Once upon a time, there was a town. It had a tree. That tree had to go. Why? Just because. The wizard came along, with a smile and a mandate. “I’ll give the tree a second life,” he said. And hey presto, the tree became cupboards, chairs and tables, made from the finest wood the town had ever seen. Everyone was happy. Another day tomorrow.

‘Dooiebomendag’, Fixkes’ new single, is the first track from their sixth (promising) album, due for release in spring 2027.

Almost silently, Fixkes have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. There was that massive breakthrough hit ‘Kvraagetaan’, back in 2007 (four months at number one in the charts, a record that stood for 13 years), and afterwards things went a lot quieter around the Antwerp band, but Fixkes kept at it. They kept refining their lyrics and songs, occasionally swapping the delicate for a gritty guitar solo or a touch of hip-hop. And they just got better and better.

Always with that witty, sometimes ironic take on life’s little quirks, wrapped up in what has now become a solid collection of simply good songs. Just check them out: Dardennen, Neukvriendje, Koriander van den Turk, Nooit niks, Goochelmonnetje, Ongelukkig, Buitenmens, Lievelingsdier… It must be just about the most common compliment you hear after a Fixkes gig: ‘I didn’t know you had so many good songs.’ It’s going to be a treat at the Club!

Fixkes are: Sam Valkenborgh (vocals, bass), Mike Engels (vocals, guitar), Peter Deckers (guitar), Bart Palmers (keyboards) and Jan Valkenborgh (drums).