Persian Music Welcoming Network Benefit Concert 

7:00 PM on Saturday, May 4th 

German American Hall 

230 Plymouth Street in Santa Cruz

Persian singers and musicians Mahsa Vahdat, Marjan Vahdat and Atabak Elyasi will donate an evening of Persian music to help raise awareness and money for the Santa Cruz Welcoming Network. The event will be at 7:00 PM on Saturday, May 4th at the German American Hall (230 Plymouth Street in Santa Cruz). 

Seats must be reserved in advance via $20 minimum donation with PayPal or Zelle. Alternate payment forms can be arranged if needed. Kindly contact <megzTmobile@gmail.com> for more information and to make your reservation. 

Marjan and Mahsa Vahdat, world-renowned Iranian singers, musicians and strong advocates of freedom of expression, will perform Persian songs of love, resilience and freedom accompanied at times by the daf (an Iranian frame drum) or by Setar (a type of lute used in Persian music). The two sisters have embarked on a journey to preserve and revive traditional Persian music, infusing it with contemporary elements that create a unique and captivating sound. Their voices and soul-stirring performances resonate with audiences across cultural and linguistic boundaries, earning them critical acclaim and international recognition.

Marjan and Mahsa have been in exile from Iran for the past few years. It is illegal for women to sing in public in Iran. The last video linked below (Twinklings of Hope) is one of the reasons they had to leave Iran. Atabak Elyasi is on Setar in this video, and will accompany Mahsa and Marjan at the benefit concert. 

Some examples of their work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcjJHuBXris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK2sHz8Rs5k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTtoYt8B-vY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX519rv2-Dw