Upcoming Shows:
Bookings: lostharbours@gmail.com

It is difficult to define what type of music I do - I have been writing over 25 songs (in general ballads but also some catchy & rhythmic songs, all of them with important influence of pop & soul, but also some jazz, blues, swing...)

My lyrics are quite personal - I write only about what I know. This means, that I talk about my own life: not only about the eternal topic of love, but also about those challenges that Life provided me, those lessons that I got from them and the consequent achievements... and I am happy to share all of this seeking to help as many people as possible to get inspired and follow their own path.

"Cafe Mondiale" consists of me on mandolin and Bert Santilly on accordion. "Shakey Breaks The Ice" has me on acoustic jazz guitar, Bert on accordion, and Trevor Barlow on clarinet. "Skibboo" has me playing original tunes on tenor banjo supported by accordion (Bert), saxes (Trevor), hurdygurdy (Duncan Moss), bouzouki (Brian Cleary), bass (Dave Olney), and percussion (Anne Templer). I have yet to assemble all the members of Skibboo in one room, let alone organise a live gig, but one day I will, and we are going to have a ball!

Ishtar maakt muziek die naar het hart gaat. Sterke melodieën die je onverwachts vastgrijpen en niet meer loslaten. De vocale en instrumentale arrangementen zijn hoofdzakelijk gebaseerd op authentiek bronnenmateriaal van de 11de eeuw tot op heden. Het zijn pareltjes van liefdesliederen, gevonden in de schatkamers van de Europese volksmuziek. Daarnaast zijn er ook talrijke nieuwe composities. 

De muziek die Ishtar brengt getuigt van een innerlijke kracht die probleemloos taal- en cultuurbarrières overstijgt. 

Elk lied is een verhaal, elke melodie een getuigenis. Geliefden hebben sinds mensenheugnis gecommuniceerd over hun gevoelens door er over te zingen. Ishtar distilleert die boodschap en giet het gevonden elixir in een verrassend nieuwe muzikale vorm. 

In 2008 was Ishtar de Belgische kandidaat voor het Eurosongfestival in Belgrado met het nummer O julissi na Jalini. 


Since 2001 , the Belgian band Ishtar makes music that goes straight to the heart. Strong melodies that take you away into an other world. The vocal and instrumental arrangements are based on authentic musical material from the 11th century up to the present time. Little jewels from the treasury of European folk music. 

The songs presented by Ishtar stand the test of time thanks to their emotional value and their honesty. They are jewels from the treasury of European folk music and, although very diverse, have a common theme : love in all its facets. 

The songs that Ishtar presents easily cross linguistic and cultural borders. 

Each song tells a story, each melody is a testimony. Lovers have always communicated their feelings by singing them. Ishtar distils this message and offers the elixir in a surprising new musical form. 

Ishtar was representing Belgium in the Eurovision Songfestival in Belgrado ( 2008 ) with the song O julissi na Jalini. 



Ishtar Belgium is following