Vooruit Geluid Festival Staalplaat Soundsystem was our guest during the 6th edition of Vooruit Geluid Festival (26-30th of march 2002). The idea for this project saw the light when Geert-Jan Hobijn (one of the founders of the acclaimed Dutch Staalplaat label) came to Vooruit and got an extended tour throughout the building. Many of the spaces awakened his enthusiasm but it was the big concert hall that inspired him most. A few weeks later the full concept was formed.

Geert Jan Hobijn and Carlo Crovato built a huge installation for 12 industrial floor polishers, a whole range of household equipment (coffeemachines, mixers,É) and technical tools. All the machines were obeying Geert Jan who was producing bizarre soundpieces and sometimes hilarious tunes, as a true master of ceremonies.

Downstairs the floor polishers were dancing in what seemed to be a choreography, on the balconies the other equipment was commenting the whole event in its own rattling way. The result was impressive to say the least: our concert hall, which usually hosts rock concerts and dance-parties for about 1200 people, was now the scene of a Sissy-esque electric ballroom experience, with the floor polishers as spastic ballroom dancers and the other machines as enthusiastic side-actors. Eva De Groote, Music Department Arts Centre Vooruit.

MP3 of Sweet Sissy and the Ballroom Hiss