We recently spoke about NPR's Tiny Desk concerts, but there's another US radio station that hosts exceptional live performances: KEXP. Based in Seattle, KEXP has built a reputation for high-quality live sessions that showcase artists in an intimate setting with professional sound and video production. Unlike Tiny Desk's office setting, KEXP's studio provides a more traditional performance space but maintains the same commitment to capturing authentic musical moments.
Their YouTube channel has become a treasure trove of musical discovery, featuring artists from around the world in performances that highlight both technical proficiency and raw energy.
We're happy to see that Gallowstreet, the band of Syos artist Dirk Zandvliet, made it to these shows.
Gallowstreet on KEXP
This particular live performance wasn't recorded in KEXP's Seattle studio but at l'Antipode in Rennes, France, during Trans Musicales 2024.
Who is Gallowstreet?
Gallowstreet is a Dutch brass band with attitude, named after the Galgenstraat in Amsterdam where they first began. Over the course of five albums, they've refined a unique sound that has made them a reference point for the emerging European brass band scene.
The ensemble consists of seven horn players and one drummer who collectively draw from various musical genres to create beat-driven compositions with anthemic qualities. Their influence extends globally, with covers of their work regularly appearing online from young brass bands around the world.
Their album "A Trip Worth Making" represents the culmination of their developed sound, featuring sing-along anthems, orchestrated drops and builds, and emotionally charged riffs that deliver what some consider the heaviest brass music in the world.
With performances at major festivals like Lowlands, North Sea Jazz, and Bout Du Monde, as well as appearances in Algeria, Slovakia, and Turkey, Gallowstreet has established itself as a well-traveled ensemble comfortable playing for large crowds.
It's worth noting that Dirk Zandvliet, one of Gallowstreet's members, is a Syos artist who plays on a Syos custom baritone saxophone mouthpiece.
This isn't the first time we've seen a Syos artist on KEXP. A few years ago, we also had a great show by Seun Kuti:
