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 Vintage 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.
In 2008, Ishtar was voted as Pittsburgh's Best Underground Band by the readers of the City Paper!
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, Istanbul Grille, Hookah Bookah, 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 both 2007 and 2008, Ishtar performed to record breaking crowds at the Washington DC Turkish Festival. Ishtar was the featured performing group at the Turkish American Student Association dinner for Turkish Republic Day.
Ishtar has had the distinction of sharing the stage with Kagero, Ana-Vey, Bellyqueen, Agnes Wired For Sound, Mandrake Project, PhatManDee, Polka Freakout, Guy Klucevsek & Alan Bern, Shtreiml, Tipton's Sax Quartet, Black Bear Combo and Raquy & the Cavemen.
Members of Ishtar teach workshops and play music at the
Jalsah events around the United States.
Ishtar is available to play for any event as well as specific dancer performances.
Ishtar
