Bert Leemans and Guus Herremans have been friends for over a decade and share an inexhaustible passion for music. As experienced musicians, they have built up an impressive repertoire together, ranging from compelling dance music to intimate listening pieces.

Their joint musical journey began shortly after they met, and their new band quickly gained recognition at home and abroad. As the driving force behind projects such as Les Bottines Artistiques, EmBRUN, Triple-X & Phlox, they had already gained a wealth of experience on the international circuit. With Airboxes, their musical journey took them to some of Europe’s most prestigious festivals, including Entrudanças in Portugal, Dranouter Festival & Boombalfestival in Belgium, CaDansa in the Netherlands… to name but a few. In 2017, Bert and Guus officially joined forces to form Airboxes, a musical project that celebrates their deep love for the accordion and transcends the boundaries of traditional accordion music.

With their new, second album ‘Confluence’, Bert and Guus reach new heights. Enriched with additions of bandoneon, piano and accordina, this album reflects the duo’s ongoing evolution and creativity. Airboxes takes the audience on their ongoing musical journey of discovery, where the magic of acoustic instruments and the boundless creativity of Bert and Guus come together for an unforgettable listening experience.

Alessandro Cornio

Alessandro Cornio is an Italian singer, guitarist and dancer presenting a solo fusion-balfolk project, combining Italian and European traditions to contemporary fusion, with a strong focus on connection, participation and community.

Ciac Boum

Ciac Boum is made up of three companions—Christian Pacher, Julien Padovani, and Alban Pacher—blending traditional music from Poitou with the freedom of improvisation in both melody and rhythm.

Their music is energetic and inventive, rooted in the traditional heritage of Poitou, featuring original compositions as well as rearranged versions of traditional tunes.

Thalas

Thalas is the new band formed by Guus Herremans and Ward Dhoore, who have known each other for more than ten years through the vibrant Belgian folk scene. You may recognise them from projects such as Aelia, Airboxes, Entre Deux, Estbel, Les Bottines Artistiques, Nufolk Global Connections, Phlox, Siger, Snaarmaarwaar, Spilar, and Trio Dhoore. After years of working together in various line-ups, they have now decided to form a permanent duo and tell their own musical story.

Some collaborations grow slowly, steadily and with great depth. Over the past ten years, Guus and Ward have shared countless stages, exchanged ideas and built a quiet but close musical connection. Those years of artistic growth and mutual admiration form the basis of their debut album. With As It Comes, they celebrate the power of patience and the beauty of the process. Music that arises from trust, respect and the conscious choice to prioritise depth over speed. No hasty steps, no sharp turns, just music that comes as it comes.

ba.fnu

ba.fnu stands for bal folk nuevo: a fresh approach to bal folk where tradition and modernity meet. Expect familiar bal folk dances, infused with beats, samples and electronic influences, inspired by tango nuevo and electroswing.

Their repertoire combines Breton and Czech dance music, including revived traditional Czech dances. As both dancers and musicians, they build a bridge between old forms and contemporary dance, with deep respect for the original material, always adding a fresh twist. ba.fnu plays on Saturday at Dansstage.

MD&A

Trio MD&A from Ghent is a group of three friends with a passion for Celtic folk music. With a powerful combination of guitar, octave mandolin, whistles, and uillean pipes, the trio gives its all to immerse you completely in the Celtic atmosphere. These three young gentlemen are also part of the band Sanseveria, and they caused a sensation in Ghent by playing weekly jam sessions at Patrick Foley’s, a local Irish pub, for seven years. Expect lively jigs, rousing andros, sweet waltzes, and explosive reels that are guaranteed to make the dance floor shake beneath your feet.