We're taking you to the New Orleans Carnival!

Formed after returning from a trip to New Orleans, Vanessa Tanghe and Christophe Mercier, her two co-captains, decided to create Krewe du Belge (a krewe is a carnival company in New Orleans), taking inspiration from this unusual city and its unique, positive and inclusive way of creating Culture. ​

 

Belgian folk jazz

The particularity of Krewe du Belge is the Gumbo (the mixture) of this music which is both Trad and Funk with our Belgian folklore. It could indeed be that a Second Line turns into “It’s good for me” or that the musicians sing “Chef un p’tit glass, we’re thirsty” when the break arrives. ​

 

A tribute to the "Second Lines" of New Orleans

This form of jazz has its roots in the funeral processions typical of New Orleans. A first line of musicians played a more square style while the famous second line followed with a more electric and danceable style, creating a mixture of European military marches and African folk music. The result ? Joyful sounds improvised within rigorous structures. No wonder New Orleans brass bands influenced the beginnings of jazz. ​

 

Exceptional Belgian musicians

Don't be fooled by crazy disguises. Behind the masks hide exceptional musicians. The goal of Krewe du Belge is to promote quality live music, and to enliven the public space in a joyful way. It is a brass band with variable geometry, with between 8 and 25 musicians (and a dog). ​

 

Practical information

Good news, on a technical level, our Krewe du Belge fanfare is 100% autonomous. The instruments are acoustic, and a mobile sound system amplifies the voices. The result is surprising because few marching bands are able to play, sing and tell stories while moving. Our brass band is recognized as Art & Vie.