Irish instrumental rock group God Is An Astronaut said its İstanbul concert scheduled for Friday night was postponed for reasons “beyond our control,” days after authorities barred two heavy metal concerts at the same venue and imposed a two-day ban on ticketed events at the Zorlu Center complex.
The band said in a statement on Instagram that members had arrived in İstanbul and were ready to perform but that the event was postponed due to circumstances outside their control. The group thanked fans in Turkey and said it hoped to return to play “in a safe and positive” environment.
The concert, planned at the Zorlu Performing Arts Center (Zorlu PSM) in Beşiktaş, was called off at the last minute. Some reports earlier said the event was removed from the venue’s listings and from ticketing pages, with no public explanation from authorities.
The postponement followed decisions earlier this week by the Beşiktaş District Governor’s Office, which canceled concerts by Russian deathcore band Slaughter to Prevail and Polish heavy metal band Behemoth that were scheduled for February 10 and February 11, respectively, at Zorlu PSM.
A written statement from the district governor’s office said the two concerts were barred because they were deemed incompatible with “social values.” The statement also said all concerts, festivals and other ticketed programs at Zorlu PSM and the greater Zorlu Center complex were banned for two days, from February 10 at 12:01 a.m. through February 11 at 11:59 p.m.
İstanbul Governor Davut Gül also weighed in publicly after the heavy metal concerts were banned, writing on X that authorities would not allow activities he said “corrupt” society.
It was not immediately clear what prompted the postponement of God Is An Astronaut’s Friday show or whether it was linked to any new official order. The band did not name a government body or cite a written decision in its statement.
In the lead-up to the earlier cancellations, some Turkish media coverage and online commentary accused several acts of promoting “satanism,” an accusation the bands involved have publicly rejected.
God Is An Astronaut, formed by twin brothers Torsten and Niels Kinsella in Ireland, tours internationally and is known for atmospheric instrumental rock. The group’s message to Turkish fans emphasized it is an instrumental band and framed its aim as making music that connects people.
Zorlu PSM is one of İstanbul’s best-known concert and theater venues and is part of the Zorlu Center development, a large complex that includes a shopping mall, offices and residences. It regularly hosts foreign touring acts, Turkish pop concerts and stage productions.