BRDCST - AB’s most adventurous festival - is back with a vengeance. From 8 to 10 April you can sample thrilling musical niches and diverse genres from all over the world. Discover the first names on the bill and buy your combi ticket at the early bird price until 13/01.
AB keeps a finger on the pulse just for you, and during BRDCST brings you the best that avant-garde pop, futuristic hip-hop, grime, African black metal, Chicago footwork, jazz, contemporary classical, improvisation and electronica have to offer. We are excited to take you through the first wave of sublime artists.
Picture: Jamie Branch
The 2022 guests of honour
Let’s start with BRDCST’s guests of honour for 2022, such as the American trumpeter Jaimie Branch, whose edgy album ‘FLY or DIE LIVE’ demonstrates that she is one of the great new talents in the world of jazz. Or the English singer-songwriter Tirzah, whose ‘Colourgrade’ was one of the best albums of 2021.
The American songwriter Haley Fohr also deserves a seat at the top table. Performing as Circuit des Yeux, she has been making a strong impression for many years with her baritone, reminiscent of Nico and Scott Walker. Her latest album ‘-io’ is hard hitting. To close the list of guests of honour we have the Norwegian Jenny Hval. Her brand-new album ‘Classic Object’ is an avant-garde pop gem with a nod to Laurie Anderson.
Carte blanche for East-African electronica
Picture: Duma
The Uganda-based label Nyege Nyege tapes is given carte blanche to shine a light on the most exciting electronic music from East Africa. Already confirmed: the Kenyan duo Duma, best described as Aphex Twin meets Sunn O))) on a cloud of black metal.
MC Yallah & Debmaster bring a blend of futuristic hip-hop, grime, punk and trap. The Ugandan rapper/grime artist Ecko Bazz presents his album ‘Mmaso’. Also from Uganda and in Belgium for the first time: the ‘808 cargo cult percussion troupe’ Arsenal.
Picture: Mc Yallah
Musical tributes to Can and Sun Ra
Fifty years ago, the German krautrock band Can released their legendary ‘Tago Mago’ album. BRDCST has asked Oï les OX, Joachim Badenhorst, Sergeant, Lennert Jacobs and Milan W. to pay tribute to this classic by reinterpreting it from start to finish. Drone synth band Bitchin Bajas honour the Afrofuturist jazz god Sun Ra with ‘Switched On Ra’. The Wire called this project “brilliant”. We are already making space for the 19 vintage keyboards that are involved.
Experimentation reigns in AB Salon
Experimental, improvised and contemporary classical music reign in AB Salon during BRDCST. Bassist Farida Amadou and violinist Catherine Graindorge – Belgians both – are praised by such names as Thurston Moore and Iggy Pop. Violinist Elisabeth Klinck is an exciting newcomer to the Belgian experimental music scene. Two cellists, the British Lucy Railton and Australian Judith Hamann also perform in the cosy AB Salon.
Picture: Judith Hamann
--- __--___ and FUJI | | | | | | | | | | | TA
You read it right. FUJI | | | | | | | | | | | TA and ---__--___ adorn the line-up of BRDCST 2022. A word of explanation seems fitting. The experimental Japanese sound artist Yosuke Fujita honours the number of pipes on his self-made pipe organ – eleven to be exact – with as many strokes in his artist name. FUJI | | | | | | | | | | | TA is making the organ hip again.
---__--___ is a collaboration between More Eaze and Seth Graham. In ‘The Heart Pumps Kool-Aid’ they have released one of the most intriguing albums of 2021. To which genre does it belong? Listen and decide for yourself. Words are simply not enough.
You can buy combi-tickets at early bird prices until 13/01. The combi-ticket gives you access to three days of BRDCST.
