About this Event
Sunday, NOVEMBER 29, 2026, 6:00PM. Doors open 5:30PM
SWEENEY'S PHILLY SPECIAL , 13639 Philmont Ave, Philadelphia, PA
General admission $35
Recommended age: 18+
Join world-acclaimed cellist, composer, and multilingual vocalist Ian Maksin as he returns to Philly for a touch-and-go amidst his world concert tour! Apart from his original music and folk songs from around the globe, Maksin will create unique renditions of some of his favorite songs by Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Charles Aznavour, Sting, and several other classics! Through combining the cello and voice, he will reveal the poetry these songs share: stories of love, loss, faith and hope told across generations.
Alongside these modern classics, Maksin performs traditional folk songs from around the world, the timeless melodies that inspired these songwriters, sung in their original languages. The program also features his own original compositions, where the cello becomes a voice of its own. The result is an intimate journey from ancient ballads to today, connected by the universal language of song.
Ian Maksin Official Website
Ian Maksin YouTube Channel
Ian Maksin on Apple Music
Ian Maksin on Spotify
BREAKING BOUNDARIES both musical and geographical, cellist, composer and multilingual vocalist IAN MAKSIN has created his own unique style by blending elements of different genres and traditional music from around the globe in a new way using his cello as the main unifying force.
ONE-MAN ORCHESTRA:In addition to cello, he used an electronic device called the loop pedal, which allows him to create "loops" or layers by recording and replaying his own playing in real time.
SINGING IN 43 LANGUAGES: What began as a hobby and a passion for linguistics and travel has become part of a unique concert experience. At this time Ian Maksin sings in 43 languages including Ukrainian, Russian, English, Farsi, Armenian, French, Italian, Arabic, Hebrew, Mongolian, Bambara (one of the tongues spoken in West Africa) and many other exotic languages. Most of this repertoire was amassed by Maksin during his world travels, jam sessions and collaborations with local musicians. Many of his original songs and instrumental compositions are also infused with flavors of ethnic music from countries and regions where he drew inspiration from: Mongolia, West Africa, Middle East, the Balkans, Andalusian flamenco.
THE GLOBAL MUSICIAN: Ian Maksin was born in the former USSR into a multinational family and grew up absorbing many cultures and traditions from an early age. He began playing guitar and piano at age 3 and cello at age 6 at the School for Gifted Children in Leningrad and then came to the USA at 16 to continue studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. After working for many years in the classical genre including a three-year tenure with the New World Symphony in Miami Ian has decided to look for his own musical path. His diverse musical experience, including playing rock and blues guitar and passion for jazz and world music has allowed him to take the cello to a new dimension and develop his own distinct style as a musician and composer. In Ian's own words: "At some point I realized that music is much more than mere entertainment. Music is one of the most powerful and unifying forces in the world, capable of healing, inspiring, bringing people together and bringing peace among them. I believe that cello will save the world”
Event venue & nearby stays
Sweeney's Station Saloon, 13639 Philmont Avenue, Philadelphia, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.