Flat Earth Society (band)
Encyclopedia
The Flat Earth Society (FES) is a Belgian big band ensemble founded and led by Peter Vermeersch
. They mix the rich Belgian brass band (HaFaBra) tradition with characteristic topsy-turvy creativity.
Their earliest gig took place in 1997, when they performed a composition by Peter Vermeersch to accompany a circus act by De Circusplaneet during the Oorsmeer festival. They also performed on the song Porqué te Vas by A Group, Peter Vermeersch' avant-garde pop band.
Wider attention came thanks to the Flemish radio station Radio 1, where they performed on the show Levende Lijven. The entire gig was recorded and later released under the title Live at the Beursschouwburg 1999, containing compositions by Peter Vermeersch and covers of jazz numbers. Unfortunately the Viakra label that released this CD went bankrupt, preventing a wide distribution. This prompted Peter Vermeersch to found his own record company, Zonk!Records.
The year 2000 was a busy one, with a Belgian tour, a new appearance in the last broadcast of the Levende Lijven radio show, and the first release on Zonk!Records: Bonk. The tracklist contains new and old compositions by Vermeersch and other members of the big band, but ends with two covers of songs by The Residents
. FES also played in the theatre play Larf by Josse De Pauw
, the music of this performance being released the same year. Meanwhile Peter Vermeersch also composed the music for Minoes, a children's movie by Dutch film director Vincent Bal on a story by Annie M.G. Schmidt (released in 2001).
In 2002, the Flat Earth Society was the house band of the Brugge2002 festival, where they participated in the Benenwerk project, turning the centre of the city of Bruges into a large ballroom. Trap became the second regular studio recording, and in August the Flat Earth Society premiered their Louis Armstrong project The Armstrong Mutations at the last night of the free Brussels festival Boterhammen in de Stad. A tour and a CD release followed in 2003.
Meanwhile Peter Vermeersch was also commissioned by Gerard Mortier to write a big band opera on the libretto Heliogabal by Thomas Jonigk, with stage directions by Roy Faudré. The opera premiered on May 8, 2003 in Duisburg during the Ruhr Triennale festival. In 2005, the opera toured Belgium in a new setting provided by Josse De Pauw
.
In 2003 Peter had met with jazz composer and pianist Uri Caine
, and the two decided to work together. Old compositions were reorchestrated and new pieces were written. FES toured with Uri Caine in 2004.
International success was now assured, and FES was able to sign distribution deals with Ipecac, who released the compilation FESisms and later with Crammed Discs
who released Psychoscout in 2006 and Cheer Me, Perverts in 2009. In May 2011 they will tour the USA for the first time in their career. Starting in Tampa, over Washington and Philadelphia to New York, where they will perform at the Lincoln Center and the Museum of the Moving Image.
.
Guests:
Ex-members:
Peter Vermeersch
Peter Vermeersch is a Belgian composer, clarinet player and producer.He is a main character in several Belgian bands such as X-Legged Sally, A Group and the Flat Earth Society...
. They mix the rich Belgian brass band (HaFaBra) tradition with characteristic topsy-turvy creativity.
Their earliest gig took place in 1997, when they performed a composition by Peter Vermeersch to accompany a circus act by De Circusplaneet during the Oorsmeer festival. They also performed on the song Porqué te Vas by A Group, Peter Vermeersch' avant-garde pop band.
Wider attention came thanks to the Flemish radio station Radio 1, where they performed on the show Levende Lijven. The entire gig was recorded and later released under the title Live at the Beursschouwburg 1999, containing compositions by Peter Vermeersch and covers of jazz numbers. Unfortunately the Viakra label that released this CD went bankrupt, preventing a wide distribution. This prompted Peter Vermeersch to found his own record company, Zonk!Records.
The year 2000 was a busy one, with a Belgian tour, a new appearance in the last broadcast of the Levende Lijven radio show, and the first release on Zonk!Records: Bonk. The tracklist contains new and old compositions by Vermeersch and other members of the big band, but ends with two covers of songs by The Residents
The Residents
The Residents is an American art collective best known for avant-garde music and multimedia works. The first official release under the name of The Residents was in 1972, and the group has since released over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects and ten DVDs....
. FES also played in the theatre play Larf by Josse De Pauw
Josse De Pauw
Josse De Pauw , is a versatile Belgian actor, film director, dramatist, author and columnist. He is married to modern dance performer Fumio Ikeda.-Theatre:...
, the music of this performance being released the same year. Meanwhile Peter Vermeersch also composed the music for Minoes, a children's movie by Dutch film director Vincent Bal on a story by Annie M.G. Schmidt (released in 2001).
In 2002, the Flat Earth Society was the house band of the Brugge2002 festival, where they participated in the Benenwerk project, turning the centre of the city of Bruges into a large ballroom. Trap became the second regular studio recording, and in August the Flat Earth Society premiered their Louis Armstrong project The Armstrong Mutations at the last night of the free Brussels festival Boterhammen in de Stad. A tour and a CD release followed in 2003.
Meanwhile Peter Vermeersch was also commissioned by Gerard Mortier to write a big band opera on the libretto Heliogabal by Thomas Jonigk, with stage directions by Roy Faudré. The opera premiered on May 8, 2003 in Duisburg during the Ruhr Triennale festival. In 2005, the opera toured Belgium in a new setting provided by Josse De Pauw
Josse De Pauw
Josse De Pauw , is a versatile Belgian actor, film director, dramatist, author and columnist. He is married to modern dance performer Fumio Ikeda.-Theatre:...
.
In 2003 Peter had met with jazz composer and pianist Uri Caine
Uri Caine
Uri Caine is an American classical and jazz pianist and composer.-Early years:The son of Burton Caine, a professor at Temple Law School, Caine began playing piano at seven and studied with French jazz pianist Bernard Peiffer at 12. He later studied at the University of Pennsylvania where he came...
, and the two decided to work together. Old compositions were reorchestrated and new pieces were written. FES toured with Uri Caine in 2004.
International success was now assured, and FES was able to sign distribution deals with Ipecac, who released the compilation FESisms and later with Crammed Discs
Crammed Discs
Crammed Discs is an independent record label whose output blends world music, rock, pop, and electronica. Based in Brussels, Belgium, Crammed was founded in 1980 by Marc Hollander of Aksak Maboul and has since released over 300 albums and 250 singles, working with artists from all over the world...
who released Psychoscout in 2006 and Cheer Me, Perverts in 2009. In May 2011 they will tour the USA for the first time in their career. Starting in Tampa, over Washington and Philadelphia to New York, where they will perform at the Lincoln Center and the Museum of the Moving Image.
.
Members
Current members:- Stefaan Blancke (trombone)
- Benjamin Boutreur (saxophone)
- Berlinde Deman (tuba)
- Bart Maris (trumpet)
- Michel Mast (sax)
- Marc Meeuwissen (trombone)
- Kristof Roseeuw (double bass)
- Peter Vandenberghe (keyboards)
- Luc Van Lieshout (trumpet)
- Bruno Vansina (sax)
- Teun Verbruggen (percussion)
- Peter VermeerschPeter VermeerschPeter Vermeersch is a Belgian composer, clarinet player and producer.He is a main character in several Belgian bands such as X-Legged Sally, A Group and the Flat Earth Society...
(clarinet) - Pierre VervloesemPierre VervloesemPierre Vervloesem is a Belgian avant-garde guitar player and producer, and has been described as Belgium's Frank Zappa.-Career:After playing in a handful of experimental rock bands in the early 1990s, Vervloesem joined avant-garde band X-Legged Sally at the invitation of Michel Mast...
(guitar) - Wim Willaert (accordion)
- Tom Wouters (clarinet, percussion)
Guests:
- Esther Lybeert (vocals)
- Ernst Reijseger (cello)
- John Watts
- Jimi Tenor
- Uri Caine
Ex-members:
- David Bovée (guitar)
- Jan De Backer (trombone)
- Leonaar De Graeve (tuba)
- Anja Kowalski (vocals, keyboards)
- Pieter Lamotte (bass-trombone)
- Eric Morel (sax)
- Roel Poriau (percussion)
- Danny Van Hoeck (percussion)
Discography
- Live at the Beursschouwburg 1999 (1999)
- Bonk (2000)
- Larf (2001)
- Minoes (2002)
- Trap (2002)
- The Armstrong Mutations (2003)
- ISMS (2005)
- Psychoscout (2006)
- Cheer me, perverts! (2009)
- Answer Songs (2009)