Ancienne Belgique
Encyclopedia
The Ancienne Belgique is a concert hall for contemporary music in Brussels
, Belgium
. Located in the historic heart of Brussels, it is one the leading concert venues in Belgium, hosting a wide variety of international and local acts.
supported the performances of the Belgian pop and variety pioneer Bobbejaan Schoepen
for one week.
In 1982, The Cure
played a concert which ended in a fight between band-members on stage. The band split up right after this gig, yet reformed months later.
The Domino festival, which was held annually from 1999 to 2011, hosted some underground artists that later broke into the mainstream.
performed, a concert that has been recorded on a DVD available with his 2005 release A Million in Prizes
.
In 2000, the rock band Oasis
played a notable concert which was taped by MTV.
The Hives
' 2004 performance was released as the live DVD Tussles in Brussels
.
Yeasayer
released a live album Live At Ancienne Belgique. The live album was recorded on October 28, 2010 in the venue.
Kings of Leon
released a limited edition EP, Day Old Belgian Blues
in 2004 that was recorded at the AB Box.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Located in the historic heart of Brussels, it is one the leading concert venues in Belgium, hosting a wide variety of international and local acts.
The venue
The venue consists of three concert halls: the "Main Hall", the "ABBox", and the "ABClub". The Main Hall is the Ancienne Belgique's main hall, and has a capacity of 2,000 people. It is said to be one of the best concert halls in Belgium, with perfect acoustics. The ABBox is the newest addition to the Ancienne Belgique. It is the same hall as the Main Hall, but rearranged to appear more intimate: the seats at the back and the balconies at the sides of the hall are covered, limiting its capacity to 800 people. The ABBox is the Ancienne Belgique's response to the need for a smaller concert hall that aims to host less well-known acts, helping them gain a new and larger audience. The ABClub has a capacity of approximately 250 people, and hosts smaller, up-and-coming acts.Notable concerts
Notable concerts at the Ancienne Belgique include one in January 1955, when Jacques BrelJacques Brel
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
supported the performances of the Belgian pop and variety pioneer Bobbejaan Schoepen
Bobbejaan Schoepen
Bobbejaan Schoepen is a pseudonym of Modest Schoepen was a Flemish pioneer in Belgian pop music, vaudeville, and European country music...
for one week.
In 1982, The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
played a concert which ended in a fight between band-members on stage. The band split up right after this gig, yet reformed months later.
The Domino festival, which was held annually from 1999 to 2011, hosted some underground artists that later broke into the mainstream.
Albums and videos recorded at the Ancienne Belgique
In 1999, Iggy PopIggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
performed, a concert that has been recorded on a DVD available with his 2005 release A Million in Prizes
A Million in Prizes: The Anthology
A Million in Prizes: The Anthology is a 2-disc greatest hits collection of Iggy Pop, released in 2005. It supersedes the compilation Nude & Rude: The Best of Iggy Pop. The title comes from the lyrics of "Lust for Life"...
.
In 2000, the rock band Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
played a notable concert which was taped by MTV.
The Hives
The Hives
The Hives are a Swedish garage rock band that first garnered attention in the early 2000s as a prominent group of the garage rock revival. Their mainstream success came with the release of the "greatest hits" album Your New Favourite Band, featuring their most well-known song "Hate to Say I Told...
' 2004 performance was released as the live DVD Tussles in Brussels
Tussles in Brussels
Tussles in Brussels is a live DVD released by Swedish punk rock band The Hives. The live performance was recorded on October 29, 2004, at Ancienne Belgique while the band was on tour in Brussels, Belgium...
.
Yeasayer
Yeasayer
-History:The band's three core members, Chris Keating, Ira Wolf Tuton, and Anand Wilder, first came to attention after appearing at the SXSW festival in early 2007. Their first single consisted of a double A-side of the tracks "Sunrise" and "2080"...
released a live album Live At Ancienne Belgique. The live album was recorded on October 28, 2010 in the venue.
Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion, Oklahoma but formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 1999. The band is composed of brothers Anthony Caleb Followill , Ivan Nathan Followill and Michael Jared Followill Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion,...
released a limited edition EP, Day Old Belgian Blues
Day Old Belgian Blues
Day Old Belgian Blues is a limited edition EP from the American rock band Kings of Leon, originally recorded at the AB Box in Brussels, Belgium on November 4, 2004. The title of the EP plays on the song name "Day Old Blues" from their second album Aha Shake Heartbreak, though the song does not...
in 2004 that was recorded at the AB Box.