Tirgan

Acclaimed musician, songwriter, and producer Arash Sobhani brings his distinctive voice and
deeply personal songwriting to Tirgan Festival in a performance that blends poetry, alternative
music, and contemporary global sound.

Best known as the founder of the legendary Iranian alternative band Kiosk, Sobhani has spent
more than two decades shaping a generation of Persian-language alternative music through
sharp lyricism, fearless storytelling, and social insight. His work has been featured
internationally by outlets including BBC, TIME, The Guardian, NPR, and Anthony Bourdain’s
Parts Unknown.

Now based in New York, Sobhani presents music from his debut solo album, DOOD (“Smoke”)
— an intimate and atmospheric project inspired by the energy and contradictions of modern
urban life. Written in Farsi yet universally resonant, the songs move between personal reflection,
quiet political awareness, and poetic storytelling, creating a sound that feels both deeply rooted
and globally connected.

Blending alternative rock, folk influences, and cross-cultural collaboration, this performance
offers audiences an evening of music that is thoughtful, emotionally charged, and unmistakably
original.