Jazz lives in Ghent every year, Ghent hosts the most famous of the Jazz music scene at its summer festivals such as Jazz Gent and Jazz in 't Park. In the cozy clubs and bars you can enjoy intimate concerts or experimental performances all year round. International artists and new talents here can show what they know how to do.
Best venues in Ghent to enjoy live music
1. HOTSY TOTSY
Café-tertulia with an illustrious past and a magnificent interior. This place is known for its poetic recitals, conferences, monologues, varieties and jazz concerts.
It was founded by the Claus brothers (writer Hugo and actor Guido) and in 1984 one of the great milestones of flamenco literature and Hugo Claus' masterpiece, La pena de Bélgica, was presented here.
Billiard table and numerous board games. Jazz, varieties, chanson.
2. CAFÉ DEN TURK
The oldest café in Ghent with a beautiful brown interior and some of that typical Ghent arrogance, known for pouring the best draught beers in Ghent.
Whiskies, cognacs and sandwiches ‘mee uufflakke’ (brawn). The regular haunt of many local councillors who go and enjoy a pint there after council meetings.
This 15th-century house was built during the same period as Sint-Jorishof around the corner. The Den Turk house was the base of the young St George’s guild (Sint-Jorisgilde). The façade is made of sand lime, which was often used for prestigious buildings in 15th- and 16th-century Ghent. The popular café Den Turk claims to be the oldest café in Ghent, and many councillors and civil servants like to pop in for a drink after their council meetings.
3. HOT CLUB GENT
Hot Club Gent is a music venue in the center of Ghent.
Live music on mondays, tuesdays, wednesdays, thursdays and sundays from 21.00 - all free entrance.
In 1932 two French students and jazz enthusiasts founded the jazz club Hot Club de France in Paris.
It was the first organization worldwide whose primary purpose was the promotion and safeguarding of jazz.
Their efforts concentrated mainly on inviting American jazz musicians to France. But the Hot Club de France soon widened its array of activities and took on gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt’s quintet (including Stéphane Grappelli) as its resident band.
In May 2005 David De Rudder founded - with the help of musician Waso De Cauter - the Hot Club de Gand. It soon became a renowned Hot Spot in Ghent.10 years with countless concerts and jam-sessions followed and it was clear that live-music always was the center of attention. Of course there was Swing and Gypsy-swing but Hot Club de Gand never wanted to confine itself to one genre so there was room for every aspect of the jazz-world: from Dixieland to Free improvisation… Jazz in all its collors and forms!
In 2015 – sadly – the founder of the Club, David, passed away and the Club had to close; leaving a big void in the scene.
After recovering from the personal loss, Waso and Peter Kinna (working as manager at the Hot Club de Gand for half a decade) took matters in their own hand and started a new Hot Club – same place, same recipe!
So chapter two is about to be written! We hope you’ll be part of it too.
4. LAZY RIVER JAZZ CLUB
The "LAZY RIVER JAZZ CLUB" is a non-profit organisation that, as the name suggests, promotes jazz music. The club organises concerts from September to May. These usually take place on Friday evening or Sunday afternoon.
Several times a year, aperitif concerts are programmed on Sunday afternoons. The season usually ends with the International Jazz Meeting. This takes place in Gentbrugge during the Whitsun weekend. During the Gentse Feesten there will be free concerts in the club room on several evenings. The Lazy River Jazz Club exclusively programs Dixieland - New Orleans music, albeit with a nod to Boogie-Woogie, Blues and Swing. The club is housed in the Stadhuissteeg 5 in Ghent, where you can also see and hear our house orchestra "The Julian's New Orleans Jazz Friends" at work.
Income is generated by the proceeds of the concerts, the operation of the club room, sponsorship and by the
membership fees.
You can become a member for the democratic price of € 10 per year.
Honorary members pay € 15 or € 25
The membership fees can be deposited into account number: 750-9464662-45
All members receive a discount on the income prices of all club concerts.
They also receive the monthly magazine "Lazy River News".
5. MANTECA
Jazz café in the heart of the historical city centre, ideal for a chat accompanied by a caipirinha and some music played on an untuned piano.
Jazz only.
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