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An Istanbul concert by Irish post-rock band God Is An Astronaut was canceled hours before the performance, placing the instrumental group at the center of a broader wave of concert bans linked to accusations of “satanism” directed at several rock and metal acts in Türkiye.
The band confirmed that they had already travelled to the city and were fully prepared to perform when the event was called off at short notice. The organizers removed the concert announcement from the venue’s official website without providing a public explanation.
The canceled performance was scheduled to take place at Zorlu Performing Arts Center (Zorlu PSM), one of Istanbul’s major cultural venues. According to reports, the decision followed earlier cancellations involving two metal bands, Slaughter to Prevail and Behemoth, whose concerts had been officially banned by local authorities.
The Besiktas district governor’s office stated that those earlier cancellations came after public reactions and accusations that the performances were incompatible with “societal values.” The controversy emerged after online campaigns led by pro-government social media accounts accused the bands of promoting satanism through lyrics and imagery.
God Is An Astronaut, a Wicklow-based Irish group known for instrumental music without lyrics, emphasized that their work does not contain ideological messaging. Guitarist Torsten Kinsella said the band was disappointed by the outcome, explaining:
"We are deeply disappointed that our scheduled performance in Istanbul will not be going ahead as planned. We travelled to perform and were fully prepared for the show. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, the event has been postponed."
The musician also underlined the band’s artistic intent, stating that the group creates atmospheric and cinematic music designed to connect audiences across borders rather than provoke controversy.
Despite the cancellation, God Is An Astronaut expressed appreciation for local audiences and indicated plans to return in the future. The band said it remained grateful to Turkish fans for their support and hoped to perform again under safer and more positive conditions.
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