The duo Laura Cortese & Bert Ruymbeek will perform in one of the most beautiful Art Nouveau buildings in Brussels. Designed by architect Paul Saintenoy, this building once housed the department store ‘Old England’. The Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) has been there since 2000 and brings together some 10,000 instruments, including a very large number of traditional instruments.

Laura Cortese (USA) and Bert Ruymbeek (Belgium) share a common interest in stories and melodies. As a duo, they often write songs for important moments in the lives of their family and friends: births, weddings, etc. A selection of the pieces and stories associated with them has formed the basis of their repertoire. Through them, you will get to know the world in which they grew up.

Originally from California, Laura Cortese studied music at the Berklee School of Music in Boston and currently lives in Ghent. She now performs internationally with her group “The Dance Cards” and collaborates with many artists. Come see and hear Laura play to experience and get to know her hard-hitting playing style, powerful voice and post-folk arrangements. Her songs are inspired by folk song themes with which she likes to mix modern sounds, grooves and color palettes.

Strongly influenced by Scandinavian folk, Bert Ruymbeek is an accordionist from Ghent with a groovy energy and a lyrical playing style. He also tours internationally with “WÖR”, a quintet that reinterprets 18th century Belgian music and regularly participates in various projects.

Together, they will make you experience a powerful and colorful musical moment in one of the most important museums of musical instruments in the world.

Musicians:

• Laura Cortese: vocals, violin
• Bert Ruymbeek: accordion, harmonium