Kick Ass Roots Band
Here’s a cult band that, with its explosive, urban mix of music genres, rhythms, languages and cultures evolved to a high quality brand, appreciated by both the international press and audiences all over. Add to that the typically Belgian pinch of self-derision and understatement and the result is a band with the energy of rock (without guitars!), the improvised twist of jazz, the open-minded approach of world music and the eagerness of a street band.

Jaune Toujours Live :
26/11/2010
Gent (B)
De Centrale
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Jaune Toujours’ sound is so natural that it’s deceptive and at first might give the casual listener the impression of simplicity, when it’s really their musicianship and the particular humanist angle from which they approach cross cultural composing, that makes their music sound as if it’s been around forever. Respect for content rather than form, for collaboration, rather than preservation and for long term development, has enabled them to create a musical universe that is rich, diverse, honest, modern and unique.
Well-rooted in their home town Brussels the band's unique identity is yet enforced by their poetic and socially committed lyrics, celebrating the cultural melting pot of our modern day world. The optimistic undertone convincingly states that another world is possible, raising a fist rather than the middle finger. And it is the kind of music you can dance to 'till you drop at a gig, but also enjoy as you listen more closely at home. To their latest album Kolektiv (2009), for instance, or to the brand new remix album Re:Plugged (release 2011), on which they have several tracks remixed by a fine selection of DJ’s and producers.
The band’s many live concerts have made them disciplined musicians, yet always ready to improvise. Jaune Toujours gigs are lively and festive, but avoiding clichés and without losing musicality. All this was amply on their shows at: Mercat de la Musica Viva de Vic (Spain 2010), Sziget (Hungary 2010). Francofolies de Montréal (Canada 2010), Womex (Denmark 2009), Francofolies de Spa and Polé Polé (Belgium 2009), Fusion (Germany 2009), Vancouver Island Music Fest, South Country Fair and Calgary Folk Music Festival (Canada 2008), Tanzfest Rudolstadt (Germany 2008), Womad and Cambridge Folk Festival (United Kingdom 2007), Dranouter and Couleur Café (Belgium, 2007), Paradiso, Oerol Festival, Fiesta Mundial, De Parade (The Netherlands 2007), Esperanzah! and Blue Note (Belgium 2006), Popdeurope Berlin (Germany 2005) to name some…

Setting up multiple collaborations Jaune Toujours has proved to be anything but opportunist. With Radio Transit they grouped artists of great talent, whose only handicap was the lack (at that moment) of the right documents. With the band Mec Yek, they invite two Roma girls at their mikes to sing their Balkan Motown to the audience, without the usual gypsy clichés. And Mec Yek is also featured on the new remix album RE:PLUGGED (release Benelux 1/11/10, rest of the world January 2011). RE:PLUGGED is an album with surprising remixes of Jaune Toujours and Mec Yek tracks by international DJ’s and Producers: file under World Beats & Balkan Mash-up.


Jaune Toujours most recent studio work is dated spring 2009, when they released the studio album KOLEKTIV. This album continues on the same vibes for which they are being internationally appreciated: no linguistic or other borders (singing in French, English and Dutch), catchy songs, punky attitude, drum&brass, Balkan madness, accordion dub and Belgian ska.

From the period before, a fine selection of songs coming from former albums BARRICADE (2004), CAMPING DEL MUNDO (2002) and BRUSK (2000), have been compilated in the form of a live recording on the CD/DVD CLUB (2006). The live recordings got raving reviews and certainly helped the band opening (more) international doors.

Jaune Toujours Line-up: vocals & accordion Piet Maris / drums & percussion Théophane Raballand / upright bass Mathieu verkaeren / sax soprano & clarinets Mattias Laga / trumpets Dirk Timmermans and/or Bart Maris and/or Sam Versweyveld and/or Yves Fernandez-Solino