Upperlip Orchestra

Upperlip Orchestra started as an imaginary orchestra in frontman Bert Lietaert’s head in 2002. Lietaert is writing the score for ‘Doodshoofd ‘02’, a theatre production about the live and work of cult poet Jotie ’t Hooft. In 2003 imagination becomes reality and the orchestra chairs are occupied by musicians: Ewout Pierreux (rhodes/piano), Martijn Vanbuel (contrabas), Maarten Moesen (drums), Joy Adegoke (vocals) en Bert Lietaert himself (guitar). Experimenting and composing results in a first demo. ‘Lazy day’, one of the numbers on the demo, wins the demopoll prize at one of Belgium’s leading radio stations ‘Studio Brussels’. Upperlip Orchestra swings on a musical cord where zappa, bowie, radiohead, bartok, piazzolla and other musical characters meet each other for guinness and ale. In the fall of 2003, ULO returns to the (home)studio. This time, Thomas Sainderichin sits behind the contrabas. This results in a demo which is applauded and described by Axl Peleman in Zap magazine as an ‘ear’ opener for the music industry in Belgium. In 2004 ULO goes live. Upperlip Orchestra is: Ewout Pierreux (piano / rhodes) Thomas Sainderichin (double bass / electric bass) Maarten Moessen (drums) Joy Adegoke (vocals) Bert Lietaert (guitars / vocals) Bert Hornikx (soundscapes / programming)