Global Music Showcases
A day full of discoveries: new projects, exciting bands, and fresh sounds from the global music scene - specially for music professionals.
GLOBAL Music showcases
Monday, October 12, 2026 at De Casino
The annual Global Music Showcases provide a professional platform for new and remarkable projects in global music. Eight carefully selected bands present their potential in a concise live set to an audience of programmers, bookers, managers, labels, and press. At the previous edition, we welcomed 90 music industry professionals. The showcases create opportunities for visibility, networking, and further progression within the live music circuit.
program
10:00 welcome
10:30 3’Ain
11:15 Aishinka
12:00 Jeroen Knapen
12:25 lunch
13:25 AwTaaR Moods
14:10 Ananta Roosens
14:55 Peixe e Limão
15:40 Quentin Dujardin & Nicolas Fiszman
16:25 WÖR
17:00 closing reception
The name says it all: 3’Ain is a trio. Trumpeter Yamen Martini, double bassist Otto Kint, and accordionist Piet Maris create a distinctive blend of contemporary jazz infused with influences from the SWANA region. The band’s name refers to the eighteenth letter of the Arabic alphabet, ﻉ, a sound that is often rendered in digital communication as “3” or ‘ain. This year, the trio releases its second album, Unland.
Inspired by 20th-century Bulgarian polyphony, Brussels-based pianist and arranger Louise Andri created Aishinka, a project brought to life by three female voices and an instrumental ensemble. The music moves between exuberant energy and quiet beauty, evoking feelings of connection, hope, and joy. This distinctive artistic vision earned Aishinka both the B-Jazz International Contest 2019 and the Maastricht Jazz Awards 2020.
With Reynaert, folk guitarist Jeroen Knapen presents an intimate musical retelling of Van den vos Reynaerde. Through newly composed music and arrangements of historical repertoire, he brings the celebrated medieval beast epic to life in a solo concert with the acoustic guitar at its heart, where every note invites the audience to listen, dream, and simply enjoy the moment.
Intertwining strings, voices, and resonant sound colours: AwTaaR Moods brings together the enchanting voice of Laïla Amezian, the mandolin quartet MANdolinMAN and cellist Léa Besançon. Born from a desire for dialogue between cultures, the project explores the meeting points of two musical traditions rooted in the medieval histories of the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, creating a unique fusion of Flemish folk and Arab-Andalusian music.
Why limit ourselves to just one way of playing, when an entire universe of sounds is waiting to be discovered? In The violin out of the box, violinist and musical explorer Ananta Roosens pushes the boundaries of her instrument in search of an unlimited sonic universe. Using bow, everyday objects, and an open mind, she invites the audience to listen and look differently, offering an inspiring journey for both music lovers and creators.
If Brussels had its own acoustic urban music genre, like fado in Lisbon or tango in Buenos Aires, it would probably sound like Peixe e Limão. With warm, melancholic voices, the trio sings about city life in multiple languages, reflecting the spirit of the European capital: a melting pot of sounds, flavours, and cultures. Much like the city itself, Peixe e Limão embraces influences from a wide range of musical traditions, from bossa nova and flamenco to Irish folk, woven into intimate and deeply personal songs.
Back to the 1780s! If it sounded good back then, why not today? WÖR breathes new life into old Belgian melodies with an infectious groove, driven by baritone saxophone, guitar, accordion, violin, and bagpipes. The band has built a strong reputation over the years with four albums and several awards. They are currently working on a new project inspired by Bruegel and the music of his time. At the showcase, they present a mix of Back to the 1780s and Back to Bruegel.
practical
Timing: Monday, October 12, from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, including a lunch and a closing drink afterwards
Location: De Casino, Stationsstraat 104, Sint-Niklaas — just a 5-minute walk from the train station. If you're coming by car, parking is available under the Grote Markt, near Siniscoop, or at the Stationsplein parking lot. The venue is wheelchair accessible.
Registration is free via the online form. The showcases are open exclusively to programmers, bookers, managers, labels and press.
This event is organised by Cluster, in collaboration with Music Idea, Muziekpublique, Choux de Bruxelles and HalfmOon, with the support of the City of Sint-Niklaas and PlayRight.
