Arts and Cultural Events In and Around MONS
Concerts
Spring Blues Festival
Saturday, 17 May at 1330 hours Where: Plaine de jeux, Marche-Les-Ecaussinnes Reservations: 067/.79.47.08; by email info@ springblues.be; online www. springblues.be For its 21st edition, the Spring Blues Festival confirms more than ever the quality, originality, diversity and authenticity of this exciting event. The rich programme will delight all lovers of good music. The large tent located as usual on the playing field of Marche-Les-Ecaussinnes will contain an exclusive number of wonderful artists: The Boogi Woogie Jumpers, Kirk ‘Eli’ Fletcher, Maurice John, Vaughn & B.J. Emery, Harmonica Shah, Sean Carney, Gene ‘King Sax’ Walker, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Rod piazza & the Mighty Flyers. For more information about this festival and the artists that will perform, please visit our website www.shapeonline.net
THE BOOGIE WOOGIE JUMPERS
No doubt nowadays blues and boogie-woogie pianists can be considered an
endangered species. That is the reason why we are very proud to present
this young Belgian band led by the charming and talented piano player Aricia
Evlard. A magical world of swing, rhythm and melodic refinement right from
the start. http://www.boogiewoogiejumpers.be
KIRK “ELI” FLETCHER
Described as a "ferocious monster", Kirk Fletcher, got his start in the
San Francisco bay area a few years ago by joining in with Kim Wilson’s Blues
Revue. He draws from the heritage of blues legends such as Albert King and
Albert Collins and expands from there with an amazingly fluid technique,
deep harmonic knowledge and the melodic creativity of a seasoned jazzman.
http://www.deltagrooveproductions.com/music/artists/kirk_fletcher/main.html
MAURICE JOHN VAUGHN & B.J. EMERY
A quadruple treat on guitar, saxophone, keys and vocals, Maurice John Vaughn’s
abundant talent and experience place him at the forefront of the contemporary
blues world. His innovative songs, passionate singing, blistering guitar
playing and romping saxophone mark his music as visionary work from a true
blues original. His band includes the irrepressible B.J. Emery on trombone
and vocals. http://www.alligator.com/index.cfm?section=artists&artistid=17
HARMONICA SHAH
California - born, Texas - raised and Detroit - trained, Harmonica Shah
has been a force on the Midwestern blues scene since the late sixties. Shah
has that classic Chicago/Midwestern - down home/urban style in the spirit
of Junior Wells, Little Walter and Muddy Waters. He will be backed by drummer
R.J. Spangler whose signature shuffle beat is one of the tightest, and most
authentic anywhere. http://www.electrofi.com/listen_good.htm http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=58247942
SEAN CARNEY BAND featuring GENE “KING SAX” WALKER
The Sean Carney Band became the winner of the 2007 International Blues Challenge
(IBC) and Sean also won the 2007 Albert King Best Guitarist Award. Based
out of Columbus, Ohio, Sean Carney is one of the brightest stars of the
current scene. He will be joined by venerated and world class saxophonist
Gene “King Sax” Walker who has performed with notables such as The Beatles,
Wilson Picket, Jackie Wilson, Aretha Franklin and King Curtis. http://web.mac.com/seanhcarney/iWeb/Site/Home.html
TOM RIGNEY & FLAMBEAU
Take the hottest electric violinist/composer this side of wherever and put
him together with veterans of the great bands of Clifton Chenier, Queen
Ida, Charles Brown, Roy Rogers, and the Sundogs, and what do you get? You
get Tom Rigney & Flambeau a band that will tear the roof off of anyplace
that has one and lift the spirits of everyone within earshot. The band specializes
in fiery Cajun and zydeco two-steps, lowdown blues, heartbreakingly beautiful
waltzes, and funky New Orleans dance grooves. A European première and a
unique concert.
http://www.rigomania.com/
ROD PIAZZA & THE MIGHTY FLYERS
Rod Piazza has set a standard for harmonica virtuosity that has established
him as one of the most influential living blues harp players. Piazza and
the Mighty Flyers have won or been nominated for just about every award
that can be bestowed upon a blues band, played literally thousands of gigs
around the world, recorded over a dozen highly acclaimed releases, and along
the way virtually created a new style of blues - a combination of low-down
Chicago grit, suave West Coast swing and jazz, and the rhythmic drive of
the best early R&B and rock & roll. Quite simply, Rod Piazza and The Mighty
Flyers are one of the best, most experienced, and most distinctive bands
in blues today. http://themightyflyers.com
http://www.deltagrooveproductions.com/music/artists/rod_piazza/main.html
Events
Le Petit Lumeçon
Grand
Place, Mons
Wednesday, 21 May at 1700 hours
In our previous issue, we published an article about the Doudou of Mons
and the famous fight of Saint George and the dragon, which this year will
take place on 13 May. The fight of the Petit Lumeçon, is a reproduction
of this fight and the main actors will be children, not adults. The origins
of the ‘Petit Lumeçon’ probably go back to the beginning of the twentieth
century. Over the past few years it has become a great success, as more
than ten thousand people now participate in this event every year Whilst
in past years it took place on the site of the Waux-Hall, this year, for
the first time, the Petit 
Lumeçon
will take place on the Grand Place, Mons. This new location has provided
an opportunity to partially change the concept of the Petit Lumeçon. It
will become a more accurate reproduction of the traditional fight of the
Lumeçon. This year, the number of actors has been increased to nearly the
same as that of the traditional Lumeçon. In fact, in addition to the little
St George and the little chin-chin protector, you’ll be able to count eleven
little white men, five little leaf men, eleven little devils, twelve little
chins-chins, the two little Cyblèle and Poliade, ten little policemen and
eighteen little firemen. The dragon will be bigger than in past years, as
it will be one of the previous dragons of the Lumeçon specially remodelled
for the occasion. To guarantee the safety of the children who will take
part in the event in the arena, it will be mandatory for each of them to
wear a special tee-shirt and a bracelet with their name and telephone number.
The maximum height of each child is 1.60 metres. The parade will start at
1700 hours from the Town Hall.
Mons Expo Agritime
At the Lotto Mons Expo 24, 25 and 26 May
This year, for the first time, the Lotto Mons Expo will welcome an important
agricultural exhibition. It’s the first time that such a big agricultural
event has been organised in the Province of Hainaut. It is amazing that
it has never been done before, since the Mons area has more than one hundred
and fifty agricultural activities. The aim of this fair is to encourage
the meeting of producers and consumers, and to show the various agricultural
professions; there will also be an opportunity to see several competitions
and exhibitions (rodeo, horse(s) and carriage et cetera). Entrance fee:
?3 More info on www.agritime.be or www.lottomonsexpo.be Festival 25th World
Festival of Folklore in Saint-Ghislain From 25 May to 4 June More information
on www.festifolk.be
Compiled by Nadia Catalano Information extracted from ‘Tourisme info’