OUR BANDS
The Hop Sh Bam Deluxe
Friday evening party - De Vooruit
An excellent SWING band from Belgium, brilliantly guided by Marie Anne Standaert on trumpet and vocals. Being a dancer herself, she perfectly knows how to combine all the musical ingredients to provide dancers with top swing music.
All Hop-sh-Bam musicians swing with their whole body, heart and soul! Be prepared: Heavy swing and Hot jazz that will make your feet move like never before!
Jake Walker
Saturday evening party - De Vooruit
Ghent-based collective Jake Walker originated in the swing dance scene. Swing music connects this group of artists with diverse musical personalities. Renowned for their creativity and dynamics, they carry on and enrich the tradition of jazz music.
This local band will make you dance the night away!
Swing Kitchen
Saturday evening party - De Vooruit
Meet Swing Kitchen, a band that mixes traditional ingredients in its own unique way.
They serve up powerful vocals on a bed of driving rhythm and crazy piano jumps, seasoned with popping sax lines and a pinch of humor. The stew of classics and forgotten vegetables will make you tap your feet uncontrollably!
Musicians: Heleen Andriessen (piano), Margot De Ridder (vocals), Alec Lagrange (sax), Lara Rosseel (bass), Sam Opstaele (guitar), Jan Van Steenbrugge (drums).
The Cream Colored Ponies
Saturday afternoon - Bar crawl
The Cream Colored Ponies is a well-oiled Belgian swing band based in Antwerp with voices that blend smoothly in a stylish vintage cachet: ''It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it''.
Under this musical motto, they treat you to a dazzling show that moves, swings and lasts!
Their love for the most important swing tunes from the 40s and 50s guides you on a musical journey through the period.
The Cream Colored Ponies bring la crème de la crème of the most beautiful and romantic swing pearls from The Great American Songbook. They will let your feet move like never before. Put on your dancing shoes and let’s get the party started!
Nette invites Les Somnambules
Saturday afternoon - Bar crawl
"If you close your eyes, you hear a singer akin to Billie Holiday, a similarly nuanced voice interpreting the old work," she says. However, Nette does this in her unique style, which allows room for the humor and double meanings of the songs. (Folkroddels.be).
Known for Eleanor and L'Escaut blues, Nette Mortelmans rejuvenates the immense musical and literary treasures of the last century. For the GHX, she invites Les Somnambules, a live band with roots in gypsy swing jazz. Together, they will present the finest selections from their rich repertoire of swing, hot jazz, blues, chanson & bop.
Les Croissants Belges
Saturday afternoon - Bar crawl
They dive into the swing of the last century with the mission to channel their passion and roaring energy into the legacy of Django Reinhardt.
With guitars like roaring horses and waves of sound from the vibraphone, they bring their view on the gypsy swing with room for their own stylistic interventions.
The PDM Big Band
Sunday afternoon - De Centrale
The PDM Big Band has been honing their craft by playing the timeless hits of Ellington, Basie, Goodman, Calloway, Shaw, Miller, and more. Stepping back into the “Saturday night fever” of the thirties and forties, they bring the essence of swing back to life.
With over 34 years of experience gracing both large and intimate stages, they effortlessly navigate a diverse range of genres, ensuring every audience member finds their groove. Get ready to swing!
GHX Blues Legends
Sunday Evening - Missy Sippy
A group of musicians, deeply rooted in artistically rich Ghent, with an indomitable love and passion for the blues. Their musical paths crossed through a shared admiration for this powerful genre. Now they bring their talents and energy together, especially for YOU. They’ll take you on a musical journey to New Orleans, the cradle of the dirty blues in the heart of the Ghentian blues scene, the Missy Sippy. Prepare to be carried away by the deep, raw energy of their music!
Musicians: Olivier Vander Bauwede (harmonica & vocals), Matt T Mahony (guitar & vocals), Wouter Van den Broeck (piano, rhodes), Sam Opstaele (guitar), Pieter Mortier (double bass), Bernd Coene (drums)
