Their family arrived in our capital from Galicia in north-western Spain, a region that suffered under the repression of Franco’s regime, in search of new opportunities. Their love for the songs and music of the area around Santiago de Compostela was passed on to their children and grandchildren. At home, people sang and danced around the kitchen table, but the desire to introduce Belgium to Galician culture eventually led to the creation of the remarkable all-female vocal group Ialma. The five-member ensemble released five albums and toured around the world.
In 2026, the group enters a new era with a renewed line-up: Veronica Codesal (also known for her work with Urban Trad) is joined by the wonderful voices of sisters Noemi Palomo Diaz and Ana Palomo Diaz, who, alongside their love of sport, share a passion for traditional Galician singing. Expect beautiful polyphonic traditional songs and original compositions, accompanied by pandereta (tambourine), conchas (shells), and pandeiro cuadrado. Their After Sport Sessions have a strong Trio Mandili flavour.
Veronica Codesal: pandereta, conchas, pandeiro, vocals
Noemi Palomo: pandereta, vocals
Ana Palomo : pandereta, vocals
Epitaaf
Welcome to the historic heart of Laeken. We find ourselves in the former home and workshops of the Salu family. Less than fifty metres from here begins the vast Royal Domain of Laeken. Rising above the trees are the towers of the neo-Gothic Church of Our Lady of Laeken. Surrounding the church lies the Laeken Cemetery, often described as Brussels’ own Père-Lachaise. Monumental funerary sculptures, impressive mausoleums, and unique underground burial galleries tell the stories of generations of Brussels residents. Among those laid to rest here are former mayors of Brussels such as Bockstael, Rouppe and Fontainas, as well as pioneers like Marie Popelin, Belgium’s first woman to earn a doctorate, and the Symbolist painter Fernand Khnopff.
On the edge of this remarkable heritage site is Epitaaf VZW, an organisation dedicated to the preservation, study, and promotion of funerary heritage. In addition to documenting the rich history of cemeteries and funerary art, the organisation manages a unique collection of plaster models, designs, and sculptures from the Salu family workshops. Over the course of three generations, beginning in 1872, funerary monuments, sculptural works and flower arrangements were created here. Their craftsmanship remains visible today throughout Laeken Cemetery and on many other cemeteries across Belgium.
During Hide & Seek, this extraordinary heritage site provides the setting for a unique midday concert. The encounter between music rooted in Galicia and an environment steeped in Belgian history creates an unexpected dialogue between cultures, eras, and traditions. A rare cross-pollination where past and present meet.