Of Kurdish origin, Olcay Bayir's music crosses boundaries in evocative and heart-stoppingly beautiful ways. Opera-trained, she was born on the Turkish side of the Syrian border, and her soul is rooted in the deeply-emotional music of Anatolia, home to many peoples: Turks, Kurds, Armenians and Arabs, many of whom have been displaced from the lands of their forefathers. Olcay, "one of the finest, most intriguing singers on the British world music scene" (The Guardian), with now two acclaimed albums to her name, returns bringing her exquisitely clear voice that defines her original repertoire, combining jazz, folk and neo-classical with Mesopotamian and Anatolian tradition. With her will be Aurel Qirjo (Albania) on violin, Ignacio Monteverde (Argentina) on guitar and Kostas Kopanaris (Greece) on percussion.

Nominated as Best Newcomer in the Songlines Music Awards 2015 for her album Neva (Riverboat) and recipient of a Women Make Music funding award from Performing Rights Society for Music Foundation UK in 2017, Olcay Bayir has been hailed in the press: "If the omens don't deceive, this fantastic singer is on the eve of a great international career.” Mixed World Music, Netherlands, May 2019.

“Olcay Bayir… brings a mix of traditional Anatolian songs and self-written "Kate Bush-like" songs on the wonderful CD: Rüya – Dream... With a beautiful balance between modern and old, everything fits together wonderfully...” Popmagazine Heaven Netherlands, April 2019

Her website: http://bit.ly/2O5Ncbz

Tuned In London is presenting a year of concerts that invite audiences to reflect on the movement of people around the world, people who up sticks for a multitude of reasons, and head to lands unknown, marking the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower Ship leaving Rotherhithe's shore, captained and crewed by Rotherhithe residents.

Doors open at 6.30pm (note our earlier than usual start time!). The Finnish Church (Lontoon merimieskirkko) runs an unlicensed bar serving drinks and Finnish snacks. It is a short walk from Rotherhithe Station and is open from 2pm (consider a pre-gig sauna in their basement!). The performance will start on time as the church closes at 9pm.