A: When it’s a rehearsal complex, a recording studio, a one-stop shop for youth initiatives, an all-round meeting place for local musicians and…two rock venues – that’s when.
Handily situated on Antwerp’s Noordsingel in Borgerhout, the Trix complex is arguably Flanders’ most diverse and complete creative centre in the field of modern music: pop, rock, funk, rap, metal and many more genres are all represented in the programming policy of the organisers as well as in the facilities available to budding (and established) musicians.
In more ways than one, the Trix set-up is very similar to that of Dublin’s venerable Temple Bar. As a youngster, you may go there on a regular basis to rehearse with your band, cut your all-important first demo and follow a handful of sound engineering classes…and then, before you know it, you’re playing live in the same building!
Trix consists of two adjacent halls: Trix Club (formerly simply known as Trix), which has a capacity of 450, and Trix Zaal (affectionately referred to locally by the venue’s old name, Hof Ter Lo), which hold 1,100.
Furthermore, Trix Club can be pared down to the Trix Bar formula, a much more intimate venue that proves ideal for invite-only showcases, warm-up gigs and private functions.
One quick glance at the forthcoming events demonstrates Trix’s international dimension as well as its resolute eclecticism: the next few weeks will see performances by Jamaican teenage dancehall sensation Sean Kingston, The Lemonheads’ Evan Dando, The Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA and the breathtaking South African indie weirdoes Blk Jks.
But, for this critic at least, the most exciting Trix event takes place this Saturday, 21 November: the third edition of the Old School Rockabilly Psychosis Night. This rock ’n’ roll extravaganza has been held at the venue since its inception and features the very best psychobilly and neorockabilly bands in Europe.
On this year’s bill: Dutch outfit Bang Bang Bazooka, Belgium’s newly reformed The Swampys, Germany’s Sunny Domestozs and a triple whammy of British bands: Demented Are Go (pictured), Go-Kats and, for the first time in this country since 1988, Guana Batz, probably the world’s most entertaining psychobilly band. One word of advice: since this festival runs from 17.30 until very late, it may be an idea to bring a couple of sandwiches with you if you don’t care for burgers or hot-dogs.
Flanders Today is a 
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