THE GENERAL BAZAAR
Bands and Performing Projects
Whether hosting events or performing solo or with other musicians, if you can find him; if you can afford him and if justice is on your side, maybe you can hire the General Bazaar!
The General Bazaar's DREAMBOATS
Sometimes disguised as local wildlife, if you are lucky to find them, this progressive soul/blues formation explores the latest songs of the General Bazaar. Featuring Olivier Buckley on lead guitar, Maëlle Buxant on double bass and Eda Ozdek on drums and the General Bazaar on voice and guitar, click the link for the next show!
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UNDERGROUND RIVER BAND OF BRUSSELS
A revolving and evolving set entirely made of the General Bazaar's songs around Brussels. Explore the familiar and the unknown and the unique perspectives of our city through the eyes of this Brussels based songwriter featuring local and international musicians of Brussels.
The General Jam is every Sunday, 8PM, Lava Cafe, Brussels 1000.
Founded in Lava Cafe in 2010 by General Bazaar, the General Jam & Open Mic. sessions is a multi-genre and multi-format inclusive jam session. Encouraging songwriting in the community for more than 15 years, the General Jam now offers free consultation for existing jams and new project ideas. Click the sunset for more info!
The General Jam is a great place to perform and try new collaborations. You will usually find the General every Sunday at Lava or sometimes hosting the Monday night blues jam in Cafe Bizon.
Bands on Hiatus
The Cardinal Points of Conspiracy was the first band performing the songs of the General Bazaar in Brussels. Formed around 2008 with Tico the Dog (Costa Rica) and Dexter Davies (drums) and Scott Hamilton (organ) all from Benito Band (Canadian Ska) as the rythm section and Erik D'haese from Drowning Dice (Jazz Punk) on lead guitar. The five person band after multiple summer tours in Southern Europe, culminating in a live album recorded in Madame Moustache, Brussels.
VANGUARD formed originally around the songs of the General Bazaar and the piano of Matt W. Rose around 2010. Carlos Gaston joined the band on percussion and in 2019 the band welcomed Vassilis Harvalias on lead and bass guitars.
Renowned for their post-EU tours, VANGUARD lost Matt. W. Rose who returned to the UK during covid 19 pandemic but still returns for special concerts.
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COLD HARBOUR CONNECTION formed around 2015 with Dexter Davies moving to bass guitar and Giacomo 'Pelli' Costi bringing his touches to drums and Matt. W. Rose on piano and keys.
This band brought experimentation as a focus and songs such as 'The Harp that broke his soul', 'The road to Belize' and 'What the robot wants' were all written. 'It's not the end of the world' was the only song recorded in a studio thanks to Angelica Roca.
MT.
SHADOWS
Mt. Shadows brought together Jordan Dressen on drums and Vassilis Harvalias (lead guitar) from the Brussels superband INDIGO MANGO. Other collaborator's joined including Matt. W. Rose and Larry the Bass Guy. The song 'Anderlecht' was recorded live at G.C Nekkersdal with the full band. 'Tell me a story' which predicts the UK slide towards Brexit chaos back in 2011 was finally recorded with Jordan and Billy in 2018 at the 75, Brussels, by Luciano Mengucci. Filming by Clara Grossi and Carlosito Gaston.
UN-NAMED BAND The un-named band was originally a continuation of Vanguard and MT. Shadows. It would become a transitional band with few live performances but many lessons learned. Originally with Matt. W. Rose on keys and organ, the incredible Marc Demartelaer on bass, Carlos Gaston on Drums and Vassilis Harvalias on lead Guitar. The General moved to electric guitar.
When the Pandemic hit, Matt. Rose left for the UK and Scott Hamilton returned on organ and a new fender amp for the General. The band dissolved around the end of the lock-down but many of its arrangements of general songs, including the 'Ballad of Cinquantenaire' continued into the next project.
K/C
KONVOI/CONVOI GÉNÉRAL brought a Psychedelic-Electro-Soul vibe to the General's songs who took up electric guitar with a Fender White Lightning, combined with the delicately epic touches of Simon Vandueren on drums and Scott Hamilton back on the organ and bass and synth. Vassilis Harvalias briefly joined on lead guitar and bass. This band opened new dimensions of rythm and a psychedelic edge shown in their only live published recording, 'The Chiens du mer' that was written specially for the project.
Their last concert to date was at the ANTITAPAS festival on Novermber 3rd, 2023