Belgium
Irene Rossi
ESNS:
2025
promotor, Ancienne Belgique
Rossi has a long history in music: in 1988, she started working in the Brussels venue Ancienne Belgique where she could learn all the different skills you need to promote concerts. After 2 years she started a freelance career as copy writer, journalist, tv-editor and press officer. In 1990 she was part of the birth of Couleur Café Festival, the first event that promoted Cosmpolitan African music. The festival grew to be the finest in Brussels, presenting afro, latin, hip hop, reggae, funk, soul, jazz & electronic music from all over the world combining it with excellent food, exhibitions and social causes. Within the festival she combined different responsibilities and jobs - press and PR-officer, durability manager, art curator and music programmer. After 32 years she embarked in a new adventure as music promotor in AB, her first love and now one of the best venues in Europe. Here she can freewheel through all the musical genres she likes : Afro-pop, hip hop, reggae, funk & soul, global sounds but also old and new punkbands and always with a special eye for new and established Belgian talent. She is also Chairman of the Board for the legendary venue Vaartkapoen situated in ‘hellhole’ Molenbeek.