Gumbo Kings to release their debut album Hotel Belvédère

Gumbo Kings to release their debut album Hotel Belvédère

On February 7 Gumbo Kings will release their highly anticipated debut album Hotel Belvédère. The album was produced and mixed by Simon Akkermans (C-Mon & Kipsky). This debut was recorded with Akkermans at Rotterdam's Epic Rainbow Unicorn studio as well as at the band's own French Quarter Studio in Haarlem. The first single All Night Long is out now.

Hotel Belvédère takes the listener to a fictional hotel in 1980s Miami. A ‘house of ill repute’ as the English would say. This setting is the basis for the album. Frontman Boy Vielvoije describes the album as a place where melancholic stories and raw energy come together, influenced by personal experiences, and musically by The Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys, Black Pumas and Nathaniel Rateliff. “Many songs on Hotel Belvédère are about the complex relationship with my father. A troubled man who made things pretty difficult for me as a child. Recently I decided to break off contact. These are not pretty topics, but I want to guard myself against victimization. That's why I think it's cool that those very topics have often coincided with pretty cool and groovy music.”

Gumbo Kings is a dynamic five-member band, featuring the experienced talents of Boy Vielvoije (vocals/mouth organ), Jonne Venmans (bass guitar), Tim William van Ouwerkerk (gitar), Thomas Hanenberg (keys) and Remon Hubert (drums), all of whom have made a significant mark on the Dutch music scene with their work alongside renowned acts such as Caro Emerald, Lucas Hamming, Rilan & the Bombardiers, and Akwasi. On this album the band combines their traditional influences of Rhythm 'n Blues, Soul and Southern music traditions from the US with modern hip-hop beats and 80's synths.

The first single All Night Long is a cross-over between Bee Gees and Rhythm 'n Blues with driving guitar like Arctic Monkeys, deep bass grooves and 80's synths. “All Night Long is about a mythical figure who comes to scare you when night falls. It's a fantasy figure in this song but for me as a kid there really was someone like that, my own father.” - says Boy. The single gives a good glimpse of the upcoming album. Check out All Night Long at the bottom of this post.

Gumbo Kings introduced the world to their own sound in 2018 on the first self-titled EP, followed by their second EP In The Dark in 2022. The band subsequently impressed with their energetic live performances at Popronde, Bevrijdingspop and Noorderslag among others. Hotel Belvédère will be presented on February 7 at Paradiso, Amsterdam. After the album release the band will tour throughout the Netherlands.

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