Last night, I had the absolute pleasure of seeing Derya Yıldırım and Grup Şimşek at The Magic Bag in Ferndale, Michigan!

Derya Yildirim and Grup Simsek perform while Derya holds a Turkish Lute with stage lighting in the background on stage during their concert at The Magic Bag in Ferndale, Michigan.

Jeff absolutely loves the group and has had their album Yarın Yoksa on repeat for months—in the car, around the house, everywhere. So when we found out they were coming to Michigan, getting tickets was a no-brainer.

Sequin Pants are illuminated by lime-green concert lighting on a wooden stage.

The Magic Bag was such a cool venue, too. I loved spotting the little nods to kitties throughout the space.

Derya invited the audience to move closer about two songs into the concert and it made for such a special experience. The group sounded incredible live, and because the venue is so intimate, we were able to get really close to the stage.

Singer Derya Yildirim of Derya Yildirim and Grup Simsek plays the turkish lute on stage during a concert in ferndale michigan, surrounded by blue stage lighting.

I'm so glad I brought my Fuji and my homemade filters to the show. Playing with the filters and the stage lighting gave the photos a sort of kaleidoscope effect, which I love! It was one of those nights that felt truly memorable, and I hope they make it back to Michigan again soon!