Presented by Korsi
Location: Altes Pfandhaus – Kartäuserwall 20, 50678 Köln
Date: 10.09.2025
Doors open: 19:00
Tickets: www.posttick.com

About the Artist

Born in Ahwaz, Iran, Mahdi Saki grew up listening to Arabic lullabies from his native province of Khuzestan, close to the Iraqi border.
Amidst the turmoil of war, dance and music became his refuge. After studying dance and theatre in Tehran, he gathered musicians from the independent scene to form Kamakan, a contemporary folk project rooted in southern Iranian, Arab, and Persian traditions.

Drawing from regional music, classical and modern poetry, Kamakan’s sound is both melancholic and powerful — a deep journey through memory, language, and rhythm. Their first album, released in 2015, became an underground classic among Iranian youth. Their second album was never authorized for release in Iran, and their third, “IS”, was finally published in September 2023.

On stage, Kamakan unfolds as a living, evolving project — a constellation of musicians and singers whose collaborations shift across performances. After a residency in France in late 2023, the band began incorporating electronic elements, expanding its sound and inviting audiences to experience rare repertoires in new ways.

Kamakan challenges perceptions of a region shaped by the meeting of Persian, Arab, Indian, and African diasporic influences. The project was featured in the 2024 WOMEX Showcase Selection in Manchester.

Poster design: @saba.moghadami