I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: September 24, 2026] Altin Gün 

I first heard of Altin Gün (which means Golden Day) in 2022 when they played Underground Arts.   Back then I quoted

Altin Gün’s relentless grooves are truly immersive, anti-elitist, inclusive. It’s truly music for the dancefloor – all dancefloors. Altin Gün are the perfect 21st Century psych band, hinting at a deep record collection while still belonging to a living tradition and having a unique and distinctive voice  [from Forestpunk].

They returned in 2023, this time playing Union Transfer.  I wanted to go, but we had a family obligation that night so I couldn’t check them out.  But in the past year I’d gotten an album and really liked it.

So, this year the show was announced and I grabbed a ticket, super excited to see them live.  Their music is psychedelic with a dirty blend of funk rhythms, wah-wah guitars and analogue organs.  They often play psychedelic covers of Turkish folk music.  Singer Erdinç Ecevit Yıldız is Turkish while the other four members are Dutch.

I walked in and it was really quite empty. I was able to walk up to the barrier with no problem.  And it was a great spot to be because the mixing was perfect.  Aside from the two women who would not shut up behind me.

They came out with a simple set up–guitar, bass and two percussionists.  The man on the left had a full on percussion set up–conga, bongos, wood blocks, cowbells, tambourines and a couple of foot pedals, which I couldn’t figure out what they played.  Daniel Smienk was on the standard drum kit and he was fantastic–a simple kit but complex rhythms.

Jasper Verhulst played bass.  He was on the far side, behind the singer’s keyboards, so I didn’t see him too much,but his bass was essnetial, especially when the other two guys were soloing.  I was right in front of guitarist Thijs Elzinga and he was fantastic.  He switched back and forth between rhythm and lead guitar effortlessly.  His solos were fantastic and he shared the soloing spotlight easily.   Then up front was Erdinç Ecevit Yıldız.  He played keys (some great keyboard solos) and also played the bağlama (or saz)–four-stringed, long-necked (lute family) instrument.  He played some incredible solos on this thing!

I’d listened to the album I have and quickly listened to the new album which I didn’t like quite as much as its a bit quieter.  But I needn’t have worried about that because they came out and played the grooviest psychedelic sounds.  On Gönül Dağ The bass was loud and low, the guitars were great and the percussion kept things interesting.  It had a mid-period Pink Floyd sound.  The percussion came out in force for Sevda Olmasaydı.

It’s interesting that they played from four albums in the first four songs.  The vibe on the records differed some, but the vibe on stage did not.  I immediately enjoyed the songs from the first two albums.  The songs had tasty riffs but without the baggage that heavier music can have. Kaymakamın Kızları also had a great jam with both guitar and bağlama playing interesting solos.  Yıldız played some cool keyboard solos as well–lots of varied sounds, some standard and some really wildly out there.

The riff on Yolcu was fantastic especially on both guitar and bağlama.  Neredesin Sen had a fantastic groove to it (and it’s on the new album, so I don’t know what I was thinking about it being too mellow).  Badi Sabah Olmadan featured an extended guitar solo (with slide) that was fantastic and h was right in front of me doing it.

I couldn’t get over how psychedelic and jammy these songs were and yet how short they were as well.  He introduced Suçum Nedir and I had noted that that was midway through the setlist already.  This was the slowest song of the night.  The kind of song you could close your eyes to and just sway with the groove.

Then things got dark.  Ordunun Dereleri is a darker song and so they turned out the lights and let the spots shine on a discoball on the floor as 80’s sounding synths played out.   Speaking of disco, Maçka Yolları brought out all of the stops–clapping, cowbell and a disco guitar style (with lots of wah wah).  I really enjoyed in Kırşehirin Gülleri when he sang solo for a few seconds letting his voice slowly get deeper and then raise back up.  Çiçekler Ekiliyor has a lengthy percussion solo which got the crowd quite rowdy.  After Süpürgesi Yoncadan the band went for a short encore break.

They came back out and started Halkalı Şeker  which the crowd went pretty nuts for.  I have no idea if the people there (and there were quite a lot by the time they went on) new their music especially well or if they were just happy to have more music, but the band was energized for this song.

The final song, which was really rousing, comes from an album they only released on Bandcamp (Âlem) with all proceeds going to the help with the earthquake in Turkey.  It was fun and bouncy and features a few solos at the end as the band jammed out this traditional song.

Altin Gün was amazing live.  Every song sounded great.  They were fun and toe tapping or head nodding or outright dancing for every song.  And, no, I didn’t understand a thing he was singing and I didn’t care.  Would see them again in a second.

1. Gönül Dağı ⊗
   (Neşet Ertaş cover)
2. Sevda Olmasaydı ¥
   (Neşet Ertaş cover)
3. Vay Dünya ©
   (Sadık Doğanay cover)
4. Kaymakamın Kızları ⇓
   (Yurtseven Kardeşler cover)
5. Ervahı Ezelden ©
   (Arif Sağ cover)
6. Yolcu ©
   (Neşet Ertaş cover)
7. Neredesin Sen ⊗
   (Neşet Ertaş cover)
8. Badi Sabah Olmadan ∇
   ([traditional] cover)
9. Suçum Nedir ⊗
   (Neşet Ertaş cover)
10. Ordunun Dereleri ¥
    ([traditional] cover)
11. Maçka Yolları ¥
    ([traditional] cover)
12. Caney ⇓
    (İbrahim Tatlıses cover)
13. Kırşehirin Gülleri ⇓
    (Neşet Ertaş cover)
14. Çiçekler Ekiliyor ⇓
    (Neşet Ertaş cover)
15. Süpürgesi Yoncadan ©
    ([traditional] cover)

    Encore:

16. Halkalı Şeker ⇓
    (Arif Sağ cover)
17. Yali Yali φ
    ([traditional] cover)

⇓ On (2018)
© Gece (2019)
¥ Yol (2021)
φ Âlem (2021)
∇ Aşk
⊗ Garip (2026)

For ease of searching I include: Altin Gun