Hot off the press! Belgium Booms and JazzLab are organising an event this fall: Belgium Booms @ Jazz Brugge. This is a brand new international visitors programme at Jazz Brugge Festival 2023. The previous formula of the Belgian Jazz Meeting will be updated for greater effect.

So…what will change?

The Belgian Jazz Meeting used to take place every two years as a stand-alone event. Belgium Booms and JazzLab are now giving the concept a new look: every year, the international visitors programme Belgium Booms will collaborate with an existing, renowned jazz event in Belgium. 5 bands in the festival’s line-up make up the belgium booms selection. A limited international delegation of jazz professionals is chosen by Belgium Booms, Jazz Brugge and by the musicians to join in the festival and check out the current Belgian scene. You are one of them!

First stop of this brand new annual concept: Jazz Brugge

Jazz Brugge will take place from 17 to 19 November 2023 in Concertgebouw Brugge (Brugge). The 9th edition of this renowned festival (since 2002) takes ‘Crossing Cultures’ as focal point for 3 days filled with adventure in the front line of jazz and improvised music. With (among others) Sélène Saint-Aimé, Bex Burch, Chris Joris, Dans Kapot, Trombone Ensemble, Nabou Claerhout, Naissam Jalal, James Brandon Lewis and Theo Croker, Jazz Brugge offers an exciting lineup, representing the most interesting directions of jazz(related) music. Besides the international program, we also celebrate the 30 years of both W.E.R.F. Records (a KAAP activity) and JazzLab.

Official Belgium Booms selection 2023
An international advisory board*** together with Jazz Brugge has selected the following 5 Belgian bands, all graced with true international potential and an original, urgent approach, with the free spirit of jazz running through their veins. Going, Grand Picture Palace, Vitja Pauwels, Echoes of Zoo and Lucid Lucia.


[ *** Advisory board: Lucy Scott (Gateshead, Newcastle, UK), Marieke Meischke (curator, talent coach and advisor Performing Arts Fund, NL), Maarten van Rousselt (Flagey, BE) and Kostia Pace (Jazz Station, BE) }.


Program

Friday 17.11

16.30: Registration at Concertgebouw Brugge
17.00: Welcome with drinks (Forum 6)
17.45: Diner (Green Room)
19.00: Concert Grand Picture Palace (Concertzaal)
19.55: Concert GOING (Studio 1)
21.15: Concert Chris Joris Trio (Concertzaal)
23.40: Curfew Green Room
01.00: Curfew festival

Saturday 18.11

10.45: Registration at Concertgebouw Brugge
11.00: Concert Kalfa/Dumitriu/Badenhorst (Kamermuziekzaal)

Meeting with the Belgian jazz sector (Forum 6):

13.30: Coffee & tea
14.00: Welcome by Lies Steppe (VRT – Klara)
14.15: Keynote by Kim Macari (Vortex)
15.00: Panel discussion about building a sustainable international trajectory w/ Maaike Wuyts (Aubergine Artist Management), Lize Colson (VI.BE), Lucy Scott (Gateshead, Newcastle), Wim Wabbes (Ha Concerts, EJN President) & Bex Burch (artist)
16.00: Networking

17.00: Diner (Green Room)
19.00: Concert Vitja Pauwels (Kamermuziekzaal)
23.25: Concert Echoes of Zoo (Kamermuziekzaal)
00.35: Curfew Green Room
01.00: Curfew festival

Sunday 19.11

13.30: Registration at Concertgebouw Brugge
14.00: Farewell drink (Green Room)
15.00: Concert Trombone Ensemble Nabou Claerhout (Concertzaal)
16.05: Concert Lucid Lucia (Kamermuziekzaal)
17.50: Diner (Green Room)
20.05: Concert Dans Kapot (Studio 1)
20.25: Curfew festival

Find more concerts here.