Three big names in Flemish roots music. Their individual projects, solo and with various bands, have earned them enviable reputations. Together they present a new programme with old as well as new songs.

Ever since his RUM days Paul Rans has been recognised as one of the great singers of ancient ballads and trad songs and as a radio producer he is also very much at home in present-day world music. Gerry De Mol is the driving force behind Oblomow, a band with roots around the world and he has also proved to be one of the finest songwriters around. Didier François is a very versatile fiddler, nyckelharpa player and composer who has played with the likes of Stéphane Grappelli, Gilles Chabenat and Renaud Garcia-Fons as well as being in demand for opera productions.

In their trio project, called ‘Tatoeages’ (Tattoos), medieval Flemish songs can become Swedish and bluesy while ancient ballads can be soaked in a Turkish bath. What’s more, a significant part of their repertoire consists of newly written songs, making the link between tradition and the world today.

Paul Rans: vocals and lute

Gerry De Mol: guitars, ‘ud, saz, Portuguese guitar, vocals

Didier François: violin, nyckelharpa, vocals

Bookings through Kultuurburo Link