BLACK: A JOURNEY
The exterior of this bar, located on perhaps the most beautiful street in Ankara, is at least as beautiful as this street. Black Pub, which has a very refreshing entrance, promises us a lot with this appearance before we even enter. Although it is not very large, having a front garden creates an environment where we can breathe during breaks such as music breaks, and who knows, being narrow also allows us to get closer to people. And when we start descending the stairs, a beautifully designed environment and one of the most important places of Ankara’s rock culture welcomes us.
After entering the venue, we unintentionally headed towards the bar. We encountered Ekin, who is a Bilkenter who works at the bar as a part-time barmaid. She kindly offered to share her words with us, so let’s hear from her! “ “Black has become a special escape for me. I feel very safe, I can listen to music and drink alcohol here alone as a woman. The music quality is so impressive that I feel like I’m listening to a concert. The sound system is magnificent, every note is heard in detail. This venue is not just an ordinary live music bar, it has an atmosphere as if you were in the middle of a special concert. Every chord, every rhythm takes me to another world. The staff and musicians add a different flavour to this experience. Their sincerity and sincerity are truly felt. As a music lover, I cherish every moment I spend here, both as a barmaid and a customer. Black is not just a bar, it is a special music spot for me. With every attempt, I feel like the doors of this musical paradise are opening for me.”.
After we got our beer to drink, we stumbled across the beloved members of Inrock, the band that was playing here today, as we arrived a bit earlier. Here you see Cihan, who is the lead singer of InRock.We had chitchatted a lot about his life as a lead singer, about Black, about his life in general and he was really geniune, had an abysmal energy and was really cheerful.
We also saw Süleyman Bağcıoğlu sipping his pint before the venue. He is the lead guitarist of InRock and he is one of the best guitarists that have ever lived in Turkey, and if not in the world. He is an absolute legend in Ankara, and yet he is one of the most modest and genuine people that we’ve ever met. He did even get angry at us for pointing out this fact, for, he is what he is with the other band members. This interaction was like a summary of this place, small, modest, cosy and legendary at the same time.
As time passed, the customers started to flood in and we encountered a team close to our age group around this spacious and impressive bar, which was designed from wood and had shelves carefully decorated with drinks, we started to chat which proved to us once again what a friendly environment Black Pub has. The only thing we have in common with this team, who were also Bilkenters like us, is not our schooling. They are young people who are passionate about rock music, just like us. We had pleasant conversations and shared our drinks under this friendly roof until the stage started.
One of those famous scenes we mentioned began. We were singing loudly to wet our throats and dry every wet spot. The rust on our ears was already beginning to fade in this fun-filled place, which, although not very large, could fit fifty or sixty people comfortably. The lighting of the stage is quite sufficient to capture the mood. Likewise, the sound system does not disturb the ears and never interrupts the fun. While Süleyman Bağcıoğlu and Inrock are doing what they know best on stage, we leave ourselves to the flow of this magnificent work…
During the music breaks, we also had time to observe people who were enjoying the bar and chatting amongst themselves. During the music breaks, we found ourselves immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of the venue, where not only the melodies but also the lively interactions of the crowd became a part of the experience. As the music temporarily subsided, we seized the opportunity to indulge in a bit of people-watching, observing the diverse array of individuals who had gathered to chat and have a nice time.
As the final notes of the music gently faded away, we made the choice to leave the bar, utterly captivated by the extraordinary evening we had just witnessed. The once-deserted garden outside the venue had transformed into a bustling scene, teeming with individuals who, like us, had relished the night to the fullest. To our astonishment, we spotted another emerging rockstar hailing from Ankara, Batu Akdeniz, who, as we later discovered, is a familiar face in this locale. All in all, it proved to be a truly enchanting experience.
