Looking back on two decades of Feeërieën
Those who look back on the past two decades of Feeërieën will notice that we’ve evolved from a local lineup with intimate music to a festival with a diverse lineup of artists from almost anywhere in the world.
For example, the revival of Turkish psychedelia, which did not go unnoticed – with performances by such artists as Derya Yildirim and Gaye Su Akyol – or the popularity of African desert blues embodied by thrilling sets by Mdou Moctar, Imarhan and Etran de L’Aïr among others.
Anyone looking back at the Feeërieën posters will also spot the storyline of a ‘who’s who’ of the exciting contemporary British jazz scene. From the masterly, nowadays internationally renowned saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings (present in 2016 with Sons Of Kemet), master drummer Moses Boyd, saxophonist Binker Golding, Kamaal Williams, Mammal Hands to even the female supergroup NÉRIJA featuring saxophonist Nubya Garcia and members of KOKOROKO, among others: they’ve all played here.
Projects that capture the imagination
In recent years, Feeërieën has invested more and more in imaginative projects around inspiring, iconic artists like Sun Ra (with a tribute to his masterpiece, Space Is The Place), Umm Kulthum (The Grand Dame of Arab Singing) or Moondog (with a celebration of the American eccentric’s hundredth birthday). There have also been a few odd ones out: for example, performances by impressive operatic voices such as Astrid Stockman and Lore Binon, or the acclaimed production of Into The Open by the Voetvolk performing arts company.
A festival with its finger on the pulse
Finally, the festival has always seemed to have a finger on the pulse, booking acts who soon progressed to prestigious venues. For instance, Grizzly Bear, the Icelander Emiliana Torrini, Chassol (who later on worked with Solange and recently performed in De Munt/La Monnaie), Patrick Watson, Girls In Hawaii (who sold out AB four times in 2023), Melanie de Biasio or the Icelandic pianist Ólafur Arnalds, who has even performed at the Sydney Opera House.
Head for the Feeërieën website to discover the full 2024 line-up.