A flute at the front of a rock band
Jethro Tull is the British band Ian Anderson built around an unlikely lead instrument. Since the late 1960s it has mixed blues, folk and progressive rock, with his flute out front where a lead guitar would usually sit.
The songs most fans come for are the older ones:
- “Aqualung” and “Locomotive Breath” from Aqualung (1971)
- Passages from Thick as a Brick (1972), originally one album-length piece
- “Living in the Past” and “Bourrée”
The Istanbul date is November 14, 2026. The setlist and the touring musicians for this show are not part of what we know, so this guide doesn’t name them.
Inside Zorlu PSM’s Turkcell Stage
Zorlu PSM is the arts complex in Zorlu Center, the mixed-use development on Büyükdere Caddesi between Zincirlikuyu and Levazım. It holds several halls. The Turkcell Stage is the largest: a modern, raked auditorium used for touring musicals, orchestras and big-name concerts.
To get to the stage you go through the shopping centre. Concertgoers usually come in through the mall entrances and follow the PSM signs down to the foyer level. Zorlu Center has restaurants and cafés on its lower floors, so many people eat dinner inside the building before the show.
Getting to Zorlu Center
The quickest route is by rail. Most attendees use one of these:
- M2 metro to Gayrettepe, then walk a few minutes north along Büyükdere Caddesi.
- Metrobüs to Zincirlikuyu, the hub just south of the complex, also served by many city buses.
- Taxi or ride-hail to the Zorlu Center drop-off. Expect heavy traffic, because the junction feeds the 15 July Martyrs Bridge.
On a Saturday evening the bridge approaches often jam, and that’s why locals tend to take the metro. Visitors often stay in Beşiktaş, Nişantaşı or around Taksim. From Taksim, the M2 runs straight to Gayrettepe in a few stops.
Concert night at Zorlu
Istanbul has its own habits on a show night.
- Pay by card. Contactless cards work almost everywhere in Zorlu Center. Bars and cafés take them for small amounts too.
- Use an Istanbulkart for transit. One reloadable card covers the metro, Metrobüs, ferries and buses. Visitors buy and top it up at machines in the stations.
- Expect security screening. Istanbul malls run airport-style bag checks at their doors, so small bags get through fastest.
- Know the Turkish words. A concert is a konser, a ticket is a bilet and the box office is the gişe. On signs, the venue is written Zorlu PSM, short for Performans Sanatları Merkezi.
- Tipping is modest. Diners in the centre’s restaurants usually leave around ten percent in cash, even after paying the bill by card.
Seated rock shows in Istanbul often turn into standing ovations by the encore, and older Tull fans have a reputation for singing along to “Aqualung”. After the show, the crowd splits between the metro and the taxi rank. Some fans go on to the bars of Beşiktaş or the Bosphorus-side cafés in Ortaköy, a short taxi ride downhill.
Frequently asked questions
When and where does Jethro Tull play in Istanbul?
On November 14, 2026, at the Turkcell Stage of Zorlu PSM, inside Zorlu Center on Büyükdere Caddesi in Beşiktaş.
Where are tickets sold?
Through Zorlu PSM's own website and the box office (gişe) inside Zorlu Center. Prices are shown there.
What is the nearest metro station to Zorlu PSM?
Gayrettepe on the M2 line, a few minutes' walk away. The Zincirlikuyu Metrobüs hub is also close by.
Is driving or a taxi a good idea on concert night?
Traffic around the 15 July Martyrs Bridge approaches is often heavy on weekend evenings, so most attendees take the M2 metro or the Metrobüs instead.
Where can I eat near the venue?
Zorlu Center has restaurants and cafés inside, so many concertgoers eat in the building. Beşiktaş and Ortaköy are a short taxi ride away for after the show.
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