The winners of the first edition of the Flanders Folks Awards (2021) are:

• MOST PROMISING BAND: Bipolar Bows

• BEST LIVE BAND: Tom Theuns & Aurélie Dorzée

• BEST ALBUM: Trio Dhoore with ‘August’ (Trad Records)

Bipolar Bows, Aurélie Dorzée & Tom Theuns and Trio Dhoore are the first winners of a Flanders Folk Award!

It was no easy task for the jury, our country is a deep well of talent in folk and traditional music. Everyone who was nominated is a fantastic example of the richness, quality and diversity of the Flemish folkworld. But… someone had to take the trophy home. Three bands, to be more exact. 

Most promising band 2021: Bipolar Bows

This young string duo operates on the edge of traditional music, classical music and jazz. The band consists of violinist Lotte Remmen and Toby Kuhn on cello. They released their debut album ‘Krunčhug’ in lockdown, at the end of 2020. 

The winners take home the prize money, generously provided by the Flemish Government and a two year programme of coaching designed to help them develop their career. This prize is offered by VI.BE.

Other nominees in this category were Airboxes, Antanjula and Cardboard Cabin - all of whom deserve wider attention for the quality of their music.

Best live band 2021: Tom Theuns & Aurélie Dorzée

Aurélie Dorzée and Tom Theuns have been active for quite a while on different European folk stages, as a duo and with other bands. They describe their music as “non-essential travels to the boundaries of folk music”. They say that on these travels they catch strange viruses which they inject in their musical veins, to observe what symptoms manifest themselves. Their live show is a mix of bizarre instruments, phenomenal technique and tone with unique voices and a strong sense of drama and humour - all of which comes together to produce a seductive and immersive musical world delivered with a sense of infectious joy.  

Aurélie and Tom take home with them the award and prize money kindly provided by Playright+.

Congratulations also go to the other nominees in this category: Spilar, Wör and Flairck.

Best album 2021: August – Trio Dhoore 

Trio Dhoore have been touring around the globe for the last couple of years. The band consists of three brothers - Ward, Koen and Hartwin Dhoore. The trio of guitar, hurdy-gurdy and diatonic accordion delivers traditional music in a fresh and virtuosic way. The winning album, “August” is available on Trad Records and has been well received in several different countries already. 

Trio Dhoore received the award and prize money provided by Sabam for Culture. 

Other nominees in this category were: Airboxes, Duo De Schepper – Sanczuk and Spilar