For the 18th time, Feeërieën is ready to drag you a long way out of your comfort zone. This year we are returning to Gare Maritime with a programme to stimulate the senses. From 22 to 26 august, discover contemporary dance, afro-house and ethio-jazz, global legends and youthful talent.
On Monday evening we will be setting the tone with two brand-new musical projects. ‘The End Of Infinity’ is the result of a collaboration between Icelandic singer-songwriter/producer Jófríður Ákadóttir (JFDR), British singer/composer Kieran Brunt and Belgian cellist/composer Benjamin Glorieux. They interweave classical music and electronica as if they’ve always belonged together. Also on Monday: Naima Joris playing the music of Daniel Johnston: a gripping tribute to this musical outsider. Her versions are among the best interpretations of Johnston’s music ever.
Feeërieën will feature the Antwerp label Rotkat Records this year. Including Abel Ghekiere, who is taking to the stage on Tuesday evening to present one of the most beautiful Belgian albums of 2021: ‘Voor het verdwijnt, en daarna’. And then, after 30 years of silence, global star Eddie Chacon is set to return to steal the show once again with his tender soul music.
Wednesday’s line-up features Nyati Mayi & The Astral Synth Transmitters: a Congolese/Belgian melting pot of freeform music with echoes of nineties hip-hop, folk, dub, Fela Kuti and Sun Ra. On top of that, Mulatu Astatke’s kindred spirit and living legend Hailu Mergia will be making an appearance at Feeërieën! The now-76-year-old keyboard player and accordionist is an Ethiopian jazz-funk pioneer. In short, it’s going to be a legendary night.
On Thursday, Brik Tu-Tok will be taking us on a rollercoaster ride through an unsettling parallel universe where sounds are brought to life with cassettes, household items and homemade objects. Next, Voetvolk/Liesbeth Gruwez will be embarking on what promises to be an unforgettable ‘dance meets concert’ experience with ‘Into the Open’. An evening of goodies from the Rotkat Records roster.
Friday night = party night, with On The Corner Records due to present a night of afro-house, kuduro and lingala. Kenyan percussionist Alai K effortlessly mixes Berlin underground futurism and traditional East-African rhythm into a danceable blend. Guedra Guedra does the same with African folk rhythms and bassline-heavy electronic pulse. The Kenyan DJ/producer Coco Em will be topping off the evening with a cocktail of afro-house, kuduro, lingala, hip-hop and amapiano.
This year, Feeërieën is taking on an extra dimension with the AB summer terrace: a programme of brilliant fringe activities and cool workshops. Keep your eyes peeled on our social channels for more news soon.
You can find more information on the Feeërieën festival page.
With the support of the Brussels-Capital Region, SABAM and Liveurope.