0110 Concert
Yesterday, close to 40.000 people descended on Antwerp for the 0110 concerts for tolerance. The idea for these concerts was initiated by Tom Barman, lead singer and main songwriter for Antwerp band dEUS and were meant to promote tolerance and peace in Antwerp and elsewhere.
Several bands who participated suffered intimidation attempts by fascist party Vlaams Belang and even had to take a lot of flack from several fans.
Fans of bands like Clouseau and Sioen left irate comments on their website and even returned CD's to the shops or burned them.
However, none of the artists who had promised to cooperate backed down.
It was a great moment, at the end of the concert, when Barman and Wauters (2 singers from completely opposite sides of the spectrum of popular music) shared the stage for a brilliant rendition of an old song by Dutch band Het Goede Doel called (what else?) "België".
They were then joined on stage by veteran punk-rocker Ludo Mariman for a scorching version of "There will be no next time".
Barman ended the concert with these words to the rain-soaked audience:
These concerts were born out of fear, but if we can conquer our fears we can all move forwards, not backwards. You were a bunch of wet chickens, but you were cool wet chickens.
In a city where in next week's election in some parts of Antwerp up to 60% of the population is expected to vote for what is in essence a fascist party, it's good to let them know that a lot of people do not share these ideas and would rather live in a different Antwerp.
I'll be a cool wet chicken any day to prove that point...
