Flat Earth Society

Founded by clarinetist Peter Vermeersch, this 12-piece juggernaut is one of the hottest bands in Belgium. Well-schooled in a broad range of big band vocabularies, the FES also draws influences from swing, mambo, chanson, cabaret, R&B, and free jazz. Pitchforkmedia.com describes the music as “an unruly confluence of Carl Stalling’s ‘Merrie Melodies,’ Henry Mancini’s cosmopolitan swank, and Sun Ra’s cosmic slop—all performed with the whiplash attention span of John Zorn’s Naked City.” If you dig bands like Pierre Dorge’s New Jungle Orchestra, Sun Ra, and Frank Zappa’s mix of configurations, you’ll feel right at home with this crowd. With Peter Vermeersch clarinet, Bruno Vansina, Michel Mast, Marc Demaseneer saxes, Tom Wouters clarinet/vibes, Berlinde Deman tuba, Marc Meeuwissen, Stefaan Blancke trombones, Bart Maris, Luc van Lieshout trumpets, Peter Vandenberghe piano/keyboard, Wim Willaert accordion/keyboard, Kristof Roseeuw bass, Teun Verbruggen percussion. Thanks to the Flemish Authorities.