"'Cocon' gaat over de behoefte om even te hiberneren: stilstaan bij wat er was, wat er is en wat nog kan komen. Een moment van rust, zelfzorg en reflectie om te herbronnen en met frisse energie aan nieuwe hoofdstukken te beginnen. Met een dosis Ertebrekers-humor." - Jeffrey Bearelle 
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​Ook benieuwd? Vandaag verschijnt alvast een eerste single: 'Cocon'. Op 30 januari 2026 trappen Ertebrekers hun clubtour af met een uitverkochte try-out in Muziekclub 4AD in Diksmuide. Meer data tba.
 
“Waar hangen die dekselse Ertebrekers toch uit?” Je hoorde het – als je goed luisterde – fluisteren onder fans. Met het onderliggende ietwat angstige sentiment: ze zijn toch niet gesplit? Wel, in het geheel niet. Ze leven nog en komen in het voorjaar van 2026 uit hun hibernatie als vurige vlinders, met een nieuwe plaat.
 
Bijna tien jaar geleden lieten Ertebrekers ‘Otel’ op de mensheid los – met de bekende singles ‘De Zji’ & ‘Eva Mendes‘ nestelden ze zich in een niche waar ze meteen king waren – om drie jaar later – met ‘Crème’ – dat verhaal lekker verder te zetten. Ja, corona wierp wat roet in het eten, al wisten Ertebrekers hun plaat wel te verzilveren met de singles ‘Paranoïa’ en ‘Shimokitazawa’.
 
En nu zijn ze er weer. Met dat verschil: Flip Kowlier maakt geen deel meer uit van de band. Of dat de harten van Peter Lesage en Jeffrey Bearelle brak? Neen. Of zoals Lesage het zelf verwoordt: “Jammer, zeker. Maar het is geen sinecure om twee succesvolle bands én een solocarrière te combineren: ’t Hof Van Commerce, Flips nieuwe soloplaat én een nieuw album van Ertebrekers … Flip speelt wel nog bas op twee songs van de nieuwe plaat. De andere songs komen allemaal volledig uit de koker van Jeffrey Bearelle en mezelf.”

“De opnames van de plaat liepen van een leien dakje. In de studio luisterde Peter naar de demo’s die ik thuis had opgenomen met mijn gsm. Hij knikte even en wist meteen wat voor song het kon worden", aldus Jeffrey. "Van ruwe demo’s naar volwaardige nummers, met de juiste dosis funk en soul. We waren vertrokken. Het spel was espe zoals ze zeggen in West-Vlaanderen."

Fans van het eerste uur mogen op hun beide oren slapen. Ertebrekers mag dan wel afgeslankt zijn tot een duo, gulzig en vol overgave lanceren ze vandaag een eerste single van hun derde album: 'Cocon', tevens de titeltrack van de nieuwe plaat.

Je zou de totstandkoming van ‘Cocon’ een beetje kunnen beschouwen als een geval van ‘reculer pour mieux sauter’. Dat Flip Kowlier andere horizonten opzocht, gaf meer ruimte aan de songsmid Lesage die ‘Cocon’ een iets nadrukkelijkere soul-signatuur geeft. Waar de vorige platen van Ertebrekers nog een groter singer-songwriteraandeel hadden, konden Jeffrey Bearelle en Peter Lesage het laken nu volledig naar zich toetrekken: twee soulbrothers in één ruimte, dat geeft coole resultaten. De stem van Bearelle blendt mooi met de melodieuze arrangementen van Lesage. ‘Cocon’  is rijk gearrangeerd, met een knipoog naar oude en nieuwe soul-legends.

New Vinyl Release Pavlov's Dog - Prodigal Dreamer

Ruf Records
Release Date: November 28, 2025 
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It's been a half century since Pavlov's Dog burst onto the burgeoning progressive rock scene of the early 1970s. Hailing from the city of St. Louis, Missouri, their heady blend of rock, classical and folk music turned them into cult legends. The band has seen lots of lineup changes and internal turmoil over the years, leading to extended breaks between album releases. But today, David Surkamp – lead singer, main songwriter and last remaining original member of Pavlov's Dog – continues to fly the banner high, accompanied by an accomplished group of musicians that is a credit to the band’s good name.   

2018's Prodigal Dreamer is a late-career milestone. Prominently featuring current member Abbie Steiling on violin, the disc's complex arrangements work with familiar elements from rock and folk to create a sound reminiscent of the band's mid-70s classics. The album made it onto eclipsed magazine's list of the top albums of 2018, while decibelgeek.com calls it "a late-night chill out album (with) quality songs and lovely performances by all the musicians."
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14-Time Australian Blues Award-Winner Lloyd Spiegel Releases Satirical ‘Alligator Shoes’ Single

“Alligator Shoes” is available now on all streaming platforms.
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​Fourteen-time Australian Blues Award winner Lloyd Spiegel is back with “Alligator Shoes” — a sharp, tongue-in-cheek look at the characters lurking beneath the glossy surface of the music industry.

Co-produced by Spiegel and Robert Dillon, the track blends swampy grooves, biting humor, and the weary wisdom of an artist who’s seen it all — and learned to laugh about it.
“The music business can be a scary river to sail down,” says Spiegel. “In my years of paddling furiously up and down it, I’ve met some shady characters — and more often than not, they all had one thing in common: their shoes were made from reptiles. It’s become a red flag for me, and I turned those experiences into a cautionary tale about watching where you row.”
Inspired by Bob Dylan’s playful storytelling on “Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat,” Spiegel builds “Alligator Shoes” around a blues groove and a narrative hook that’s equal parts satire and self-reflection.

With Spiegel’s trademark blend of gritty guitar work and razor-sharp lyricism, the song unfolds as both a character sketch and an anthem for musicians who’ve had to navigate the industry’s murky waters. “Alligator Shoes” swings, stings, and sticks in your head long after the last note fades.

Originally performed on the 2023 Canadian tour with A’Court, Spiegel & Vinnick, the new version was recorded live in one room at RBD Studios (Melbourne, Australia). The only overdubs are Lisa Baird’s secondary trombone lines — the rest captured in the raw energy of the trio’s third take.

The track marks a fresh chapter for the ensemble, featuring Lisa Baird (trombone) and Tim Burnham (drums). Each member contributed to the arrangement, fusing their distinct musical backgrounds into a unified, dynamic sound.

Spiegel performs on his signature Cole Clark True Hybrid — a custom-designed guitar capable of blending acoustic, electric, and bass tones simultaneously.
With ten albums and a relentless international touring schedule spanning North America, Europe, New Zealand, and Japan, Lloyd Spiegel has built a reputation as one of Australia’s most engaging and hard-working blues artists. Performing over 100 shows annually, Spiegel was recently inducted into the Blues Music Victoria Hall of Fame, becoming the youngest artist ever to receive the honor.

Beyond the stage, Spiegel continues to give back — donating instruments to schools, volunteering with an all-abilities choir, and serving as an ambassador for Blues Music Victoria and Make Music Australia.
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Website:
lloydspiegel.com

​Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame (FARHOF) has announced its 2025 Class of Inductees, honoring a dozen musical legends whose contributions have shaped the soundscape of the past century. Together, these artists and industry visionaries have won more than 30 Grammy Awards and countless accolades, leaving an enduring mark on folk, Americana, and roots music.
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All inductees will be honored during a special ceremony at the Boch Center Shubert Theatre on March 24, 2026. Fans can explore the new exhibit, Legends of Folk, Americana, and Roots Music: 2025 Class, now open to the public at the Boch Center Wang Theatre.

2025 Inductees
Living Artist
A living artist is a contemporary performer whose initial impact on the genre was at least 25 years before the year of induction.

• Jackson Browne
• Judy Collins
• Tom Paxton
• Tom Rush
• Neil Young

Legacy Artist
A legacy artist is a performer whose initial impact on the genre was at least 45 years before the year of induction.

• Leonard Cohen
• Aretha Franklin
• Mississippi John Hurt
• Sister Rosetta Tharpe
• Muddy Waters

Industry / Non-Performer
Honors those whose creative or technical contributions shaped the sound and legacy of American music.

• John Hammond
• Alan Lomax

“These inductees represent the heart and soul of Folk, Americana, and Roots music,” said J. Casey Soward, President & CEO of the Boch Center, home of the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame. “They gave voice to ordinary people and helped shape the soundtrack of this country — its struggles, its hopes, and its beauty. Through this induction and our Legends exhibit, we’re honoring the songs, stories, and spirit that continue to move and unite us.”

To celebrate this year’s honorees, FARHOF is unveiling a new permanent Legacy exhibit inside the Wang Theatre. The exhibit features rare artifacts and iconic items, including the guitar Stephen Stills used to compose “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” — later gifted to Judy Collins — and handwritten lyrics that Tom Paxton wrote for Mississippi John Hurt. These and many more historic treasures are on display now and can be viewed during all Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame tours and before concerts at the theatre.

Founded in 2019, the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame is a cultural and educational initiative of the Boch Center, located within the Wang Theatre at 270 Tremont St., Boston. Curated by the Museum Collective, FARHOF celebrates the lifeblood of American music while ensuring legacies are honored and new traditions are nurtured for generations to come.
Past and current exhibits include This Wheel’s Still On Fire: The Legacy of Levon Helm; Joan Baez: A Life of Music, Art, and Activism; Blue Note Records: Through the Lens of Francis Wolff; Bruce Springsteen: Portraits of an American Music Icon; Arlo Guthrie: Native Son; Life in Six Strings; Don’t Think Twice: The Daniel Kramer Photographs of Bob Dylan, 1964–65; and Boston: A Music Town. Additional artifacts are on loan from the David Bieber Archives.

About the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame
Launched in 2019 as part of the Boch Center’s educational programming, the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame serves as Boston’s living music museum, celebrating the cultural and musical heritage that defines America. FARHOF honors the past, celebrates the present, and inspires the future of folk, Americana, and roots music through exhibits, memorabilia, concerts, and educational initiatives.

About the Boch Center
The Boch Center is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit performing arts institutions and guardian of Boston’s historic Wang and Shubert Theatres. As New England’s largest cultural venue, it presents a broad spectrum of live performances — from Broadway and comedy to classical, pop, and family entertainment — and is deeply committed to community outreach through initiatives like the City Spotlights Leadership Program and the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame.

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Op zaterdag 3 april 2027 komt de Frans-Libanese trompettist met zijn gloednieuwe tournee '20 ans de Live!' naar Vorst Nationaal in Brussel. Ibrahim Maalouf viert twintig jaar carrière met een spectaculaire liveshow waar de energie van af spat!  

Al twee decennia lang brengt Ibrahim Maalouf wereldwijd miljoenen fans in vervoering met zijn vrije, gedurfde en grenzeloze muziek. Maalouf kan terugblikken op twintig jaar aan muzikale avonturen, twintig albums die hun stempel hebben gedrukt op de geschiedenis van de jazz en de instrumentale muziek, twee nominaties voor de GRAMMY© Awards, vier Victoires de la Musique – waaronder die voor de beste tournee, prestigieuze samenwerkingen wereldwijd en legendarische concerten die het publiek hebben veroverd op plaatsen waar men dacht dat alleen popmuziek kon heersen.
 
Het publiek staat een meeslepende duik in zijn universum te wachten: tussen jazz, pop, wereldmuziek en improvisatie. Een feestelijke reis, gedragen door de energie van een veelzijdig muzikant die niet meer weg te denken is. Het wordt ongetwijfeld een unieke ervaring waarvan alleen de trompettist, met meer dan een miljoen verkochte albums, het geheim kent!
 
Over Ibrahim Maalouf
 
Ibrahim Maalouf is een van de meest grensverleggende trompettisten van deze tijd. Jazz, barok, hedendaags klassiek, Arabische muziek maar ook popmuziek en hiphop zijn genres en werelden die hij maar wat graag met elkaar combineert en confronteert. Hij kreeg de trompetmicrobe mee van zijn vader - Nassim Maalouf, de uitvinder van de kwarttoon trompet waarmee ook Arabische toonschalen gespeeld kunnen worden - en viel door zijn onnavolgbaar talent voor improvisatie en virtuositeit op bij artiesten als Sting, Amadou & Mariam, Vanessa Paradis, Archie Shepp en de legendarische producer Quincy Jones. Sinds 2007 bracht hij naast tientallen studioalbums een veelheid aan soundtracks en composities uit. 

 

​Legendary psych outfit Gong are back today their new single ​‘Stars In Heaven’ alongside a brand new music video created by Drain Hope. The band have also teased the release of their new album which fans will see in 2026 and shared the album’s name – Bright Spirit.

“It’s such an eclectic record,” says singer and guitarist Kavus Torabi. “This is the most colourful and kaleidoscopic album so far from this incarnation of the band. There are Eastern-infused epics, long instrumental jazz-inspired sections, meditative and cosmic detours and blistering, incendiary psychedelic rock. When picking the first song to be released, it has felt as if there’s an extra weight on the choice, as if the song somehow has to represent the whole album.”
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​Lyrically it expands on the idea that the world is as you are. “If you are a cynical, defensive or suspicious person, then that’s the world you’ll inhabit,” continues Kavus. “You’ll see mean-spirited behaviour and selfishness all around you but it’s always a choice. I think perhaps some people forget that. That’s not the world I live in, nor would I want to. It’s a sad old world for sure but it’s also a beautiful one bursting with hope, possibility, wonder and magic in every single moment.”
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​‘Stars In Heaven’ is the first single to be released from the new album Bright Spirit which will be released in 2026 on Kscope. Bright Spirit continues the legendary Gong catalogue - an extensive and acclaimed collection of releases that has seen Gong produce over 30 studio albums during a career spanning more than 50 years, since the band was founded in 1970 by the late Daevid Allen.
   
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'The Blues Brothers: The Lost Recordings': Ltd Ed Blue Vinyl - John Belushi & Dan Ackroyd, and some of greatest musicians ever

Released on 21 November 2025 by Z2 Comics / RSK Entertainment

​13 Long Lost Live Tape Recordings featuring John Belushi
and Dan Ackroyd and some of the greatest musicians ever
Ltd Ed Blue Vinyl, tapes Discovered in Belushi’s old briefcase

Plus new original graphic novel sequel
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The Lost Recordings’ were discovered on a tape in Belushi’s old briefcase, and this album will be available exclusively as a Royal Blue-coloured vinyl release. Uncovered by the late Judy Belushi Pisano, this series of unreleased tracks offer a rare musical glimpse of Joliet Jake and Elwood Blues at the height of their Blues powers. Belushi and Aykroyd blast through a 13-song set with some of the greatest musicians who ever lived. The gang is all here, as Blues Brothers legends Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Steve “The Colonel” Cropper, Donald “Duck” Dunn, Paul “The Shiv” Shaffer, Lou “Blue Lou” Marini, Tom “Bones” Malone, Alan “Mr. Fabulous” Rubin, Steve “GETDWA” Jordan, and Tom “Triple Scale” Scott show why this band is timeless. The album features unheard versions of blues classics.
 
Additionally, an incredible original graphic novel, ‘The Blues Brothers: The Escape Of Joliet Jake’, is also being made available. ‘The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake’ will be available as the standard issue hardback book, via RSK Entertainment / Simon & Schuster on 11 December 2025. A deluxe edition [oversized hardcover with slipcase, plus 3 exclusive art cards with exclusive art by Felipe Sobreiro] will follow in the New Year, on 26 February 2026. Further deluxe formats will be available via Z2 Comics direct.
 
With the release of The Blues Brothers, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd unleashed a film that would thrill and entertain generations with their Mission From God. Now, exactly 45 years later, Z2 has partnered with the Aykroyd and Belushi families and estate to deliver the sequel to that film.
 
Blues Brothers founder and creator Dan “Elwood Blues” Aykroyd, who provided editorial oversight and a brand new foreword for the book, said, “In this wonderful form of printed artistic expression we get to continue the legend of Jake and Elwood and pass it forward in ways that film can't. This graphic novel keeps the spirit of The Blues Brothers alive; mischievous recidivists, musical outlaws who above everything, care about the Blues. The quest for the Briefcase, full of unearthed lyrics and music from the greats, is an honourable Grail. The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake’ is a passing of the legacy to the next generation, echoing the true heart of our original story - keeping alive what should not be forgotten.”
 
Written by Stella Aykroyd, Luke Pisano and James Werner with artist Felipe Sobriero, ‘The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake’ picks up 10 years after the events in the 1980 film, and serves as a love letter to the Blues Brothers. Joliet Jake has disappeared from prison… but has he committed the unthinkable jailbreak, or was he kidnapped? A new cast of characters are now on their own mission to find Jake and the mythical Briefcase Full of Blues. Along the way, they’ll be helped by familiar faces, as well as thwarted by enemies (Illinois Nazis will forever be a struggle it seems), as they careen through Chicago leaving chaos and laughter in their wake. The utmost care has been taken to ensure that this new chapter is true to the classic skits, legendary film, and iconic albums. The result is a wild and entertaining ride for both longtime fans, and those new to the world of Jake and Elwood Blues.
 
‘The Blues Brothers: The Lost Recordings’ vinyl edition and ‘The Escape Of Joliet Jake’ graphic novel offer a look at the past and indeed the future of one of the most cherished film and music creations of all time.

​TRACKLISTING
 
SIDE A
1. Welcome / 2. Flip, Flop & Fly / 3. Hey Bartender / 4. Messin’ With The Kid / 5. I Got Everything I Need) Almost / 6. Rubber Biscuit / 7. Shot Gun Blues
 
SIDE B
8. I Don’t Know / 9. Groove Me / 10. Excusez Moi Mon Cherie / 11. Soul Man / 12. B Movie Box Car Blues / 13. Green Onions

Swing Wespelaar & Kaffee Claude presenteren: The Zac Schulze Gang & Tom Eylenbosch op zaterdag 6 december

Een onvergetelijke avond vol energie, groove en soul in Haacht

Kaarten kan je in voorverkoop HIER verkrijgen
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​In samenwerking met Kaffee Claude organiseert Swing Wespelaar een niet te missen cluboptreden.
Op zaterdag 6 december komen The Zac Schulze gang en Tom Eylenbosch naar Kaffee Claude te Haacht voor een onvergetelijke avond vol muziek en energie!
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​adres:
Kaffee Claude
Stationsstraat 50
3150 Haacht


Gratis parking op wandelafstand  bij Parking ’t Klapgat’

Website:
 www.swingwespelaar.be
https://kaffeeclaude.be/

Each of Ben Reel’s albums carries its own emotional current, and his twelfth studio release, Spirit’s Not Broken, is no exception. In a world gripped by conflict, climate anxiety, and suffering, Reel offers a powerful reminder of a timeless truth — the enduring strength of love and human connection.

“In the chaos, love is our anchor. It starts within — facing our fears, learning to love ourselves — so we can truly care for others. Because at the end of the day, love and connection are all we really have.”

Musically, Spirit’s Not Broken opens with raw rock energy before flowing into soulful, R&B-infused grooves that echo the spirit of Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Van Morrison, and Sting. The result is an album both uplifting and deeply human  urgent, heartfelt, and timeless.

Reel began his music career in 1989 at just 17, forming his first band Promised Land (later Trim the Velvet) at Crossmaglen High School during the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. In those turbulent times, music became an escape from an abnormal reality. The band gained a strong reputation as a live act across Ireland before disbanding in 1997.

Reinventing himself as a solo artist, Reel released his debut album This Is the Movie in 1999, marking the start of a prolific and genre-spanning career blending rock, folk, soul, and reggae. Critics have drawn comparisons to Dylan, The Band, and John Hiatt, with some dubbing him “the Irish Springsteen.” His rich, soulful voice has even been likened to Roy Orbison — yet Ben Reel remains unmistakably his own artist.

Over a career spanning more than 35 years, Reel has earned widespread acclaim and appeared on major broadcasters including BBC, RTÉ, and NPO Radio. He has toured extensively and shared stages with Jools Holland, The Cranberries, Hal Ketchum, The Blockheads, David Olney, and Nanci Griffith. His 2020 album The Nashville Calling, recorded in Nashville with Will Kimbrough and Tommy Womack and featuring E Street Band’s Garry W. Tallent, reached No. 1 on the Euro Americana Chart.

This decade alone, Reel has released four studio albums — Locked in & Live (2022), Come a Long Way (2023), and now Spirit’s Not Broken. He has showcased at Folk Alliance (Memphis), played Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Café, and toured throughout the U.S. and Europe. Festival highlights include Electric Picnic, Cork Jazz, Kilkenny Roots (Ireland), Jamming@Hippie Jack’s (USA), New Orleans Music Festival (Germany), Belladrum (Scotland), Bilbao Musiktan (Spain), and Haarlem Jazz & Huntenpop (Netherlands).
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With a loyal international fan base and an unwavering creative drive, Ben Reel continues to stand as one of Ireland’s most enduring and authentic troubadours.
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Tracks:
01. Better Be Better
02. Come What June
03. Bring it Back To Life
04. Laid Out in Front of You
05. Candlelight
06. I Will
07. Down by the Stream
08. The Joker
09. Love and Only Love
10. Spirit’s Not Broken

Website:
benreel.com

Based in The Hague, this newcomer five-piece brings a refreshing and exuberant spirit to progressive and psychedelic bluesrock.
Odd time signatures, blazing harmonica and driving guitars accompanied by narrative vocals, create an enchanting journey and are combined in ways that draw from classic influences like The Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead or even the Red Devils. But HEATH are not a throwback at all. They are a vital new band and their energy bleeds into every dynamic second of their liveshows. HEATH have already built significant momentum in the Netherlands with shows at e.g. Roadburn Festival, Paaspop, Into The Great Wide Open, supporting King Gizzard and DeWolff and as one of the most booked bands of the Popronde festival. If you believe in underground futurism, it is difficult not to be excited at hearing it so vividly embodied.

With their new album Murmurations (Suburban, December 2025) Heath transcends previous boundaries to embrace a more mature and melancholic sound. With love and devotion as its overarching theme, it stands as a deeply honest expression of musical freedom. Here, the band dives deeper into a more spiritual territory of progressive rock, allowing complexity, heartache, hope, and reverence to coexist in resonant tension. Layers of atmosphere, hypnotic grooves, and rich harmonies draw the listener into yet another odyssey.

After playing over 50 shows in The Netherlands in their first year of existence, and with a new album in their pocket, HEATH is now ready to conquer the rest of Europe as well. BEWARE!
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Band:
Mees Vullings
Isak Heidenfors
Darcey Hellemond
Jordy Bouter
Steven Lolicato


Tracklist:
1. Exordium in D Minor (2:14)
2. Murmurations (15:37)
3. Nosedive (15:27)Mees Vullings
Isak Heidenfors
Darcey Hellemond
Jordy Bouter
Steven Lolicato