Baba Zula feat. Fred Frith / De Dolfijntjes XL

The first edition of Ha’fest concludes in a festive way with a double bill. The Turkish group BaBa ZuLa will be performing music that they have dubbed ‘Istanbul psychedelia’. As a bonus, they will be accompanied by the acclaimed cult and free rock guitarist Fred Frith on the night. Wim Opbrouck and Wim Willaert will then make the room jive as De Dolfijntjes XL give their only concert of 2014. At the end of the evening, you are most welcome in the foyer to dance to the tunes of DJ Carlito.

BABA ZULA FEAT. FRED FRITH

The Turkish Psychedelia of BaBa ZuLa and guitar playing of Fred Frith are a perfect match. Murat Ertel of BaBa ZuLa likes to mix Turkish traditional music, belly dancing and psychedelic music to create a big crazy party which leaves nobody indifferent. Fred Frith is once again fascinated by the weird 7/8, 9/8 and 9/16 time signatures. And that happens to be the basis for Turkish traditional music.

BaBa ZuLa is a fixed value in Istanbul’s alternative club circuit. The band has worked with Mad Professor and Alexander Häcke of Einstürzende Neubauten. The general public will know them as the protagonists in Fatih Akin’s music feature film on Istanbul: "Crossing The Bridge".

Fred Frith is one of the key figures of alternative rock music. He began his career with the British progressive rock band Henry Cow, moved to New York and, next to John Zorn, became one of the most influential exponents of the Downtown scene. He collaborated with Robert Wyatt, The Residents, Mike Patton, Brian Eno, John Zorn and Iva Bittova, to name but a few. He is equally at home in the worlds of radical improvisation, rock, jazz or pop.

In Ghent BaBa ZuLa already have a fan base, as evidenced by their performance in De Centrale. BaBa ZuLa and Frith’s first joint performance for the 25th anniversary of the Vooruit art centre was almost a chance encounter. It was an instant hit. Since then, and well over 5 years later, they are able to actually meet for the first time.

DE DOLFIJNTJES XL

Initially only doing covers in Do and in Fa, they had called themselves the Dofatjes, until a dolphin popped up somewhere and they eventually became De Dolfijntjes. Such is the genesis of one of the most exciting dance orchestras in Flanders led by two actors/musicians Wim Willaert (Eigen Kweek, Flat Earth Society) and Wim Opbrouck (In the Gloria, In Vlaamse Velden,…).

Here’s how they describe their music: “dead earnest accordion club house, dipped in the black soul of West Flanders.” In the XL edition the band is complemented by a six-piece horn section. And not too shabby either; these are musicians who have earned their stripes by rubbing shoulders with Arno, Flat Earth Society, Fukkeduk, and so on.

In 2013 Wim Opbrouck and Wim Willaert celebrated the 20th anniversary of De Dolfijntjes with a tour of Flanders. They rounded up their rousing songs, rambunctious lyrics and hilarious comments once more especially for Ha’fest. Share in the enjoyment of this wild DADA party, the perfect ending to Ha’fest. Plus, that's the only concert they will be giving in 2014!