KAMAKAN

In the organizer's words:

KAMAKAN - postponed from 25.07.25
presented by Knust & 30M
11.09.25 | 21:00 | Knust

Mahdi Saki was born in Ahwaz in Iran and grew up with the sound of Arabic lullabies from his home province of Khuzestan near the border with Iraq. For him, dance and music were an escape from the unrest around him during the war. He studied dance and theater in Tehran before gathering musicians from the independent scene around the contemporary folk project Kamakan.
Drawing on the musical traditions of southern Iran, Arabic and Persian heritage, classical and contemporary poetry, Kamakan is a melancholic and powerful journey. Their first album, released in 2015, became an instant classic for Iranian youth. The band went on to compose a second album, but never received permission to release it in Iran. Their third album, IS'', was finally released in September 2023. On stage, the project led by Mahdi Saki can unfold in various forms and involves different musicians and singers.
After a residency in France in November 2023, Kamakan took a new turn and began to incorporate electronic sounds to allow the audience to connect with rare repertoires. Kamakan challenges the perception of a region rich in diverse cultural influences of Persian, Arab, Indian and African-American populations.
Kamakan was presented as part of the 2024 Showcase selection at Womex in Manchester. For this format, performed exclusively in Europe, Mahdi Saki collaborates with multi-instrumentalists Arif Mirbaghi (Iran) and Axel Moon (France).
Mahdi Saki (vocals, guitar, percussions)
Arif Mirbaghi (bass, electronic machines)
Axel Moon (saz / rabab, electronic machines)