BIO

In 1992, four youngsters with a classical music education started to make music together in a rather unconventional way: using clarinet, accordion, violin and cello.
Soon they became a live band much in demand: everyone in the Benelux countries wanted to see the hyperkinetic foursome and hear their unconventional music.

Die Abendunterhaltung surprised their audience with their long instrumental compositions which combined the energy of punk with the virtuosity of classical musicians.
The band built a renowned live-reputation by playing extensively and recorded their independent debut-CD in 1996.

Slightly overwhelmed by the huge success off their first album "Die Anarchistische Abendunterhaltung" and after their very first European tour, they signed a record deal with Sony, a guarantee for a world wide distribution.

The second album "We Need New Animals" (released in 1998) is the result of the band's urge to broaden their horizons. The line-up changed from an acoustic quartet into a vast collective of musicians and vocalists. (An Pierlé and Angelique Wilkie on vocals, David Bovée on guitar, Michael Brook on bass and Jason Lewis on drums)

Meanwhile, the band was invited to tour France and Italy with artists such as Bjork, 16 Horsepower and Tortoise, and the live act evolved into an intriguing programme spanning acoustic 'classical' parts and heavy electronic dub sessions.

In 2000 the band released it's third album "Life Transmission". This is definitely DAAU's most eclectic piece of work to date. The music evolves from hip hop tracks (with guest vocals of Technotronic's Ya Kid K) to almost classical orchestral compositions and back to Balkan inspired folk tunes.
An extensive tour followed. The band played almost every big venue in Benelux, and plenty of the major rock, jazz and world festivals.

In 2001 DAAU's career took a big turn. Due to the hardly mass market musical output of the band, the record company decided to finish their collaboration. The musicians had been frustrated for several years by the major record companies musical policy and decided to take their fate in their own hands. Rather than signing with another company they declared a state of independence by founding their own label, Radical Duke Entertainment.

The band recorded a new EP, 32 minutes of original music that was written specially for a piece of Modern Dance by Choreographer Thierry Smits and Compagnie Thor: "Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain". This recording was released in May 2002 and was the first release on DAAU's own label.

The next full album came out in 2003. "Tub Gurnard Goodness" marks the return of the band to it's musical roots as they appeared for the first time since 1996 as a quartet. The instrumental compositions mainly focus on the eastern European tradition, twisted into DAAU's unique musical universe.

Simultaneously, DAAU cooperated with the French electro trio EZ3KIEL on their second album, Versus. The marriage became a success story, and the project played more than fifty, mostly sold out, shows in France.

DAAU's fifth album "Domestic Wildlife" was released in 2005. Two new musicians, Fré Madou and Geert Budts, joined the band on bass and drums. The music stayed true to its acoustic origins, but a steamy sauce of jazz-rock was added to the recipe.

Meanwhile DAAU's label already has a solid network of distribution in Europe, and through their numerous performances in clubs and festivals, the band has never stopped gaining a constantly growing reputation in Europe's alternative music scene.
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