Shahram Shokouhi Slashes Ticket Prices

Celebrated pop and flamenco singer, songwriter, composer and guitarist Shahram Shokouhi will hold a concert at the Ministry of Interior Auditorium in Tehran.

On August 16, Shokouhi will come on stage at the large hall to perform selected songs for his fans, Honaronline reported on its Persian website.

The concert is a postponed event after Shokouhi failed to appear in a concert planned on July 11 at Milad Hall of Tehran Expo Center. His absence from the scheduled event was due to a heart stroke while watching the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup match between Iran and Portugal on June 25 which ended 1-1.

Iran lost a scoring chance in the last minute of the game that would let Iran advance to the Round of 16. However, the draw meant Team Melli wrapped up its fifth World Cup campaign again in the group stage, similar to the past four runs, but this time with four points, higher than the previous appearances.

Shokouhi, 43, is among the artists concerned about the worsening economic problems the people are facing, namely galloping inflation, steep decline in the value of national currency and shrinking purchasing power.

He has set a ceiling of 600,000 rials ($6) for the tickets to his concert. Many popular concerts have tickets up to 1.5 million rials ($15).

  Part of the Solution

Referring to concerts cancelled recently by musicians due to the financial constraints, Shokouhi said, “As I said earlier, not holding concerts cannot solve economic problems. The concert will have no personal profit for me and the producer. Its returns will cover costs of the venue and wages.”

“Once, artists bragged about the steep ticket prices of their concerts. I prefer to be called the cheapest singer.” The singer said “It’s been a while the idea of street concerts is under discussion.” One of the musicians pretty serious about holding such gratis performances is the traditional vocalist and player of tonbak and kamancheh Homayoun Shajarian, son of the master vocalist of Persian music Mohammad Reza Shajarian. Homayoun whose intention is to help boost public morale, has held meetings with relevant officials to hold street concerts.

“If street concerts are authorized by the relevant bodies, I’ll be among those eager to hold such performances,” Shokouhi said.

At the August 16 concert, Shokouhi will be accompanied by an orchestra conducted by composer, music arranger and singer Adel Fallah.

Tickets to the event are available at Iranconcert.com. Ministry of Interior Auditorium is on Gomnam Street, north of Fatemi Square.