TOM & AURELIE

short biography 

This Belgian acoustic duo started out in 2004 and has since received numerous prices and award. Their debut album “Festina Lente” was album of the year by national radio Klara and fROOTS called it “our favourite new album”. After playing the major festivals and touring in France, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Switserland, Senegal, … the Belgian minister of culture even gave them in 2021 the Flemish Folk Award for Best Live Band.  In the vibrating Belgian folk scene they are considered the most interesting musical act since they fully exploit that strange “Belgitude” which is sometimes defined as creating an identity out of a non-identity.

On stage they use unexpected instruments like a trumpetviolin, a viola d’amore, a musical saw, a sitar and a one of a kind baszouki which was invented and constructed especially for them. To this they add their polymorphic voices, then rasping, then cristal and silky, sublime. Sometimes it sounds like Goethe married to Tom Waits, sometimes like a Mali blues on a nail box violin, sometimes like french fantasy chanson and sometimes like a baroque viola d’amore in constellation with a fat grooving classical guitar. They radiate a rare madness while maintaining sharp focus on various nomadic melodies. You cannot put a format on them, their music is free and graceful, timeless yet mortal.

Folkworld called them "one of the most inventive European folk related groups” and their latest album “The Seven Gardens” reached #4 in the European World Music Charts. 

To keep the touring as sustainable as possible, this couple uses the solar power from their off-grid cabin in the Ardens to charge their long range EV packed with instruments. If need be, they can even power their PA with the car. True off-grid folk !

long biography

Belgian folk pioneers Tom Theuns and Aurélie Dorzée have spent decades reshaping the acoustic landscape. With a classical foundation, Aurélie made waves in the Walloon folk scene during the 1990s, playing violin for key bands like Pantha Rei and Trio Trad. Meanwhile, Tom was a driving force in Flanders, founding and playing guitar and banjo for influential groups such as Ambrozijn and Think of One. Their union in 2004 marked the fusion of diverse traditions, embodying the unique “Belgitude”—the art of crafting an identity from non-identity. Folkworld praised them as “one of the most inventive European folk-related groups.”

The duo initially performed under the name Aurelia, alongside percussionist Stephan Poughin. Their debut performance landed them a record deal with Homerecords, initiating a deep, lasting collaboration. Their first album, Festina Lente, was named Album of the Year by national radio station KLARA and received widespread acclaim:

“You put on a record, and words fail to describe the images it conjures.”  ***** (De Standaard) , **** (Vers L’Avenir) ,“Beautiful and unclassifiable, fluid yet bold.”  *** (Le Soir)

Riding the momentum of their success, the trio graced major festivals such as Sfinx, Dranouter, Rudolstadt, and Lindeboom, touring across Europe and Africa. Their adventurous spirit led them to acquire a 40-meter ship, Aurelia Feria, in 2007, transforming it into a floating concert venue with an 85-seat capacity.  They played 120 shows along Belgian waterways, all the way to Paris—maritime journeys that fueled their second album, Hypnogol, featuring Michel Massot on tuba and Sara Salverius on accordion.

Their boundless creativity saw them reach the finals of La Biennale de la Chanson Française and contribute to theatrical productions like Tête à Claques. Still under Aurelia, they released The Hour of the Wolf, inspired by the haunting cinematic works of Ingmar Bergman.

A trip to Senegal and Mali in 2010 led to La Création du Monde, where they collaborated with Senegalese percussionist Serigne CM Gueye. The album was lauded internationally:

“A calm, slow, and powerful journey between serenity and ecstasy.”  *** (Le Soir) ,  “A stunning fusion of violin, guitar, and calabash, with vocals that leave no listener indifferent.”  **** (Norran, Sweden)

In 2018, they ventured into children’s productions with Pipa Polo, a show that unexpectedly launched a two-year tour across France with over 250 performances. Their next project, La Linea, tackled themes of borders and immigration using mime, sustaining a five-year tour in Norway.

Seeking greater sonic freedom, Tom & Aurélie transitioned into a duo, recording L’Art de Voler almost entirely live and analogue—a work nominated for France’s Octave de la Musique. They continued collaborating with artists like Gabriel Yacoub, Areski Belkacem, and Maskesmachien. Their sixth album, Elixir, saw them delve into medieval soundscapes with Michel Massot, incorporating exotic instruments like the nailbox violin and psalterion.

 “A masterpiece.” (New Folk Sounds),  “Elixir is the quintessence of life.” (L’Avenir)

Their creativity extended to film, producing a surreal short movie with director eRno Le Mentholé. In 2021, their excellence was recognized with the Flemish Folk Award for Best Live Band.

Their seventh release, “The Seven Gardens” (2022), embraces a conceptual approach—seven musical gardens presented in seven singles, featuring seven languages and lyrics inspired by seven poets.

In 2025 , they released yet another innovating concept album : “dHun”, in which they mingled the intricate beauty of Indian ragas with the vibrant rythms of European folk dances.

Continuing to push folk’s boundaries, Tom & Aurélie remain explorers of sound—injecting musical “viruses” into their bloodstream, eager to see what new symptoms emerge.