Steenstraat Muziekstraat – Car-Free Sunday

What was, in previous years, the musical street festival in Brussels on 11 July will this year take place during car-free Sunday on 22 September.
The formula is familiar by now: artists take over the buildings in the Steenstraat and make a unique musical afternoon of it, one where you can (re)discover both new talent and a number of established musicians.
This year we have opted for booking as many solo or duo performers as possible. That way they, as well as you, can come by train and public transport and leave their car at home on this celebratory day for cyclists, (in-line) skaters and pedestrians.

Download the timetable here

Between 12:00 and 08:00 pm mini-BBQ at AB Café/Resto!

Taste a Kriek Belle-Vue
As cherry on top, that weekend we will present every visitor with a voucher that allows the first 1000 customers in the AB Café who purchase a Kriek Belle-Vue to receive a 2nd one free. Kriek Belle-Vue has namely been around for 100 years. A historical anniversary, one to toast to!

Locations and artists:

Fanfare Z@fke

Steenstraat – the entire time

In the course of the afternoon you will regularly be able to enjoy the brass and percussion skills of Z@fke. This ‘youth fanfare’ (some people still think that they're youthful) is a division of the Sint-Trudo fanfare from Helchteren. They've been around for 2 years and will blow the rooves of the Steenstraat off with their 14-member group.

The Music Village:

Maya’s Moving Castle (Duo)

Welcome to the fantastic, mysterious dreamworld of Maya’s Moving Castle. Only the exquisite, melancholy voice provides an illuminated path in the dark forest.
On the way we hear mesmerizing melodies, sometimes sad, other times blissful. But always exciting, innovative and idiosyncratic.
Or, what it might be like if David Lynch were to ask Björk and The Cure to write the soundtrack for one of his films. Dangerously beautiful. Intensely sweet. Obstinately exciting.

Flip Kowlier solo

While serving as lyrical master for ’t Hof van Commerce, Flip Kowlier managed to surprise friend and foe in 2001 with his solo debut ‘Ocharme Ik’.
He continues to surprise too: as producer, as writer of children's stories, as bassist with Admiral Freebee, but mainly as musician and songwriter of versatile albums with honest and straightforward songs.
Ranging from pop and rock, melancholy one moment, cheerful the next, to country and even reggae.
Kowlier just likes doing those things. He's the sort of artist that likes to explore every corner of the musical world. Certainly not as a casual style exercise, easy way out or career move.
For Car-Free Sunday Flip will play an exclusive solo set as foretaste of his full band concert on 14 November (more info here).

Electrocution:

Little Trouble Kids

Only a year and a half after their raging debut and with tons of live-experience (including as the StuBru-poulain of Triggerfigger), crazy noise-pop duo Little Trouble Kids issues a new album: 'Adventureland'. The live-energy is just as intense, the line-up is unchanged – one guitar, one stompbox and two harmonious voices, but the sound and songs are grander, harder and better.

The band has taken the step into bigger halls and festivals in Belgium and The Netherlands (Rock Herk, Rock Zottegem, AB, Effenaar) in no time, and - under the influence of producer Micha Volders (Vermin Twins) - they know how to make good use of their alternative percussion and raw minimalism.
This fall they'll be playing a number of acoustic shows, including for the car-free Sunday then.

Choosy:

Charles Frail

Charles Frail is a young Dutch songwriter called Karel Ensing. Charles Frail entitled his November 2011 debut "Morning It Breathes" (Munich Records/Volkoren).
That the sound of his voice is immediately linked to Anthony Hegarty, can't be avoided. Not that it has to be, as Charles Frail has sufficient talent to distinguish his music.
"Morning It Breathes" is a sensitive album that paints an exceptional picture. You experience it like you would experience reading a good book. There's a story, but the essence of it all is contained in other elements. Those are the things that aren't unequivocal and make a whole of the parts. That's where Charles Frail has certainly succeeded. It is definitely music for a limited audience, but that audience is hooked for life. There is also something to look forward to, for them, as this album is the first part of a trilogy, "Mirror River" and "City Fire" are to follow.

Mr. Ego:

Stijn

There's not much need to introduce our Brussels/ Antwerp synth and electronic wizard. After a number of worldly songs and impressive albums released solo, he toured with a band for a while. In the meantime he's entirely solo again and, even more than before, he has continued to build upon his strong live reputation. Those present at the exclusive concert of Prince songs only, whereby Stijn played the roof off a very full AB club, right from the very first note, they know what we're talking about.

AB Ticketshop:

Flying Horsemen solo

Flying Horseman is the band encompassing singer-songwriter Bert Dockx. This selection of Antwerp's top musicians creates breathtakingly beautiful albums and ditto live-shows. Think threatening post-folk and dark blues, with the emotional depth and soul-gouging vibes that Flying Horseman made a trademark of. It is seldom that music is presented on such a cutting edge. During Steenstraat Muziekstraat, Bert Dockx will perform as Flying Horsemen solo. In the evening you can see Bert at work again, but then as guitarist for the incomparable Dans Dans (8pm, café Bonnefooi).

Bonnefooi:

Anna Rune

Anna Rune is 18 years old, plays piano and sings. She won 'De Kunstbende' in 2011...
... for the sequel to this biography we let Jef Neve, Will Tura, Gregory Frateur (Dez Mona) & Sioen speak.

Jef Neve gave her piano lessons, as one of his last students, and has already invited Anna to provide a support-act for him. He describes her thus: "Anna has talent, is frivolous and wilful, approaches her goal with unprecedented charm, but above all, her music touches my soul. Long live the ambition of youth!"

Will Tura met Anna at an interview and show on TV Oost: "A unique voice that can do anything. Play piano as if it were the easiest thing in the world. Composing and writing lyrics, at such a high level and has a huge stage presence. Anna has it all. A true pleasure to hear and see her at work. It's rare to encounter so much talent. World Class."

Gregory Frateur (Dez Mona) wrote to us after Anna's show at the international music competition Imagine, where she snatched the Sabam-prize: “Anna Rune exudes convincing beauty, lives for music and sings about love with the piano as her significant other. She was able to touch me with her very first notes 'live'. An old soul hides in this character-blessed artist, I like that, it makes me ecstatic.”

Sioen knows her via his father, who – just as the father of Anna – is director of a music academy. He invited Anna to come play the support-act for his theatre tour, where they perform a duet together: “I knew after 30 seconds: Anna has IT, period.”

Dans Dans

Dans Dans harbours the talents of those absolute top-musicians:
Bert Dockx on guitar (also singer and originator of Flying Horseman) Fred Lyenn on bass (better known as Lyenn, songsmith and guitarist). Steven Cassiers on drums (also with the likes of Dez Mona).
From garage jazz, psychedelic blues and ecstatic noir soundtracks to spacey rock-‘n-roll: the labels that are applied to Dans Dans say everything about their eclectic approach. On its first album and live, the band not only dove into the work of Sun Ra, Nick Drake, Sonny Rollins, Ennio Morricone and the likes, but also, without exception, subjected that material to the world of adventurous improvisation.
Even a pig-headed jazz-purist wouldn't dare accuse them of throw-away jams. Even when playing with exceedingly strong themes, Dans Dans takes on the challenge to create an idiosyncratic expression with rolling drums, pumping bass and elastic guitars. But it is especially live, balancing on the cutting edge, that the band really presents its true nature; that of restless music junkies, continually yearning for innovation.
Things went reasonably unnoticed for years, but 2012 was a turning point, with an extremely well-received debut LP and national and international concerts that received rave reviews. From newspapers like De Standaard and De Morgen to magazines like Gonzo (circus), Oor and Focus Knack to webzines like Enola: the band continued to win souls, stars and spots in end-of-year charts.
One of the most exciting bands active in the country at the moment, we reckon.

AB Café:

Pauwel De Meyer duo

23-Year-old songwriter Pauwel De Meyer exposes his soul again on this second full-album "Hideaway". In the tradition of Conor Oberst, Bon Iver, and the like, he presents glorious pops songs, accompanied by guitar and piano.
8 songs, recorded in the bedroom and together with Floris De Decker (Team William, The Van Jets), as producer/mixer, this new album is masterfully finished.

Pauwel De Meyer has a solid live-reputation. A number of supports (The Bony King Of Nowhere, Scott Matthew, The Veils, Grant Hart, ...) and a short international tour with Devendra Banhart strengthen that.
Lo-fi, purity and vulnerable soft voice are three notable details with which Pauwel can distinguish himself.
Pauwel plays solo live or with a fixed band, who also accompanied him during the recordings.

Café Windsurf

Joe Berluck

81 Years old, inventor of the first mobile disco-bar and the man with the most erotic voice in Flanders. Several years ago, Joe Berluck was rediscovered by Mauro Pawloswki, with whom he span 7”-records under the name ‘B-kant’ at Dranouter in 2010 and other places. In the meantime, Joe is still DJ-ing and talking the albums together in his inimitable way. Come and enjoy the mood and vibe of the ’60's and ’70's and let the sultry voice of Joe Berluck lead you into the clouds.
video: short report about Joe:

Huis23

exclusive listening session new Flip Kowlier album

After a conversation between Peter Vantyghem (rock journalist for De Standaard), Wouter Van Belle (producer) and Flip Kowlier about the yet to be released new album by Flip Kowlier (on Petrol), 30 lucky winners will be able to attend an avant première listening-session of the album. Flip Kowlier will be giving a full-band concert in the AB Club on 14 November, where the new album will also be presented live.
Check out the AB's newsletter, website and facebook page in the coming weeks so you can get hold of a seat for yourself.