100 years Derroll Adams
On 27 November 2025, Derroll Adams would have turned 100. The American five-string banjo player arrived in the Low Countries at the end of the 1950s and became an icon of authenticity, non-conformism, and musical melancholy. His voice and banjo touched people straight in the heart – gentle, simple, honest.
Merodefestival celebrates his legacy together with Awa vzw, Muziekpublique, Muziekclub ’t Ey, Museum Vleeshuis, and the MIM through an exhibition, a series of concerts, and a glimpse into the personal archive kindly opened for the occasion by his widow, Danny Levy.
The program features a selection of artists who knew Derroll, were inspired by him, or, like him, introduced new music to our country. The concerts last one hour and are free of charge upon reservation.
The series will conclude with griots Malick Pathé Sow & Bao Sissoko, with other concerts at the MIM on 5, 12, and 19 November 2025.
