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Since September, Choux de Bruxelles takes over the Nic Nac café in Laeken, every two weeks on Wednesday evening. Because we feel there is a need in the neighborhood for a meeting place open to everyone, where from 5 pm onwards you can come in for a drink, to read a book or have a chat. There is no restaurant in the evening, but you're welcome to bring something from the local restaurants .
And since November it is extra cozy, because now there are also concerts at 7:30 pm, followed by (world) music jams at 8.30 pm. Everyone who has mastered an instrument is invited to play and improvise in a jam where seasoned musicians provide musical support. And everyone is welcome to come and listen too, of course.
Next concerts + jams Open Bar Public:
29/11/17 (BE) LAEKEN concert Raks in Aksi (country & eastern on sousaphone, percussion and saxophones) 19h30 + jam 20h30 @Nic Nac Nekkersdal
13/12/17 (BE) LAEKEN concert Kinch & Rafikii (trio with Congolese, American and Belgian roots) 19h30 + jam 20h30 @Nic Nac Nekkersdal
Qotob Trio released their first album 'Entity' for the Benelux on the 6th of October. On the 24th of November the album will also be released in the UK.
In the mean time Entity has already received some nice press reviews.
The music is not only appreciated by the general public, but also by connoisseurs as we can make out from the invitation to play a post-concert for the world premiere of 'Songs for the Crossing' by the Belgian composer Jeroen D'hoe, with text by Stefan Hertmans, performed by the Brussels Philharmonic and the Flemish Radio Choir.
The post concert is organised in collaboration with the High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR.
With its atmospheric, almost cinematic instrumental music, the album 'Entity' is the stylish end-of-year gift par excellence for young and old, friends or family.
Next concerts Qotob Trio:
29/11/17 (BE) IXELLES ceremony for honorary doctorats VUB @Flagey
15/12/17 (BE) IXELLES post concert ‘Songs from the Crossing’ @Flagey
The Choux de Bruxelles office is flooded with new sounds coming from the rehearsal boot these days. Admittedly, they come with some sweat smells and nervous laughter too, because Jaune Toujours is working on new songs. For a new album, yes. In February we release a first single, in April we drop the rest of the shizzle.
For those of you who want to follow their adventures - up close but without odor nuisance - you can watch their vlog on our YouTube channel as of January. So subscribe! For everyone's mental well-being - and the oxygen supply - we'll be airing the band a last time in December, in honor of 10 years of Goudblommeke Van Papier, the café for which they also played the opening concert 10 years ago.
Hardcore fans can be pacified with the numbered limited edition (300 copies) of the Collection box '20 sth' with 20 years of Jaune Toujours in 8 albums. All CD's are also available separately.
Next concert Jaune Toujours:
08/12/17 (BE) BRUSSEL, 10 years Het Goublommeke Van Papier (busking)
This year, winter villages will open in four districts of the City of Brussels: Square Ambiorix, Haren, Neder-Over-Heembeek and Laeken.
Over a weekend, four places will host Winter Pop, an intimate and warm itinerant village in which you will find the playful atmosphere of the Brussels Christmas market 'Plaisirs d'Hiver'. In the midst of small trailers a friendly atmosphere will be created thanks to multiple animations for young and old: fairy tales, music, circus, cultural exchanges with local actors, snacks ...
And Ik en den Theo / Moi et le Théo will also be present!
The perfect opportunity to buy one of the bilingual albums Ik den Theo / Moi et le Théo for under the Christmas tree.
Next concerts Ik en den Theo/Moi et le Théo:
26/11/17 (BE) BRUSSELS Winter Pop @Square Ambiorix, 15h & 16h30
03/12/17 (BE) HAREN Winter Pop @Park Buurthuis, 15h & 16h30
10/12/17 (BE) NEDER-OVER-HEEMBEEK Winter Pop @La Ferme Nos Pilifs, 15h & 16h30
13/12/17 (BE) EVERE Salle Omnisports Oudtsrijderslaan 300 av. des anciens combattants, 14h30
16/12/17 (BE) LAEKEN Winter Pop @Willemsplein, 15h & 16h30
Choux de Bruxelles has a long tradition of cooperation with refugees and migrants, in musical projects like Radio Transit, Mec Yek and Qotob Trio. With these bands, it has always been our aim to set up a long-term interaction. But, in view of the current events, we want to take it one step further.
During one month (22 Nov to 22 Dec '17) we will offer the internationally acclaimed CD SuperDiverCity by Mec Yek at the reduced price of 10€. Of each sold copy the proceeds of 5€ will go Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen. The other 5€ covers the cost price and VAT. That means we won't be making anything on them, which in this case is absolutely how we want it.
Now, more than ever we want to do our bit to raise awareness and honour the many citizens who have been helping out in major ways (check the initiatives Hébergement Plateforme Citoyenne and Burgerinitiatief Overnachtingen on facebook ). So head over to our Choux de Bruxelles webshop or to Mec Yek's bandcamp page and order SuperDiverCity. Not just for your enjoyment or that of the people you'll give the CD as a present, but also for the valuable work of Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen. You can also buy the CD first hand during Mec Yek's concerts on December 2. and 9. We're counting on you!
This promotion is also part of De Warmste Week - Music for Life by Studio Brussel.
Next concerts Mec Yek:
2/12/17 (BE) ST-GILLIS, 30 years of Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen @La Tricoterie
9/12/17 (BE) OTTIGNIES, En Terres Tziganes @CC Ottignies-LLN
Another 3 star review by Norman Darwen for RnR Magazine this time!
Gart Cartwright from Songlines UK gave Qotob Trio's Entity a 3 star review!
Belgian world music blog Tropicalidad.be wrote a short review for Qotob Trio's album Entity (in Dutch).
Read the full review on their website!
Piet and Bassel were invited by Michaël Robberechts in Time Out on Radio 1 (Belgian national radio).
They had a talk about the birth of the Qotob Project in Damascus, how Bassel and Piet met eachother in Brussels, the Qotob Trio that evolved from this encounter and how the album 'Entity' came into existence in Jean-Baptiste's bedroom.
Click here for the full interview (in Dutch and a bit of English) and some fragments from the album 'Entity'.
Tim Stenhouse from the online magazine and review website UK Vibe.org absolutely loves Qotob Trio's 'Entity' and gave it a wonderful 5 star review!
Check what he has to say about it here!