Ishtar is Pittsburgh's BellyRock Band. Ishtar is comprised of Melissa Murphey on clarinet, Jeff Chmielarski on electric bass, Mark DeFilippo on darbuka, Beth DeFilippo on riq and Rob Metil on Fender Stratocaster guitar.
Playing their own unique interpretation of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean folk melodies, Ishtar performs songs that were popular in the bellydancing nightclub scene during the mid-20th century. This exceptional fusion of traditional songs with surf rock elements has become: BellyRock.
The band has performed at several local locations: The Warhol Museum, The Brillobox, Club Café, Zenith, The Sphinx Cafe, Backstage Bar, Khalil's, Shadow Lounge, The Altar Bar, Your Inner Vagabond, The 31st Street Pub, Howler's Coyote Cafe, Gooski's, Bloomfield Bridge Tavern, The Thunderbird Cafe, Modern Formations Gallery and Mr Small's Theater.
Ishtar has played for events in Morgantown WV, Akron OH, Charleston SC, Baltimore MD, and Charlotte NC. In 2007, Ishtar was a featured band at Balktoberfest and the Turkish Festival both held in Washington DC.
Ishtar has had the distinction of sharing the stage with Ana-Vey, Bellyqueen, Mandrake Project, PhatManDee, Polka Freakout, Guy Klucevsek & Alan Bern, Shtreiml, Tipton's Sax Quartet, Black Bear Combo and Raquy & the Cavemen.
We Are so excited to have Ishtar as our house band
Set Times:
Friday starting a 7pm
Saturday at 12pm and 2:30pm
Sunday at 12pm and 2:30pm
March 23 - 25, 2012
2nd Annual
Belly Dance Festival in Ocean City, Maryland
Hosted by
Naimah and Amandari
