30 years since the creation of the band ‘Jaune Toujours’
A festive year full of groove, brass and accordion.
1996. Bill Clinton wins the US presidential election, Nelson Mandela signs South Africa’s new constitution, the White March sweeps through Brussels, and the Spice Girls top the charts. In that same year, singer and accordionist Piet Maris sets foot on Brussels soil and decides to devote himself entirely to music. No more guitars, but brass, drums and accordion. Together with drummer Théophane Raballand and trumpeter Bart Maris, he laid the foundations for what would grow into one of the country’s most distinctive live bands: Jaune Toujours.
They soon made a name for themselves: as artists-in-residence avant la lettre at the Ancienne Belgique, at Festival Dranouter and at Muziekpublique. Their performances became legendary: from a frenzied Brasserie de l’Union after the White March to a wild concert on Brussels’ Grand Place during Fête de la Musique.
From 2000 onwards, albums and international concerts followed in quick succession. Jaune Toujours played in the Netherlands, France, the UK, Norway and Germany, as well as in Canada, Benin, Latvia and Hungary. They shared the stage with Manu Chao, Calexico and the Gangbé Brass Band, performed live on BBC Radio, and brought their Belgian ska with a punky attitude to festivals such as Womad, Oerol, Couleur Café, the Calgary Folk Festival, Fusion and Re Re Riga.
With their unique blend of ska, reggae, Balkan influences, punky energy and poetic commitment, Jaune Toujours have become a fixture on the European live music scene. Their concerts are celebrations brimming with energy and passion, where genres are transcended and boundaries blurred.
2026 marks their 30th anniversary as a professional band – a milestone they’ll be celebrating in style with concerts that encapsulate the energy, warmth and musicality of three decades, such as a ‘best-of’ concert showcasing their 30-year career, featuring guests at the Brosella Festival, as well as collaborations and joint performances with brass bands such as Murga Agrum and the Ledebirds. In this celebratory year, Jaune Toujours is also delighted to delve into their extensive photo and video archives: for a whole year, a weekly round-up of that week across different years will be posted.
Check the link below.