Where should alternative people go out?

In my spare time, I usually go to rock bar De Rots, in the heart of Antwerp. The bar is situated on the Melkmarkt. De Rots is a rather new bar. It has been opened because there were lots of pop music bars, but no rock bars in the city. The Rots is also unique. It consists of three different parts. There’s the bar, the store (selling LPs, CDs, DVDs and memorabilia) and a place where local bands can rehearse.

When I want to see a good metal band perform, the place to be is the Biebob. The Biebob is a rather small venue in Vosselaar, nearby Turnhout. Because the room is so small, it’s a very cosy venue. Also, there is no barrier between the stage and the crowd. This way you truly feel connected to the band performing. Concert tickets at the Biebob almost never exceed the price of 20 euros, which is a good thing for young people who don’t have much money. The bands playing at the Biebob are not as big as those who perform at Hof ter Lo, though they attract a pretty big crowd as well.

Hof ter Lo is quite a big venue situated on the Noordersingel in Borgerhout. Hof ter Lo attracts bands with a huge international fan base. The most recent example is Megadeth. Ticket prices at Hof ter Lo are higher. They sometimes reach 30 to 35 euros. Since 2002, Hof ter Lo also offers local bands the opportunity to rehearse in the same conditions as professional bands. This complex, consisting of four rooms, can be found in the basement of Hof ter Lo.

Jessica Van Sintruyen