TEHRAN -- The Iranian Azari ensemble Araz plans to perform concerts in several European countries during Noruz, the Iranian New Year celebration that begins on March 20 this year.

The band will leave Tehran for Paris on March 18 to give its first performance in the city on March 20, singer and band leader Rahim Shahriari told the Persian service of the ISNA on Wednesday.

Araz’s next stop will be Cologne and afterward, the band will perform in Stockholm.

The repertoire for the concerts includes songs from Araz’s latest album “Walk Quietly”. Songs from previous albums have also been selected to be performed in the concerts.

“Thirty percent of the repertoire is dedicated to Azari folk music, because people like this kind of music in the countries,” Shahriari said.

Araz is also scheduled to perform concerts at the Milad Hall of the Tehran International Permanent Fairground on March 15 and 16.

Araz’s new album, which was recorded in Turkey and the Azerbaijan Republic, is expected to be released before Noruz. It is still untitled.

The band gave performances in Istanbul, Germany, Paris, and Stockholm in March 2010.

MMS/YAW

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