Sound of the Belgian Underground is entering an exciting new phase, moving to a new venue and expanding into a yearly celebration of Belgium's alternative music scene. After years of making waves at the iconic Ancienne Belgique, SOBU will now alternate annually between AB and the legendary Botanique, ensuring fresh energy and new perspectives with each edition. The 2025 edition of the Different Class festival will spotlight the finest of the Belgian underground, featuring electrifying live sets and DJ performances that will keep the energy pulsing into the early hours.
SOBU has earned its place as a cult favourite, offering a rare opportunity to experience a wide range of innovative artists in one night, all at an unbeatable price. This is the festival where you can discover tomorrow's talents before they blow up. The Wall of Fame includes acts none other than Loverman, Saliva, Hiele, Chibi Ichigo, David Numwamu and Victor De Roo. With curators Bader Shashit (Yalla Worldwide) and Laura Conant (MONTAGE) taking the reins for the 2025 edition, SOBU continues to push boundaries, creating a space for artists and fans alike to explore new sonic landscapes.
Laura Conant is a Brussels-based DJ, producer, designer, and developer whose work blends gender theory, technology, and sound. She co-founded MONTAGE, an experimental music label and event series focused on diversity and accessibility in electronic music. As a radio manager at LYL Brussels, Laura advocates for more inclusive line-ups. Her practice includes creating tools through coding to empower artists from the FLINTA* community. Since 2018, she’s also been part of Bye Bye Binary, a collective exploring gender-fluid typography and inclusive communication within the French language.
Bader Shashit is a DJ, music producer, and filmmaker based in Ghent, whose work blends his cultural heritage, immersed in the sounds of Libyan Bedouin rhythms and Syrian classical music, with a passion for community empowerment. As a multidisciplinary artist and social-cultural worker for Voem vzw, Shashit amplifies voices through projects like Yalla Worldwide, which seeks to democratise nightlife. His work is grounded in creating platforms for communities to connect and express themselves and is committed to fostering authenticity, representation, and mutual support.
Sound of the Belgian Underground 2025 are:
4nouki, Lilac Pavilion, Sunchaser, Birame, MartyrX, OLGA, We In The Zoo, Brainrot Cowboy, Félicette, Kiche, Holy Coco, Gomar, Xaxalxe, Gucc Imane, Malo Z and Yalla Worldwide & friends!
Join us on Friday 31.01.2025, during the national week of Belgian Music, as we celebrate our underground music and usher in a new era of discovery—because the Sound of the Belgian Underground is only getting louder.
Graphic Design by Laura Conant
Different Class works with the interest of their community at heart.
Our work’s purpose is to foster a solid network for independent artists, those who love them, and those who want to support them. Become a member to contribute to the local Belgian art scene.
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