MENT 2019
JANUARY 30th – FEBRUARY 1st 2019
LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA
Artists from Wallonia & Brussels
Belgium is part of MENT for the first time this year!
From January 30th to February 1st, the next edition of the MENT festival will take place in Ljubljana (Slovenia), one of the new European events on a human scale, facilitating exchanges and meetings, and opening up to the many Europe’s eastern territories. Wallonie-Bruxelles Musiques is a partner for the first time and supports artists from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation through a special drink for professionals, promotion, networking and visibility actions.
Professionals from Wallonia & Brussels
Wallonie-Bruxelles Musiques, Flanders Arts Institute & Sabam For Culture team up again to support a ton of upcoming Belgian acts. Join us for our networking reception with Belgian craft beers on Thursday at 18:00 (KINO ŠIŠKA).
Julien Fournier (WBM – Director) will be there with 5 professionals from Wallonia & Brussels:
Denis Bogaerts (Abyssin Productions)
Julie Poncelet (Scènégal Ethic)
Boris Engels (Rock System ASBL)
Grégory Noël (EXAG’ Records)
Valérian Meunier (EXAG’ Records)
IT IT ANITA
[Rock, Punk]
It’s a tradition in recent years that some of the most bizarre and brutal bands at MENT come from Belgium. This year, it’s time for the raw energy and uncompromising guitar fever of It It Anita, first-class madmen of the Belgian noise scene. They sound like a dynamic hybrid of Fugazi, At The Drive-In, Metz and Sonic Youth. They recorded their debut “Agaaiin” (Luik Records, 2016) with legendary producer John Agnell (Kurt Vile, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.). In 2018, they released “Laurent” via Vicious Circle Records, an album dedicated to their sound guy, the fifth member of the band and its unofficial mascot, who makes sure that the crazy post-punks sound good at every gig, even when guitars are flying through the air or when the drummer decides to place his entire set among the audience. Now make some room, people!
BLU SAMU
[Hip-Hop]
Somewhere between poet and urban samurai, Salomé Dos Santos tells her story through an intuitive mix of hip-hop and soul, using her hoarse voice to express her love of words with beats and lyrics that are as pure and real as her energy. Originally from Portugal and often referring to a sad period in her life when she longed to return to her home country, she took her name from that feeling of blueness. In 2018, she released her debut EP “Moka”, and Blu Samu quickly became the new sensation of the Belgian hip-hop scene.
LAWRENCE LE DOUX
[Electronic]
Lawrence Le Doux is regarded as the most prominent representative of the Brussels-based label Vlek. The varied sonic universe of the Belgian producer floats us past the charming rhythms of melodic house, dreamy ambient and post-industrial EBM. His latest album “HOST” explores the history of Belgian electronic music, combining the audio elements of the past 30 years of his local underground scene in his own authentic style. Le Doux won over critics with a soundtrack released via famed Spanish producer John Talabot’s Hivern Discs, and captivated audiences further with a kaleidoscope set for Dekmantel’s podcast series.