a lively start to the day.
12:00 Doors open
12:30 – 13:45 Leyanner Chibas Band
14:00 – 15:15 Önder Focan Quartet feat. Meltem Ege
16:00 – 17:30 Elif Çağlar Quartet
17:45 – 19:00 Burhan Öçal’s Trio Leyla & Alex Wilson
19:30 – 21:00 Jehan Barbur
Guests may bring their own camping chairs, picnic baskets and food, and can also enjoy the food on offer in Lifepark’s large food and drink areas. Children under 12 go free.
General admission tickets and picnic tables for 4 are on sale at early-bird prices for a short time!
Why not to miss it
- Jazz in the heart of the forest – a day in nature with some of Turkey’s best musicians.
- Real picnic freedom – bring your own picnic basket, camping chairs and blankets. Under TAPDK rules alcoholic drinks may not be brought in; alcoholic drinks are sold on site.
- Plenty to eat – street food and food and drink stalls open all day.
- Family friendly – under-12s go free; play area for children.
- Pets welcome – your four-legged friends can enjoy the festival too.
Tickets for Jazz & Picnic in the Forest on Biletix, lifeparkbilet.com and passo.com.tr.
Ticket prices – early bird
General admission – 1st phase: SOLD OUT · 2nd phase: 1,000 TL (last day 19 June) · 3rd phase / door: 1,200 TL
Picnic table for 4 – 1st phase: SOLD OUT · 2nd phase: 5,000 TL (last day 19 June) · 3rd phase / door: 6,000 TL
Early-bird places are limited.
