Mechelen Expands with 2 New Rehearsal Spaces and More Concerts at Transit M

Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Mechelen’s Transit M youth site will get 2 new rehearsal spaces; Concertzaak manages De Club (150 capacity) and plans weekly concerts. Alderman Kristof Calvo and Stijn Van Aerschot lead music expansion.

As VRT News reported, Mechelen will get 2 new rehearsal spaces for local musicians at Transit M, the youth centre on Dovaneplein. They mentioned that the new spaces will give artists a proper place to practice, collaborate, and develop their music.

We have very ambitious plans for the Transit M youth centre,”

says Alderman for Culture Kristof Calvo (Mechelen).

“In 10 years, we want a brand-new building for music and nightlife. We don’t want to wait for that. That’s why we’re already incorporating more fun and rock ‘n’ roll into the existing infrastructure. It will be a fully-fledged music centre in the city.”

How is Mechelen expanding Transit M and Concertzaal De Club for musicians?

The city also handed management of De Club, a small concert hall for about 150 people, to the non-profit group Concertzaak, based in Mechelen. Concertzaak has transformed a former back room into a lively music venue. It hosts a range of shows, from local bands to experimental acts. 

The organisation focuses on offering performances that attract a wide audience. The non-profit group Concertzaak currently organises about 1 concert per month at De Club, the small concert hall in Mechelen. The organisation plans to increase this to one concert per week. 

“By taking over management ourselves, we can tailor De Club even more effectively to the needs of live music,”

says Stin Van Aerschot of Concertzaak.

“Musicians who can’t rehearse are like football players who can’t train.”

Stijn Van Aerschot, non-profit organisation Concertzaak

Concertzaak already manages 2 rehearsal spaces in a former warehouse of the old customs building on the square. Plans are in place to add 2 more rehearsal rooms.

“We’re getting a lot of requests from musicians to rehearse without it costing anyone any money. Musicians who can’t rehearse are like footballers who can’t train. We want to support the local scene as much as possible. External organisers are also welcome.”

The group is also considering Trix in Borgerhout as the location for a future music centre.

“We want to replicate the Trix model at the Mechelen level. Mechelen is, of course, smaller than Antwerp. We’re centrally located between Brussels and Antwerp, but it’s still easy to experience music nearby in your own city, by attending concerts or working on music yourself.”

The non‑profit group Concertzaak started in 2022 to support the local music scene in Mechelen. Since then, Concertzaak has regularly organised concerts in De Club


Comments

11 responses to “Mechelen Expands with 2 New Rehearsal Spaces and More Concerts at Transit M”

  1. TulipCake Avatar

    Oh, fantastic! More rehearsal spaces for our aspiring rockstars – because who doesn’t need a place to practice their air guitar skills, right? 🤘🏽 Just what Mechelen was missing, a few more rooms to drown out the sound of silence! 🎶

  2. Desert Haze Avatar
    Desert Haze

    Looks like Mechelen is really going for it with these rehearsal spaces—because nothing says “we care about musicians” like creating a few more rooms where they can play for free while the rest of us pay through the nose for tickets! 🎶💸

  3. Venom Charms Avatar
    Venom Charms

    Oh great, more rehearsal spaces in Mechelen! Because nothing screams “rock ‘n’ roll” like squeezing into a 150-cap venue every week. 🎸 Can’t wait for the city to become the next music hotspot… right after we fix the potholes! 😂

  4. More rehearsal spaces in Mechelen? Quite the ambitious project for a city that barely remembers how to rock! 🎸 Next thing you know, they’ll be claiming they’re the new music capital of Europe. 😂

  5. gold 
bentley Avatar
    gold bentley

    Oh, brilliant! Just what Mechelen needed—two more rehearsal spaces because clearly, the city’s been lacking in the whole “musicians practicing” department. 🎸 Can’t wait for the noise complaints to flood in! 😂

  6. Infinite Hole Avatar
    Infinite Hole

    Typical Mechelen, turning a back room into a concert hall while the rest of us are still fighting over parking spaces. 😂 Can’t wait to see how ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ this place can get; might even make Brussels look like a sleepy village!

  7. lightweight Avatar
    lightweight

    Oh, how thrilling! Two new rehearsal spaces in Mechelen—because what every struggling artist really needs is more places to *not* get discovered. 🎸💼 Just what we were missing, more local bands jamming while the rest of us try to remember what silence sounds like!

  8. Back Bett Avatar

    Oh, fantastic! Just what Mechelen needs—two more rehearsal spaces for musicians who are utterly convinced they’ll be the next big thing. 🎸 Because nothing screams “world-class music scene” like a couple of crammed rooms and a weekly concert schedule. Bravo! 👏

  9. Fennel Dove Avatar
    Fennel Dove

    So, Mechelen’s decided it needs a bit more “rock ‘n’ roll” in its life, eh? Next stop, a world tour from the local talent at the snazzy new rehearsal spaces – because who doesn’t need another excuse to practice in a room with questionable acoustics? 🎸😅

  10. The Beekeeper Avatar
    The Beekeeper

    Oh joy, more rehearsal spaces! Because nothing says “cultural renaissance” like musicians trying to outdo each other in a glorified broom cupboard. 🎸💼

  11. Dez North Avatar

    Brilliant, just what Mechelen needed—more places for musicians to practice their “artistic expressions” while dodging real jobs! 🎸 Who needs a functioning economy when you can have weekly concerts in a room that fits about as many people as my grandma’s living room? 🍷

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

What Changes Will Burnham Actually Make?

What Changes Will Burnham Actually Make?

Andy Burnham entered office with promises of the most significant change in Britain in four decades. However, one week into his leadership, is Britain witnessing true transformation or merely a different political approach?
As Burnham reveals proposals on social care, devolution, and welfare, Sam and Anne question the magnitude of Burnham’s announced policies. Is this merely a continuation o

Read More

India Exam Reform Panel Announced by Modi Following Nationwide Protests

India Exam Reform Panel Announced by Modi Following Nationwide Protests

New Delhi, July 26 Eurotoday — India exam reform panel has been announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review and modernise the country’s examination system after widespread student protests over alleged paper leaks and recruitment exam irregularities. The government said the committee will examine security measures, governance, technology, and administrative processes to strengthen transp

Read More

Rome Transforms Cinemas and Libraries into "Climate Shelters"

Rome Transforms Cinemas and Libraries into "Climate Shelters"

Eleven air-conditioned cinemas and the same number of libraries in Rome are opening their doors for free to residents facing a heatwave, announced municipal authorities, as reported by AFP.
Eleven cinemas and an equal number of libraries are part of this initiative from July 23 to August 4.
“Climate change, unfortunately, is a reality. It impacts people’s lives, health, social connections,

Read More

How the EU Calculates Big Tech Fines: Methodical or Arbitrary?

How the EU Calculates Big Tech Fines: Methodical or Arbitrary?

The Digital Markets Act (DMA), a regulatory law, differs from traditional antitrust laws as its fines focus more on encouraging compliance rather than merely penalizing firms and are less shocking in amount. In 2025, when the Commission began issuing multi-million euro fines under the DMA, some ‘Big Tech’ opponents were critical. The Commission cited the brief duration of the conduct a

Read More

Lula Warns New US Tariffs Jeopardize US-Brazil Economic Ties

Lula Warns New US Tariffs Jeopardize US-Brazil Economic Ties

Brasília, July 26 Eurotoday Newspaper — US Brazil economic relations have entered another period of uncertainty after Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized new U.S. tariffs in an opinion article published by The Washington Post. Lula described the trade measures as a mistake, arguing they could raise costs for businesses and consumers while damaging long-standing commercial ti

Read More

Spain Reintroduces Goats and Cows to Mountains as Traditional Fire Prevention Strategy

Spain Reintroduces Goats and Cows to Mountains as Traditional Fire Prevention Strategy

In Galicia, Spain, local communities and farmers are successfully reintroducing traditional animal breeds, like the small long-horned Kachena cows, sheep, and goats, to graze on dry, flammable vegetation, as featured in a recent Artnews YouTube video.
This age-old method prevents forest fires by removing dangerous undergrowth and is most effective when combined with other measures like forest cle

Read More

Berlin Pride assault suspect killed by police

Berlin Pride assault suspect killed by police

Ballout drove a van into a crowd at the Tiergarten near a Pride event venue and attacked with a bladed weapon, possibly a machete, seriously injuring many, with one woman killed and 29 people hurt, Dobrindt stated. Ballout was known to authorities for criminal activities, radicalization, and Islamist ties, which led to a previous conviction, said Dobrindt.
A WELT report indicated that Ballout was

Read More

Merchant Vessel Sinks a Week After Russian Strike on Ukraine Cargo Ship

Merchant Vessel Sinks a Week After Russian Strike on Ukraine Cargo Ship

Odesa, Ukraine, July 26 Eurotoday Newspaper — Ukraine cargo ship attack developments took another turn after Ukrainian officials confirmed that a merchant vessel sank about a week after being struck by Russian fire near the Black Sea coast. The vessel had remained afloat following the initial attack but later succumbed to extensive structural damage. Officials said the incident highlights the co

Read More

Bulgaria Shuts Down Commission Investigating Citizens’ Ties to State Security Services

Bulgaria Shuts Down Commission Investigating Citizens’ Ties to State Security Services

Will the lessons of totalitarianism be forgotten!?
On July 21, the budget committee took the first step toward closing the Commission for Disclosure of Documents and for Declaration of Affiliation of Bulgarian Citizens to the State Security and Intelligence Services of the Bulgarian People’s Army (KRDOPBGDSRSBNA), citing arguments for savings. Despite appeals from scientists, journalists, lawyers

Read More

Extension du marché carbone : le jour où Macron et Bayrou ont dit non à quatre ministres

Extension du marché carbone : le jour où Macron et Bayrou ont dit non à quatre ministres

For drivers, it was proposed to neutralize the impact on pump prices by reducing taxes accordingly, which would require regular tax revisions. For buildings, only low-income households would be compensated through an increase in the energy check.
This compensation was deemed insufficient by Valérie Létard, the Housing Minister at the time. “When does one become modest or not? We’re tal

Read More