The first weekend of August we had a kind of revelation, music-wise, in Brussels. And that doesn’t happen very often. Disco Dalglish just got back from the States and I was in the middle of my chill summer experience and we gathered at Bar En Face where the Brussels Soul Weekender would take place. Not expecting much of it because we never thought somebody would pull of a UK styled Soul Weekender over here and make it a success.

Soul in Brussels is monopolised by the Soul Qaida, as some friends and I call them. The guys who would throw things at you just because you play something from a CD (a legally acquired one) or who think that after 1968 no good Soul music has been made. Apart from those guys you’ve got the people who listen to classic FM radio stations and don’t know that there‘s more to this music than “Superstars of 70’s Soul” or “Essential Soul”. The people who leave the dance floor if you play Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You” instead of “Sexual Healing”. There’s a big need to set some things straight. The 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and even current times have produced some killer Soul music.

Anyway, we had a blast that weekend. It was a pure afternoon Southport Weekender vibe. With very deep selections, nice people galore, a packed dance floor and a lot of British folks. We met the man behind this, Thierry Boulanger, and kept in contact ever since. And we were very honoured he asked us to be part of the next Brussels Soul party he planned. Not a weekender but an allnighter. People might frown at seeing us on that bill but only if they’ve never heard us play or checked our Podcast. We’re both very into Soul music, past to present. Dancing to dj Bigger, Soul II Soul, Terry Jones and Andy Davis at Southport’s afternoon sessions is something nearly holy to us. We never skip it. One of my personal highlights ever is hearing Norman Jay play at Notting Hill carnival on a sunny afternoon. That left it’s traces in our record collection. And we’ll proof it Saturday November 22nd.

Again at Bar En Face and with some of the dj’s that played at the weekender in August. Be there. It’s free and it’s good.

PS: And before I start some beef in the little Brussels Soul community. I know some cats play some of it in their sets (Strictly Niceness) or play it in bars (Soultastik guys) but nobody does it on this scale, this deep, this uncut, this nice. Props to Thierry for that.