Jamsessie w/ Suzan Peeters - Anke Verslype - Bert Cools - Jon Birdsong

Timing

7:45 p.m.: the foyer is open for a drink

8:30 p.m.: opening band

9:00 p.m.: start jam

11:00 p.m.: end jam

A jam session in Rataplan offers musicians the space to experiment, grow and create together. But even as an audience, you can see something magical unfold.

Curator Jon Birdsong invites different guests every last Monday of the month. At the opening concert, they set the tone for the evening. Afterwards, everyone is welcome to jam along.

"The Jam Session is a great experience to play with high-level musicians. From my experience conducting great improvisations, I want to give a little more direction by giving the musicians focused input and space." - Curator Jon Birdsong

A Jam Session is every last Monday of the month.

Bring your own instrument; drums, piano, guitar and bass amp are provided.

Entrance with free contribution.

In April, curator Jon Birdsong invites Suzan Peeters on accordion & electronics, Anke Verslype on drums and guitarist Bert Cools. They will open the jam, afterwards everyone is welcome to play along.

Suzan Peeters is a Belgian accordionist, improviser and sound artist. She expands the acoustic sound spectrum by manipulating the accordion using playing technique, objects and live electronics. The limits of the instrument are exceeded through the use of exciters and a vibrating massage board. In 2024, Suzan Peeters was Artist in Residence at Rataplan.

Anke Verslype is a drummer & composer and has always written music in all kinds of styles and genres, ranging from electronic music to big band arrangements. With her project “aki,” her own compositions are brought to life by different musicians, helping to tell a different story on each album. In 2023, Anke Verslype was Artist in Residence at Rataplan.

Bert Cools has a passion for improvisation, electronics, folk and traditional music.

Besides worldwide concerts with his own bands Merope and Hoera. he makes music for theater (Vake Poes, Yerma) and plays regularly as a sideman in international bands such as Sam Amidon, Efterklang and Trixie Whitley, among others.

In 2013, he founded the arts platform ‘granvat’ with his brother Stijn Cools. A “curator-based” entity that presents the brothers' work and that of other artists as a bundled collection.

Jon Birdsong studied jazz and classical music at the University of North Texas (USA). He was active as a trumpet player in several American jazz and pop groups such as Beck and Calexico. Since 2003 Jon lives in Belgium and is a much sought-after musician with, among others, BOX, Black Flower, Flat Earth Society, ...