Music in the blood

When the summer arrives in Belgium (Liége) it seems like all the musicians have to go out and party. There is one music festival after another here as soon as it's June.

I'm not complaining of course! I think it's wonderful! Right up my street!

But it's quite exhausting for a girl of my age! These guys don't get going until about 10pm when other normal people are just settling down to a quiet night and tucking themselves into bed! I hate to miss the action...particularly when I'm a spectator of great talent.

It starts with a music festival with musicians playing in little and big venues all over the town for a long weekend. That's all free! Then there's a Gaulish village (Village Gaulois) beside the Cathedral where the square is completely taken over with delices from France (and of course local produce!) and on the stage every night, some local artist or group entertain the masses! It's fantastic! Towards the end of this event, in a village just outside the town, is a festival of Country and American music where everyone just gets down and boogies....bluegrass, country, Dylan, Springstein, etc with square dance lessons and plenty of space to do your own thing. When the sun shines (which it did most of the time this year/and last...it's fantastic!) With only a couple of days of rest, it all starts again in another little town on the edge of the Ardennes (about 30km from Liege) near the Francochamps race course - Spa - and this is the Francofolies festival of music. The name says it all - all French music permitted. And there is such a variety it's amazing. The whole town is taken over for 5 days so I wonder how anyone who lives there gets any rest. Just as this festival finishes, the Jazz festival starts in the region, again held in lots of different venues with even a conference hall being taken over for the jazz people to sell and share their wares and accessories.

Apart from all these festivals, there is a basic music industry here where every week night and weekend there is a concert or jam session in a choice of dozens of places...restaurants, clubs, bars, piano bars, concert halls, conference centres, hotels...etc. There is no excuse for anyone to be bored.....if they enjoy live music.

And I'm very fortunate to have met some of the best musicians here, who have subsequently become famous in their own right, playing for the bigger, internationally famous stars. Some of these guys are now solid friends, even though they know that my expertise on the strings isn't that great...I appreciate their sounds!

Its a city that really grooves.....wouldn't you say? That's why I always looked exhausted!