YO!FEST 2017 | Maastricht, 6-7 February
YO!FEST 2017 | Maastricht, 6-7 February
YO!FEST 2017 | Maastricht, 6-7 February
THE WINNERS
THE WINNERS
THE WINNERS
Callum Stewart
Pop
Northern Ireland, UK
Raised on the North Coast of Ireland, singer/songwriter Callum Stewart picked up a guitar at the age of 12, and within a year was writing his own songs. Now 19 years old, Callum has an affinity for the craft of songwriting and musicianship far beyond his years, making him one of the most promising
promising young artists in Ireland. With swelling arrangements and heart stopping melodies, Stewart creates climactic, alt-pop marked by real emotion and raw passion.
Since the release of his second single 'Gold', on OLD FANG, Callum has sung with Nile Rodgers and Rudimental on the remix of the classic Chic song 'Le Freak', and has been writing with some of the UK's best songwriters, as well as performing at the famous Metropolis Studios in London. His newest single ‘Parachute,’ co-written with Jimbo Barry (The Script), Andrew Jackson (Bastille & Lana Del Ray) and Tre Sheppard was released on Friday 17th June via Hope & Fury Records. Parachute’s aching melody and soaring chorus underscore the darker themes of loss and heartbreak; a soundtrack for coming of age, an anthem for a journey well travelled, but somehow only just begun.
Callum Stewart
Pop
Northern Ireland, UK
Raised on the North Coast of Ireland, singer/songwriter Callum Stewart picked up a guitar at the age of 12, and within a year was writing his own songs. Now 19 years old, Callum has an affinity for the craft of songwriting and musicianship far beyond his years, making him one of the most promising
promising young artists in Ireland. With swelling arrangements and heart stopping melodies, Stewart creates climactic, alt-pop marked by real emotion and raw passion.
Since the release of his second single 'Gold', on OLD FANG, Callum has sung with Nile Rodgers and Rudimental on the remix of the classic Chic song 'Le Freak', and has been writing with some of the UK's best songwriters, as well as performing at the famous Metropolis Studios in London. His newest single ‘Parachute,’ co-written with Jimbo Barry (The Script), Andrew Jackson (Bastille & Lana Del Ray) and Tre Sheppard was released on Friday 17th June via Hope & Fury Records. Parachute’s aching melody and soaring chorus underscore the darker themes of loss and heartbreak; a soundtrack for coming of age, an anthem for a journey well travelled, but somehow only just begun.
Callum Stewart
Pop
Northern Ireland, UK
Raised on the North Coast of Ireland, singer/songwriter Callum Stewart picked up a guitar at the age of 12, and within a year was writing his own songs. Now 19 years old, Callum has an affinity for the craft of songwriting and musicianship far beyond his years, making him one of the most promising
promising young artists in Ireland. With swelling arrangements and heart stopping melodies, Stewart creates climactic, alt-pop marked by real emotion and raw passion.
Since the release of his second single 'Gold', on OLD FANG, Callum has sung with Nile Rodgers and Rudimental on the remix of the classic Chic song 'Le Freak', and has been writing with some of the UK's best songwriters, as well as performing at the famous Metropolis Studios in London. His newest single ‘Parachute,’ co-written with Jimbo Barry (The Script), Andrew Jackson (Bastille & Lana Del Ray) and Tre Sheppard was released on Friday 17th June via Hope & Fury Records. Parachute’s aching melody and soaring chorus underscore the darker themes of loss and heartbreak; a soundtrack for coming of age, an anthem for a journey well travelled, but somehow only just begun.
Climbing Trees
Cymrucana / Alternative / Indie / Folk
Wales, UK
Welsh four-piece CLIMBING TREES blend multi-instrumentalism with pin-point harmonies to create their distinctive Cymrucana sound.
The BBC Introducing favourites have made numerous television, radio and festival appearances over the past few years, as well as recording a live skkss
session at London's legendary Maida Vale Studios and performing with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Described as 'marvellously expansive' and 'the sound of your soul soaring' by critics, the band released their latest album 'Borders' through Staylittle Music to rave reviews this summer before being shortlisted for the 2016 Welsh Music Prize.
Climbing Trees
Cymrucana / Alternative / Indie / Folk
Wales, UK
Welsh four-piece CLIMBING TREES blend multi-instrumentalism with pin-point harmonies to create their distinctive Cymrucana sound.
The BBC Introducing favourites have made numerous television, radio and festival appearances over the past few years, as well as recording a live skkss
session at London's legendary Maida Vale Studios and performing with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Described as 'marvellously expansive' and 'the sound of your soul soaring' by critics, the band released their latest album 'Borders' through Staylittle Music to rave reviews this summer before being shortlisted for the 2016 Welsh Music Prize.
Climbing Trees
Cymrucana / Alternative / Indie / Folk
Wales, UK
Welsh four-piece CLIMBING TREES blend multi-instrumentalism with pin-point harmonies to create their distinctive Cymrucana sound.
The BBC Introducing favourites have made numerous television, radio and festival appearances over the past few years, as well as recording a live skkss
session at London's legendary Maida Vale Studios and performing with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Described as 'marvellously expansive' and 'the sound of your soul soaring' by critics, the band released their latest album 'Borders' through Staylittle Music to rave reviews this summer before being shortlisted for the 2016 Welsh Music Prize.
Efecto Venturi
Indie Rock
Spain
Efecto Venturi are a band formed by Daniel Durán (singer and bassman), Lucas Olazabal and Jonás Batuecas, that alternate between guitars and drums.
About a year and a half ago they decided to take their music and show it to the world, and since then have distinguished themselves as an upcoming band
band in the Spanish music scene. They have won the Madrid "Lanzadera" contest, played in the prestigious Sala Caracol and recently recorded a video clip for their song 'Las chicas vienen a vernos'.
Efecto Venturi
Indie Rock
Spain
Efecto Venturi are a band formed by Daniel Durán (singer and bassman), Lucas Olazabal and Jonás Batuecas, that alternate between guitars and drums.
About a year and a half ago they decided to take their music and show it to the world, and since then have distinguished themselves as an upcoming band
band in the Spanish music scene. They have won the Madrid "Lanzadera" contest, played in the prestigious Sala Caracol and recently recorded a video clip for their song 'Las chicas vienen a vernos'.
Efecto Venturi
Indie Rock
Spain
Efecto Venturi are a band formed by Daniel Durán (singer and bassman), Lucas Olazabal and Jonás Batuecas, that alternate between guitars and drums.
About a year and a half ago they decided to take their music and show it to the world, and since then have distinguished themselves as an upcoming band
band in the Spanish music scene. They have won the Madrid "Lanzadera" contest, played in the prestigious Sala Caracol and recently recorded a video clip for their song 'Las chicas vienen a vernos'.
Effervescence
Dubstep Trap
France
Effervescence is a 17 years old bass music producer from France. He has been producing for over 5 years now, and plays guitar in a metal and a jazz band. His main influences are Virtual Riot, Skrillex and Barely alive. He gets regular support on his production from acts such as Excision, PhaseOne and Downlink,
and he finished second on a worldwide contest hosted on Wavo. He is actually finishing his first album, however, there already around 10 tracks available on his soundcloud. He played lots of shows in the east of France, mainly in Besançon and Strasbourg, but he's willing to take this project to a whole new level, with the album , and playing shows outside of France.
Effervescence
Dubstep Trap
France
Effervescence is a 17 years old bass music producer from France. He has been producing for over 5 years now, and plays guitar in a metal and a jazz band. His main influences are Virtual Riot, Skrillex and Barely alive. He gets regular support on his production from acts such as Excision, PhaseOne and Downlink,
and he finished second on a worldwide contest hosted on Wavo. He is actually finishing his first album, however, there already around 10 tracks available on his soundcloud. He played lots of shows in the east of France, mainly in Besançon and Strasbourg, but he's willing to take this project to a whole new level, with the album , and playing shows outside of France.
Effervescence
Dubstep Trap
France
Effervescence is a 17 years old bass music producer from France. He has been producing for over 5 years now, and plays guitar in a metal and a jazz band. His main influences are Virtual Riot, Skrillex and Barely alive. He gets regular support on his production from acts such as Excision, PhaseOne and Downlink,
and he finished second on a worldwide contest hosted on Wavo. He is actually finishing his first album, however, there already around 10 tracks available on his soundcloud. He played lots of shows in the east of France, mainly in Besançon and Strasbourg, but he's willing to take this project to a whole new level, with the album , and playing shows outside of France.
THE HEADLINERS - FEB 6
THE HEADLINERS - FEB 6
THE HEADLINERS - FEB 6
Tout Va Bien
Pop / Electronic
Belgium
Tout Va Bien is a Belgian artist with a unique, deep, melodic and soulful voice. He has shown himself a natural talent in writing spherical songs, moody melodies and heartfelt lyrics on a layer of subtle electronic music.
Tout Va Bien released his debut album ‘Kepler Star’
in April 2015 in the Benelux countries (Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg) to critical acclaim. He was nominated for a Belgian MIA (Music Industry Award) in the category ‘Breaktrough’ in 2015.
‘Goodbye’ is the first single from a new – yet untitled – EP, scheduled for release in February 2017. Recorded and produced in London in March 2017 by noted producer & mix engineer Tim Bran (London Grammar, Birdy, The Verve, Halsey, La Roux,…). Additional producing by Ozan Bozdag.
Tout Va Bien
Pop / Electronic
Belgium
Tout Va Bien is a Belgian artist with a unique, deep, melodic and soulful voice. He has shown himself a natural talent in writing spherical songs, moody melodies and heartfelt lyrics on a layer of subtle electronic music.
Tout Va Bien released his debut album ‘Kepler Star’
in April 2015 in the Benelux countries (Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg) to critical acclaim. He was nominated for a Belgian MIA (Music Industry Award) in the category ‘Breaktrough’ in 2015.
‘Goodbye’ is the first single from a new – yet untitled – EP, scheduled for release in February 2017. Recorded and produced in London in March 2017 by noted producer & mix engineer Tim Bran (London Grammar, Birdy, The Verve, Halsey, La Roux,…). Additional producing by Ozan Bozdag.
Tout Va Bien
Pop / Electronic
Belgium
Tout Va Bien is a Belgian artist with a unique, deep, melodic and soulful voice. He has shown himself a natural talent in writing spherical songs, moody melodies and heartfelt lyrics on a layer of subtle electronic music.
Tout Va Bien released his debut album ‘Kepler Star’
in April 2015 in the Benelux countries (Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg) to critical acclaim. He was nominated for a Belgian MIA (Music Industry Award) in the category ‘Breaktrough’ in 2015.
‘Goodbye’ is the first single from a new – yet untitled – EP, scheduled for release in February 2017. Recorded and produced in London in March 2017 by noted producer & mix engineer Tim Bran (London Grammar, Birdy, The Verve, Halsey, La Roux,…). Additional producing by Ozan Bozdag.
FARA
Electronic
The Netherlands
Live electronic music from The Netherlands
FARA
Electronic
The Netherlands
Live electronic music from The Netherlands
FARA
Electronic
The Netherlands
Live electronic music from The Netherlands
Kakkmaddaffakka
Indie Rock
Norway
Kakkmaddafakka is a Norwegian indie rock band formed and based in Bergen. The band was formed by brothers Axel and Pål Vindenes, together with school friends Jonas Nielsen and Stian Sævig. All classically trained musicians, the band was formed to play a one-off show at a local youth centre, Ungdomshuset
Ungdomshuset 1880, but after positive response the band continued to play many live shows around Norway. Kakkmaddafakka released its first LP Down to Earth on 24 September 2007, which reached number twenty on the VG Topp30 Album list and brought the band nationwide attention in their native Norway. Since then, they went on to perform at numerous festivals including Iceland Airwaves, Montreux Jazz Festival, NXNE, CMJ Music Marathon, Southside Festival, Hurricane Festival, Eurosonic Festival, by:Larm, Area 4 Hove and Melt! Festival in Germany, where they were introduced on stage by prominent Bergen musician and friend Erlend Øye. In 2008, Kakkmaddafakka was also nominated as Best Norwegian Act in the MTV Europe Music Awards. The band has also released 3 more albums: Hest (2011), Six Months Is a Long Time (2013) and their latest one KMF (2016).
Kakkmaddaffakka
Indie Rock
Norway
Kakkmaddafakka is a Norwegian indie rock band formed and based in Bergen. The band was formed by brothers Axel and Pål Vindenes, together with school friends Jonas Nielsen and Stian Sævig. All classically trained musicians, the band was formed to play a one-off show at a local youth centre, Ungdomshuset
Ungdomshuset 1880, but after positive response the band continued to play many live shows around Norway. Kakkmaddafakka released its first LP Down to Earth on 24 September 2007, which reached number twenty on the VG Topp30 Album list and brought the band nationwide attention in their native Norway. Since then, they went on to perform at numerous festivals including Iceland Airwaves, Montreux Jazz Festival, NXNE, CMJ Music Marathon, Southside Festival, Hurricane Festival, Eurosonic Festival, by:Larm, Area 4 Hove and Melt! Festival in Germany, where they were introduced on stage by prominent Bergen musician and friend Erlend Øye. In 2008, Kakkmaddafakka was also nominated as Best Norwegian Act in the MTV Europe Music Awards. The band has also released 3 more albums: Hest (2011), Six Months Is a Long Time (2013) and their latest one KMF (2016).
Kakkmaddaffakka
Indie Rock
Norway
Kakkmaddafakka is a Norwegian indie rock band formed and based in Bergen. The band was formed by brothers Axel and Pål Vindenes, together with school friends Jonas Nielsen and Stian Sævig. All classically trained musicians, the band was formed to play a one-off show at a local youth centre, Ungdomshuset
Ungdomshuset 1880, but after positive response the band continued to play many live shows around Norway. Kakkmaddafakka released its first LP Down to Earth on 24 September 2007, which reached number twenty on the VG Topp30 Album list and brought the band nationwide attention in their native Norway. Since then, they went on to perform at numerous festivals including Iceland Airwaves, Montreux Jazz Festival, NXNE, CMJ Music Marathon, Southside Festival, Hurricane Festival, Eurosonic Festival, by:Larm, Area 4 Hove and Melt! Festival in Germany, where they were introduced on stage by prominent Bergen musician and friend Erlend Øye. In 2008, Kakkmaddafakka was also nominated as Best Norwegian Act in the MTV Europe Music Awards. The band has also released 3 more albums: Hest (2011), Six Months Is a Long Time (2013) and their latest one KMF (2016).
Weekend Safari
Indie
The Netherlands
Weekend Safari are a Maastricht based band with high ambitions but little diva behaviour, despite their pretty faces. They make indie music which can be described as fun, catchy, noisy, smooth, sexy, unpretentious, punky, uplifting.
Weekend Safari
Indie
The Netherlands
Weekend Safari are a Maastricht based band with high ambitions but little diva behaviour, despite their pretty faces. They make indie music which can be described as fun, catchy, noisy, smooth, sexy, unpretentious, punky, uplifting.
Weekend Safari
Indie
The Netherlands
Weekend Safari are a Maastricht based band with high ambitions but little diva behaviour, despite their pretty faces. They make indie music which can be described as fun, catchy, noisy, smooth, sexy, unpretentious, punky, uplifting.
Merdan Taplak Orkestar
Electronic / Balkan / Pop
Belgium
Merdan Taplak is a Belgian DJ, playing live with a party beatbrassband aka The Orkestar. One deejay, one accordionist and four brass musicians, all originating from Antwerp. No golden teeth, no suspenders or hats, no gipsy roots, but one hell of a
fiesta balkananica! Mashed up with electronica, bridging the gap between balkan- and popclassics.
Merdan Taplak Orkestar
Electronic / Balkan / Pop
Belgium
Merdan Taplak is a Belgian DJ, playing live with a party beatbrassband aka The Orkestar. One deejay, one accordionist and four brass musicians, all originating from Antwerp. No golden teeth, no suspenders or hats, no gipsy roots, but one hell of a
Merdan Taplak Orkestar
Electronic / Balkan / Pop
Belgium
Merdan Taplak is a Belgian DJ, playing live with a party beatbrassband aka The Orkestar. One deejay, one accordionist and four brass musicians, all originating from Antwerp. No golden teeth, no suspenders or hats, no gipsy roots, but one hell of a
fiesta balkananica! Mashed up with electronica, bridging the gap between balkan- and popclassics.
fiesta balkananica! Mashed up with electronica, bridging the gap between balkan- and popclassics.
YO!FEST 2019 | Brussels, 30 April
Ruby Grace
Pop
Belgium
Ruby Grace mixes kitsch elements - like Charli XCX - with electropop beats and soul. Her rare and powerful voice, reminiscent of Amy Winehouse, is one of her most striking features.
YO!FEST 2018 | Strasbourg, 6-7 February
YO!FEST 2017 | Maastricht, 6-7 February
THE WINNERS
Juicy
Pop
Belgium
JUICY is Julie Rens and Sasha Vovk, an all girl (POWER) duo from Belgium (FIRE!) ready to take the world by storm with their nostalgia infused blend of retro-futuristic R&B. The duo started playing parties around Brussels 2 years ago as a nineties/00’s R&B and Hip Hop cover act. Their intoxicating (and highly humorous!) live shows steadily built into a hype that blew all the way over to Paris, France. 2018 shit’s about to get real, the divine and diabolical duo are about to unleash their first EP composed entirely of original JUICY tracks.
Al'York
Rock
Turkey
Al’York is a four piece rock ‘n’ roll band, based in Ankara, Turkey. The four of us met whilst studying at Başkent University’s Department of Music and formed Al’York in June 2015. We bring together backgrounds in jazz, blues, punk, electronic and folk. Our style can be described as rock ‘n’ roll, dark, bluesy. We’re very active in the local music scene and released our self-titled debut EP in May 2016. Our follow-up EP “Plastic Jungle” was released in April 2017 and now we will be releasing our new single in April of this year.
Dudes of Groove Society
Funk
France
« LA GROSSE MACHINE FUNK »
Baptisé d’après l’acronyme Dudes Of Groove Society, le quatuor pratique un funk au visage neuf, taillé pour la scène, riche en influences et toujours fidèle à un principe : du groove et encore du groove!
Orgiaque, décalé, mais loin des clichés, le groupe se prépare à prendre la route pour défendre son premier EP 5 titres « Homemade ».
The Rising Sun
Blues
France
The band was founded in 2012 when they were kids, covering classics by Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, BB King ... With Ylias’ compositions and everyone’s
influences The Rising Sun plays explosive blues- rock with jazz and funk influences In spite of the members’ young age, the band has already played more than 200 concerts prime shows or guest stars
for Ana Popovic, Fatals Picards as well as Blues Pills - and has just released its very first album simply entitled “The Rising Sun”.
Chameleon Mime
World
Italy
Eight different musicians, joined by a strong desire to create and live their own passion for music, set up the project Chameleon Mime in May 2015. It mixes together different music genres as Swing, Ska, Latin and Funky to create original, passionate and unique sounds. The band is formed by a female voice, a guitar, saxophone, trumpet, violin, bass, percussions and drums.
THE WINNERS
promising young artists in Ireland. With swelling arrangements and heart stopping melodies, Stewart creates climactic, alt-pop marked by real emotion and raw passion.
Since the release of his second single 'Gold', on OLD FANG, Callum has sung with Nile Rodgers and Rudimental on the remix of the classic Chic song 'Le Freak', and has been writing with some of the UK's best songwriters, as well as performing at the famous Metropolis Studios in London. His newest single ‘Parachute,’ co-written with Jimbo Barry (The Script), Andrew Jackson (Bastille & Lana Del Ray) and Tre Sheppard was released on Friday 17th June via Hope & Fury Records. Parachute’s aching melody and soaring chorus underscore the darker themes of loss and heartbreak; a soundtrack for coming of age, an anthem for a journey well travelled, but somehow only just begun.
Climbing Trees
Cymrucana / Alternative / Indie / Folk
Wales, UK
Welsh four-piece CLIMBING TREES blend multi-instrumentalism with pin-point harmonies to create their distinctive Cymrucana sound.
The BBC Introducing favourites have made numerous television, radio and festival appearances over the past few years, as well as recording a live skkss
session at London's legendary Maida Vale Studios and performing with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Described as 'marvellously expansive' and 'the sound of your soul soaring' by critics, the band released their latest album 'Borders' through Staylittle Music to rave reviews this summer before being shortlisted for the 2016 Welsh Music Prize.
Efecto Venturi
Indie Rock
Spain
Efecto Venturi are a band formed by Daniel Durán (singer and bassman), Lucas Olazabal and Jonás Batuecas, that alternate between guitars and drums.
About a year and a half ago they decided to take their music and show it to the world, and since then have distinguished themselves as an upcoming band
band in the Spanish music scene. They have won the Madrid "Lanzadera" contest, played in the prestigious Sala Caracol and recently recorded a video clip for their song 'Las chicas vienen a vernos'.
Effervescence
Dubstep Trap
France
Effervescence is a 17 years old bass music producer from France. He has been producing for over 5 years now, and plays guitar in a metal and a jazz band. His main influences are Virtual Riot, Skrillex and Barely alive. He gets regular support on his production from acts such as Excision, PhaseOne and Downlink,
and he finished second on a worldwide contest hosted on Wavo. He is actually finishing his first album, however, there already around 10 tracks available on his soundcloud. He played lots of shows in the east of France, mainly in Besançon and Strasbourg, but he's willing to take this project to a whole new level, with the album , and playing shows outside of France.
THE HEADLINERS - FEB 6
Tout Va Bien
Pop / Electronic
Belgium
Tout Va Bien is a Belgian artist with a unique, deep, melodic and soulful voice. He has shown himself a natural talent in writing spherical songs, moody melodies and heartfelt lyrics on a layer of subtle electronic music.
Tout Va Bien released his debut album ‘Kepler Star’
in April 2015 in the Benelux countries (Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg) to critical acclaim. He was nominated for a Belgian MIA (Music Industry Award) in the category ‘Breaktrough’ in 2015.
‘Goodbye’ is the first single from a new – yet untitled – EP, scheduled for release in February 2017. Recorded and produced in London in March 2017 by noted producer & mix engineer Tim Bran (London Grammar, Birdy, The Verve, Halsey, La Roux,…). Additional producing by Ozan Bozdag.
FARA
Electronic
The Netherlands
Live electronic music from The Netherlands
Kakkmaddaffakka
Indie Rock
Norway
Kakkmaddafakka is a Norwegian indie rock band formed and based in Bergen. The band was formed by brothers Axel and Pål Vindenes, together with school friends Jonas Nielsen and Stian Sævig. All classically trained musicians, the band was formed to play a one-off show at a local youth centre, Ungdomshuset
Ungdomshuset 1880, but after positive response the band continued to play many live shows around Norway. Kakkmaddafakka released its first LP Down to Earth on 24 September 2007, which reached number twenty on the VG Topp30 Album list and brought the band nationwide attention in their native Norway. Since then, they went on to perform at numerous festivals including Iceland Airwaves, Montreux Jazz Festival, NXNE, CMJ Music Marathon, Southside Festival, Hurricane Festival, Eurosonic Festival, by:Larm, Area 4 Hove and Melt! Festival in Germany, where they were introduced on stage by prominent Bergen musician and friend Erlend Øye. In 2008, Kakkmaddafakka was also nominated as Best Norwegian Act in the MTV Europe Music Awards. The band has also released 3 more albums: Hest (2011), Six Months Is a Long Time (2013) and their latest one KMF (2016).
Weekend Safari
Indie
The Netherlands
Weekend Safari are a Maastricht based band with high ambitions but little diva behaviour, despite their pretty faces. They make indie music which can be described as fun, catchy, noisy, smooth, sexy, unpretentious, punky, uplifting.
THE HEADLINERS - FEB 7
Merdan Taplak Orkestar
Electronic / Balkan / Pop
Belgium
Merdan Taplak is a Belgian DJ, playing live with a party beatbrassband aka The Orkestar. One deejay, one accordionist and four brass musicians, all originating from Antwerp. No golden teeth, no suspenders or hats, no gipsy roots, but one hell of a
YO!FEST 2016 | Strasbourg, 20-21 May
THE WINNERS
Ginger H
Pop Rock
France
Behind the hair, Ginger H is a French musician with a discreet philosophy. Influenced by bands such as Angus and Julia Stone and Tame Impala, he hasn't yet finished his search for new sounds and musical variety. With his three accompanying musicians, their next stop: the world. What's in store?
The release of an EP in May promises to reveal some of the mysteries of our ginger friend's coloured universe.
Danny Kalima
Urban Funk / Fusion
Malawi
Danny Kalima is a Malawian award-winning performer, singer and songwriter, now based in the Netherlands since December 2015. He has performed his original work at festivals such as the Music Crossroads International Festival, he toured Europe in 2012 with a band from Malawi called Konkalazi and performed at Lake of Stars Festival and Blantyre Arts Festival. He has been
on CNN Voices of Africa, BBC's African Music, The Guardian and Msafiri Magazine. He was nominated for the best R&b Artist in the All African Music Awards in 2015 and he produced one album under a UK based record label Sparedorgrecords. Since moving to the Netherlands Danny has met musicians who shared the same interest in music and formed The Band which has had a number of shows since it came together. He and the band are now working on a new album to be out soon.
THE HEADLINERS
Balkan Beat Box
World/Gypsy Punk/Funk
New York/Tel Aviv
Hailing from New York and Tel Aviv, Balkan Beat Box (aka BBB) blend Balkan brass, earth shattering bass, hip-hop and dub electronics to exhilarating effect. Their live shows are explosive affairs, with singer Tomer Yosef delivering his sometimes politicised lyrics with passionate performances that always send audience into a frenzy.
Over four albums the band have constantly explored new musical territory and had enjoyed recent collaborations with artists such as the Yemenite dance music group A-Wa, the turnt up rock group Loco Hot, and writing with producers and songwriters around the world. And their horns have been making marks in samples in the pop music world.
“If BBB is world music, it’s in the most literal sense – because it can move anyone in the world.” - Time Out
Chico Trujillo
Cumbia/Ska/Reggae/Rock
Chile
Chico Trujillo is one of Chile's most important orchestras. They are the soundtrack to every party from Arica to Punta Arenas. Their mixture of classic cumbia, bolero, reggae, latin american and balkan music has assured them an audience from every generation and walk of life.
The band started as a side project from the ska/punk band La Floripondio in 1999 in Valparaíso. Twelve years and five albums later they have come to symbolise a unique cocktail rooted in the cumbia of the pre-Pinochet days and they have managed to include every aspect of the chilean popular culture. Chico Trujillo has meshed bits and pieces from the past with the global influence of the alternative culture and have fused everything under the pan-latin flag of the cumbia. The exuberance of the band represents a comeback to the ballroom and the pleasures of the night.
YO!FEST 2015 | Brussels, 6 May
THE WINNERS
Ides Moon
Indie/Alternative/Rock
Ghent, Belgium
Ides Moon is a band from Ghent founded by the multi-instrumentalist Klaas Tomme. Together with guitarist Jasper Maekelberg (Yuko, Faces On TV), bassist Sander Verstraete (Hypochristmutreefuzz) and drummer Laurens Biliet (Senne Guns, Berlaen) they managed to record five songs in two weeks at the Dutch studio Audioworkx for their ......
debut EP. The album represents the idiosyncratic philosophy of the band: do it yourself with greatprofessionalism, from the moment you pick up the instruments to the intricate design of the vinyl sleeve.
The result of their work is a combination of ethereal melodies with transverse and disorienting grooves. Just think about Radiohead In Rainbows but with a unique way of interweaving effortlessly complex song structures with repetitive rhythms. The music of Ides Moon breathes, vibrates and leaves much room for silence, exciting silences.
The young band participated at the famous flemish springboard the Nieuwe Lichting and at the 2014 Humo’s Rock Rally, attracting much deserved attention. Besides being elected Vibe of the week by Radio 1, Ides Moon already received many positive reviews from the press: “Reminiscent of the better days of dEUS (cuttingedge.be), “An intriguing combination that simply ensures that you keep listening until the end” (Radio 1), “A strong groove, a dominant drum and a talented singer” (indiestyle.be).
Man on Fire
& the Soul Soldiers
Soul/Funk/Jazz
Brussels, Belgium
What once started as a team of five friends and music lovers turned into a great band, composed of nine “Soul Soldiers”. The name of the band comes from the dedication of these impassioned people to Soul Music, constantly fighting to play and keep this genre alive. The nine members.share at least one thing in common: a true passion for Afro-American music (from gospel to hip-hop) and the desire to pay tribute to artists such as Marvin Gaye, James Browm and Curtis Mayfield who once raised the hopes of a whole community.The repertoire of Man On Fire and The Soul Soldiers has been carefully designed by the leader and founder of the band, Selim Boudrâa, to make people groove and offer them a trip to the historic roots of soul music. The inexhaustible energy and generosity of the nine musicians, always provides the audience with an explosive and unforgettable experience. Definitely a band to discover!
THE HEADLINERS
Swing/Electro/Hiphop
Sweden
The Movits! is a Swedish music group from Luleå. The group plays swing mixed with hip hop. The band is made up of brothers Johan Jivin' Rensfeldt (vocals), Anders Rensfeldt (multi-instrumentalist and DJ) and saxophonist Joakim 'One-Take' Nilsson. Their debut album Äppelknyckarjazz, literally translated as Apple swiper jazz or scrumping jazz was released in November 2008 and has been recognized by national Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter. On July 27, 2009, Movits! was featured on the American satirical news show The Colbert Report. The band was interviewed and performed their song "Fel del av gården". ................
YO!FEST 2014 | Strasbourg, 9-11 May
THE WINNERS
Chili & the Whalekillers
Pop/Folk/Rock
Austria/Iceland
Chili & the Whalekillers were formed in 2009 in Salzburg, Austria and have since published three LPs as well as singles, EPs and a number of side projects to a critical acclaim. Most notably, the title track of their latest LP “Turn” reached 3rd place of the Icelandic radio charts in 2014 and their exceptional live performances have already brought them across Europe – playing concerts in Austria, Iceland, France and the United Kingdom. Chili and the Whalekillers are: Chili Tomasson, Hjörtur and Árni Hjörleifsson, Michael Szedenik And Divad Barx
Rock/Swing
France
Tedmo Festival, is an explosive rock group from Strasbourg. Although its strange name draws inspiration from the Himalayan culture,the world of Tedmo Festival evokes the intertwining of a swing and a rock infernal song. From Frank Zappa to Mike Patton, walking through the musical paths of Danny Elfman, there are plenty of influences that.mix to create the sextet's original universe. Their first EP led them to several national theaters (Sentier des Halles, Tank, etc ...) and festivals (Rencontres et Racines, La Paille, Francofolie, FIMU, YoFest etc ...) and, between 2013 and 2014, they shared the stage with renowned artists like Tryo, Asian Dub Foundation, Babylon Circus, Omar Perry, Heymoonshaker, etc.
Wilhelm
Jazz/Soul/Pop
Estonia
THE HEADLINERS
Puggy
Pop/Rock
Belgium
Puggy is a Belgian band formed in 2004, when French bassist Romain Descampe and English vocalist Matthew Irons met Swedish drummer Egil "Ziggy" Franzén at a jazz school in Brussels. They toured all over the world, opening for prestigious bands such as Smashing Pumpkins, Incubus, and Deep Purple. Their first album, Dubois Died Today, was released on independent label Talkieo in June 2007 and since then their carreer took off leading them to multiple concerts as well as French and Belgium television. One of their songs -"When You Know" - is also the theme song for the French television series Detectives. ................
House
France
DJ Falcon is a French DJ and record producer. Before producing on Roulé he worked in the A&R department at Virgin. In 1999 he released his first EP and produced a remix of Cassius's "La Mouche" which became an all-time classic song. One year later, he started working with Thomas Bangalter from the electronic music duo Daft Punk , scrumping with whom he formed the group Together, releasing just two songs "So Much Love to Give" and "Together". In 2013, he was featured on Daft Punk's fourth studio album, Random Access Memories on the final track "Contact".He is currently working on an album with Alan Braxe.......
Asian Dub Foundation
Punk Rock, Electronic, Reggae
Great Britain
After nearly 20 years of raging against oppression and injustice, it is sometimes easy to forget that this multi-cultural British crew are also one of the most musically inventive, explosively exciting live bands on the planet. Now, their strongest line up yet combines their trademark fusion of punk rock, electronic beats, reggae, bhangra and hipVhop that has attracted many famous fans, from Primal Scream to Radiohead, Sinead O’Connor to Chuck D, all former touring partners and studio collaborators. Over the years, this ever-evolving band have continued to expand their agenda, delivering live soundtracks to film and tackling operas, while taking their fiery mix of music and social activism to far-flung places where conventional western rock bands rarely tour: Morocco, India, Cuba and the favelas of Brazil. The recent re-staging of their live soundtrack to French film ‘La Haine’ acted as a catalyst to forming the current line up that now features: Steve Savale (guitar), Dr Das (Bass) and Rocky Singh (drums), vocalist Ghetto Priest, Aktarvata and Nathan ‘Flutebox’ Lee.
Riva Starr
House, Electronic, Indie
Italy
Just when you think you know Riva Starr... He’ll probably confuse you with yet another side to his musical personality. Don’t call him fickle, though. Try bored. Try excitable. Try unpredictable... And then some! Driven from his Italian motherland by a compelling desire to reinvent, innovate and progress, Riva has made London his home since 2008: A breath of freedom and fresh beats that allowed to him to wear his inspirations proudly beyond the sleeve and deep, deep, deep into the groove.
YO!FEST 2013 | Strasbourg, 29-11 May
THE WINNERS
Tommy Green
and the Blues Machine
Blues/Funk/Ska/Swing
Belgium
Tommy Green and the Blues Machine exists since February 2011 and unites artists with different musical backgrounds, now welded into the passion of the blues. The blues is a little-known music genre between the young people nowadays but it is the aim of this group to revive it again. They work hard to develop personal, powerful and unique compositions. Between Chicago Blues and Jump Blues, this melting pot of Dutch and French speakers and excels each time to offer a rigorous show in its interpretation, but relaxed in his relationship with the public.
Pop/Rock
Belgium
The Meridians is the reunion of three young pop-rock enthusiast musicians. After scoring numerous gigs and releasing an EP in English, the band members decided in late 2013 to take a new direction. The desire to go back to the essential: vocal harmonies and catchy choruses remain, but a new atmosphere and a new universe is created. As for the lyrics, they are now ... in French. Singing in their own language, Meridians open to new horizons. Their wish is to surprise and now share this new project with the largest number of music lovers possible.
THE HEADLINERS
Alpha Blondy
Reggae
Ivory Coast
Since his first success in the eighties with the panafrican hit "Opération Coup De Poing (Brigadier Sabari)", Alpha Blondy is used to provide quality reggae music to his fans. Many of his songs are politically motivated, and are mainly sung in his native language of Dioula, French and in English, though he occasionally uses other languages, for example, Arabic or Hebrew. With his African twist on Reggae music, he became a big star and "the Bob Marley of Africa" on the eyes of his fans, also being a spiritual, political and positive like Marley himself.
Pop/Indie
Sweden
The I'm from Barcelona is a pop group from Jönköping, Sweden, best known for its 28 band members and eclectic mix of instruments such as clarinets, saxophones, flutes, trumpets, banjos, accordions, kazoos, guitars, drums, and keyboards among others. While most band members provide backing vocals on releases and during live performances, Emanuel Lundgren is founder, principal songwriter and lead singer for the group.
Oscar and the Wolf
Alternative Pop, Electropop
Belgium
Oscar and the Wolf is a Belgian electropop band founded in 2010. Oscar and the Wolf gained some fame with the single Orange Sky in 2013, but gained international recognition with their debut album Entity, released in April 2014. This album represented a change in style; it includes the tracks Princes, as well as Undress and Strange Entity. Meanwhile, the Belgian culture review. Cutting Edge named their first album the best Belgian debut of 2014. Max Colombie, the singer of the band, previously participated in the Belgian preselections for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2005.[2]In a interview with Pi-Pôle, Max revealed the meaning behind his band's name: "Oscar is a name I really like - it's poetic and light.And wolf is the dark animal that comes out at night and howls to the full moon, and moon stands for solitude and coldness. It's bright and dark together, because that's how I see my music - as a balance between light and dark."
YO!FEST 2012 | Brussels, 16 May
THE HEADLINERS
Babylon Circus
ft. Of Members
Reggae/Ska
France
Babylon Circus is a ten piece ska and reggae group founded in 1995 in Lyon, France. Since forming, they have released four full - length albums and one EP. They have played over 1000 shows throughout Europe, and have toured as far as Syria, Australia and South Africa. The band began as a ska group but quickly transcended the genres, mixing punk, reggae, rock, swing and jazz influences. They sing in both French and English, sometimes mixing the two in songs. Their third album, Dances of Resistance, was recorded in 2003 and largely has an anti-war theme. In 2009 they launched the album La Belle Étoile followed by Never Stop in 2013. They are still on tour all over the world, from their own country France to other countries in Europe, but also to foreign places like Abu Dhabi and New Zealand.
Montevideo DJ Set
Electronic
Belgium
Named after the capital of Uruguay, Montevideo are the tightly knit cluster of four likely lads, four friends who take to their musical ambitions like a souped up Pontiac Firebird to a freshly tarmaced autobahn.Fronted by singer Jean Waterlot, the present incarnation of Montevideo is not the first one, but as Jean points out 'Montevideo is 100% a group effort, we truelly thrive on unity.'............
YO!FEST 2011 | Brussels, 9 September
THE WINNERS
ZIGGY
Pop/Rock/Indie
Belgium
Everything goes very fast for this young Belgian pop group formed in Brussels a little less than two years ago, around the compositions of singer-guitarist Pablo. Tommaso, the drummer, had already participated in a previous project with Pablo and with Andrea, the guitarist, the band found its full maturity: catchy Britpop, rock and blues' melodies served in a captivating voice and with quality instrumental sound. After many concerts in 2011, an Audience Award and Grand Prize of SABAM in the competition IMAGINE 2011, ZIGGY worked mainly in the studio in 2012. This year, with their first EP "Wonder Why" they are looking forward to see the stage because this is where they seem to have been born.
Electro/Punk/Rock
Belgium
The Compact Disk Dummies is a Belgian electropunk duo from Desselgem (Waregem). The group consists of the brothers Lennert and Janus Coorevits both doing vocals and playing keyboards, with Lennert also playing the guitar. The group was founded in 2010 and in the same year they won the Music Live event, and ended.second at the Belgian edition of the Kunstbende. Their musical breakthrough came when the two brothers won Humo's Rock Rally as teenagers in 2012, in the Ancienne Belgique. They ended before groups as Geppetto & The Whales to become the successors of School is Cool. In March 2013 they brought out their first EP "Mess with us", together with their first single "The Reeling". The title reached the top of Studio Brussel's De Afrekening list and stood in the Flemish Ultratop 50 during six weeks.
Lunar Rays
Indie/Pop/Folk
Belgium
THE HEADLINERS
Hot Chip
Electro/House/Techno
United Kingdom
Hot Chip are a British electronic music band formed in London, in 2000. They have released six studio albums: Coming on Strong (2004), The Warning (2006), Made in the Dark (2008), One Life Stand (2010), In Our Heads (2012), and Why Make Sense? (2015). The group has also been nominated for the Mercury Prize. During live performances, Hot Chip reinvent their studio compositions to form what has been described by Glide magazine as "heavy beat-driven improvisations" that create "an atmosphere of excitement, energy and the unexpected." The band is also known for its DJ talent; they have released several mix CDs and mixes for national and international radio stations and they all DJ regularly worldwide. In April 2012 "Boy From School" featured in an episode of The Simpsons.
Hiphop/Flamenco
Spain
Ojos de Brujo ("Sorcerer Eyes" in English) is a nine-piece band from Barcelona, Spain, who describe their style as "jipjop flamenkillo" (hip-hop with a little flamenco). The band sold over 100,000 copies of their self-produced Barí album, and has received several awards, among these the BBC Radio 3 World Music Award for Europe in..2004 (having also been nominated in 2003). Their success is also notable for being achieved without the aid of label backing; they set up their own label, La Fábrica de Colores, to get complete artistic freedom for Barí, away from pressure from commercial record labels.
YO!FEST 2010 | Brussels, 1 September
THE WINNERS
Bogus
Fusion/World/Jazz
Belgium
As a young trio, with the average age of 13, Bogus took the plunge into the music world in 2006. Already one year later these youngsters convinced the jury of ‘Kunstbende’ of their talents by improvising on saxophone, guitar and cajon
THE HEADLINERS
Indie/Pop
Belgium
Blondie eating ice cream with Kim Wilde, while Duran Duran's first record is playing. Then Phoenix arrives and Zoot Woman brings some milkshakes. Piano club takes a picture and puts its own painting on it..........
Massilia Sound System
Reggae / Ska
France