Die Verdammte Spielerei
The craziest walking orchestra of the Western Hemisphere, Ghent’s street-theatre saxophone wonder-orchestra since 2006: four saxes, a drum and Herr Kapellmeister Stefaan De Winter, from the Gentse Feesten to Scheire en de Schepping.
A chronological documentary of 56 moments spanning 2012–2026 on Loreline.
Curated by Olivier · last updated 2026-08-22
Eras
- Origins & the Walking Orchestra, Born in Ghent in July 2006, six men who ‘liepen in Gent rond’ and became the craziest walking orchestra of the Western Hemisphere: four saxophones, percussion and Herr Kapellmeister Stefaan De Winter.
- Festivals & Street Theatre, The wandering wonder-orchestra on the road, Gentse Feesten, Dranouter, Spectaculo Geleen, Tunnelfest and street stages across Belgium and beyond.
- Collaborations, Die Verdammte Spielerei ‘und Kameraden’, songs made with Lieven Tavernier, Sioen, Bart Maris, Kurt Burgelman, Wim Segers, Senne Guns and more of the Flemish scene.
- Classical Crossover, Pakske Klassiek and beyond, Handel, Purcell, Pergolesi and Bert Kaempfert reimagined for four saxes and a drum, often with guest singers.
- Stage Shows, Their theatrical productions, Een dag met Stefaan (2015), Nachtvorst (2017), Seniorie De Spielerei (2022) and the 20-year show Sax, Drugs & Marsmuziek (2024).
- TV & Screen, The Spielerei on screen, house orchestra of Scheire en de Schepping, Studio Brussel live sessions, De Zevende Dag and Dimitri Verhulst’s film.
- - Op Dranouter Festival. The Spielerei at Festival Dranouter, folk-festival crowds meet the marching saxophones.
- - Die Verdammte Spielerei (2013). Early street footage of the six-man walking orchestra doing what it does best, music on the move.
- - Weekend van het Volkscafé. A performance at the Weekend van het Volkscafé, Belgian café culture and marching saxes.
- - Gentse Feesten 2013. On home turf at the Gentse Feesten, the Ghent city festival where the band was born in 2006.
- - Het zotste wandelorkest van het Westelijk Halfrond. The official portrait: four saxes, a snare and a drummer rising from a manhole, the ‘craziest walking orchestra of the Western Hemisphere’, in their trademark white vests and army caps.
- - Een dag met Stefaan. The full orchestra on stage in their 2015 production ‘Een dag met Stefaan’.
- - Paint It Black - Studio Brussel (live). The Rolling Stones’ ‘Paint It Black’, live at Studio Brussel.
- - 9 to 5 - Studio Brussel (live). A live cover of Dolly Parton’s ‘9 to 5’ for Studio Brussel.
- - Caught By The Tide - Billie ft. Die Verdammte Spielerei. A Studio Brussel session with singer Billie.
- - Uprising - Studio Brussel (live). Muse’s ‘Uprising’ recast for saxophones, live at Studio Brussel.
- - Een dag met Stefaan (2015). From the 2015 stage production ‘Een dag met Stefaan’.
- - Die Verdammte Spielerei - the six. A studio portrait of the six-man ensemble: four saxophonists, percussion and Herr Kapellmeister Stefaan De Winter.
- - Gentse Feesten 2016 - Dag 10. A full set from day ten of the 2016 Gentse Feesten.
- - Pakske Klassiek (live). A live ‘Pakske Klassiek’ performance.
- - Nachtvorst. Frost-covered faces from the 2017 theatre show ‘Nachtvorst’, exploring the charm, and cold, of the night.
- - Die Verdammte Spielerei (2017). A brief street-performance snapshot.
- - Die Verdammte Spielerei 2015. The wandering wonder-orchestra in full flow, filmed by Close Line Projects.
- - Tunnelfest 2017. The band bringing its brass and mischief to Tunnelfest.
- - Teaser - Capitole Gent. A teaser for the band’s show at the Capitole in Ghent.
- - On the street (2018). A short street clip of the marching saxophone orchestra.
- - Pakske Klassiek. Die Verdammte Spielerei und Kameraden performing the classical ‘Pakske Klassiek’ programme.
- - Gentse Feesten 2018. The wonder-orchestra back at the Gentse Feesten in 2018.
- - Prettig gestoord wonderorkest. A studio portrait of the ‘pleasantly deranged wonder-orchestra’ from Ghent.
- - Laat Me Nu Toch Niet Alleen (live). A live performance of the Nachtvorst song.
- - Spielerei Kaept Kaempfert. The gold-jacket showmanship of ‘Spielerei Kaept Kaempfert’ (2019), the ensemble’s tribute to bandleader Bert Kaempfert.
- - Met Harmonie Euterpe Venray. A full concert with the Koninklijke Harmonie Euterpe, Venray.
- - Music for a While - Purcell (met Hanne Roos). Henry Purcell reimagined with soprano Hanne Roos.
- - Laat Me Nu Toch Niet Alleen (uit: Nachtvorst). From the 2017 theatre show ‘Nachtvorst’, exploring the charm of the night.
- - Dansen en Schuren (uit: Nachtvorst). A dancefloor number from the 2017 show ‘Nachtvorst’.
- - Zomer (met Senne Guns). A summer song made with Senne Guns.
- - Stabat Mater - Pergolesi (met Astrid Stockman & Lieven Scheire). Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with soprano Astrid Stockman and Lieven Scheire.
- - Piangerò la sorte mia - Handel (met Hanne Roos). Handel’s aria with soprano Hanne Roos.
- - Kaept Kaempfert - Live @ De Zevende Dag. The ‘Spielerei Kaept Kaempfert’ programme, exploring the catalogue of bandleader Bert Kaempfert.
- - L.O.V.E. - Live @ De Zevende Dag. A live TV performance on ‘De Zevende Dag’.
- - Een dag met Stefaan. ‘A day with Stefaan’, a portrait of the ensemble and its frontman Herr Kapellmeister Stefaan De Winter.
- - Pakske Klassiek (trailer). The trailer for ‘Pakske Klassiek’, Die Verdammte Spielerei und Kameraden bringing the classics to four saxes and a drum.
- - Eerste sneeuw (met Lieven Tavernier). ‘First snow’, a wintry Lieven Tavernier collaboration.
- - Klokken van Sint-Baafs (met Lieven Tavernier). A Lieven Tavernier collaboration named for the bells of Ghent’s Saint Bavo.
- - Warme Dagen. A Spielerei original, the wonder-orchestra’s own summer song, four saxes and percussion in full swing.
- - Bolero Di Quimet (met Rony Verbiest). A collaboration with accordionist Rony Verbiest.
- - Chinese Whistler (met Wim Segers). A Bobbejaan Schoepen classic reworked with vibraphonist Wim Segers.
- - Fanfare van Honger en Dorst (met Lieven Tavernier). With Ghent songwriter Lieven Tavernier, whose line ‘ze waren met zessen, ze liepen in Gent rond’ gave the band its founding myth.
- - Verdammte Vos - ode aan Luc De Vos (met Bart Maris). With Bart Maris, an ode to the late dEUS-era Gent icon Luc De Vos of Gorki.
- - Loetsebollekezoetse (met Kurt Burgelman). A collaboration with Ghent’s irreverent Kurt Burgelman.
- - Burden of Love (met Sioen). A collaboration with Belgian singer-songwriter Sioen.
- - Vanmoeten (met Bart Maris). With trumpeter Bart Maris (Flat Earth Society, X-Legged Sally).
- - Seniorie De Spielerei. The 2022 production ‘Seniorie De Spielerei’, the wonder-orchestra imagined grown old, soup on the table and feet in a bucket.
- - My Bonnie Is Over the Ocean. A street rendition, the Spielerei turning an old standard into a walking singalong.
- - Theaterconcert ‘Helden’ (2023). A 2023 theatre concert, ‘Helden’.
- - Spectaculo Geleen. The Spielerei at Spectaculo Geleen, working the crowd.
- - De Fanfare van Scheire (met Lieven Scheire). With Lieven Scheire, the band was house orchestra of the TV series ‘Scheire en de Schepping’.
- - Spectaculo Geleen 2025. The Spielerei at the Spectaculo street-theatre festival in Geleen, the Netherlands.
- - Spectaculo Geleen 2025 (clip). Street-theatre moment from Spectaculo Geleen 2025.
- - Spectaculo Geleen 2025 (clip II). Another Spectaculo Geleen 2025 street moment.
- - Spectaculo Geleen 2025 (full). A longer set from Spectaculo Geleen 2025.
- - Die Verdammte Spielerei. A short glimpse of the ensemble in action.
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