’One of Turkey’s biggest alternative rock bands of the past two decades, Gripin started life as a cover band in Istanbul bin the mid-90s, playing songs of well-known British, American and Turkish rock bands.

With a cult following, Birol Namoğlu (vocals), Murat Başdoğan (guitar), Arda İnceoğlu (bass guitar & keyboard), and İlker Baliç (drums) decided to release their own material.

Gripin’s first studio album, Hikayeler Anlatıldı [Stories were Told], dropped in 2004, bringing the band to the wider attention of the music industry.

Three years later Gripin released their self-titled, critically claimed, second album. The 10-track album featured duets with popular Turkish indie stars: Ferman Akgül from maNga, Pamela Spence, and Emre Aydın.

Two singles from the new album dominated the Turkish charts in 2007: Böyle Kahpedir Dünya [This World is a Harlot] and follow-up Sensiz Istanbul’a Düşmanım [I Hate Istanbul Without You] – with guest performer Emre Aydın joining Birol Namoğlu on the vocals.

The album’s producer Haluk Kurosman is behind the successful sounds of many Turkish pop-rock stars of that era, including maNga, Emre Aydın, Vega, and Göksel.

The album bagged Gripin numerous awards and its reputation grew beyond Turkey’s national borders. Since then, the band has undertaken six USA tours, two Australia tours, and countless European tours and concerts.

Three further studio albums have followed the chart-topping Gripin: MS. 05.03.2010(2010) and Yalnızlığın Çaresini Bulmuşlar (2012), and Nasılım Biliyor musun?(2017) and reworkings of existing material. The band are currently focusing on exclusive projects to mark their two decades in music.

Expect a sensational concert at The Button Factory as the band represent their biggest and best loved hits of the past 20 years. The gig is promoted by Goblin Events.