PEGA
Brussels’ Portuguese-French-Belgian trio PEGA have taken the Brussels underground scene by storm and become the talk of the town as well as elsewhere in Belgium. With several high profile gigs in October, November and December in venues such as Botanique, Ancienne Belgique, BRASS, Magasin4, Les Ateliers Claus, Le Vecteur, De Koer, Kinky Star and their own cherished spot Super Fourchette, the name of this young trio is about to be firmly established. PEGA is the brainchild of Barbara C. Branco (guitar and vocals), Aude Gravé (bass and vocals), and Leslie Gutierrez (drums). Barbara is already known for playing in another Brussels-based band, Tuvalu, which is part of the Super Fourchette magic circle. We had a little talk with them after one of their gigs just around the corner from Café Central, every now and then being interrupted by rappers and people begging for some change.
19 December 2019 |
AG 14
Chouk Bwa & The Ångstromers
Straight from Haiti, intense 'mizik rasin' roots music comes to us via Chouk Bwa, a band with male and female members who travel deep into the spiritual source through percussion, dance and call-and-response vocals that are immersed in original Haitian vodou.
09 November 2018 |
AG 13
Afework Nigussie
Afework Nigussie is an Ethiopian musician and singer from the Gondar region in North Ethiopia, who grew up in the capital Addis Abeba. He is a master of the masinko, a claret shaped violin with thick snares and goat skin which gives a strong sound that trembles into your belly and bones. He also plays a wide range of traditional Ethiopian string, wind and percussive instruments. His musical background is that of the ancient Azmari tradition, the wandering minstrels who carried the latest news and social criticism in loud songs from village to village, from door to door. Yet in his case, he chooses not to copy the old Azmari lines, but rather recreate his own songs that belong to current times, whether in secular or spiritual folk styles. Nigussie is a contemporary songwriter and composer who prefers to look forward instead of back.
15 November 2017 |
AG 10
Les Filles de Illighadad
There is nothing the fantastic Sahel Sounds label puts out that can’t be classified as essential listening, but we have an extra special place in our hearts for the record guitarist Fatou Seidi Ghali & vocalist Alamnou Akrouni put out just last year. As Les Filles de Illighadad they play an ultra minimalistic form of desert blues; dreamy and laced with melancholy but at the same time tough and raw. There is quite an abundance of Tuareg guitar bands touring Europe these days, but the Niger based Les Filles are something quite different and wholly unique. This is their first time in Belgium and if they’re half as good as on record, they might very will be the highlight of this festival.
10 November 2016 |
AG 8.1