Best of Budapest & Hungary

Hooverphonic's most famous album, The Magnificent Tree, will celebrate its 25th birthday next year, and the band will return to Budapest with 25th Anniversary The Magnificent Tree tour. So, be preapered to hear in live their legendary songs, like Mad About You or Vinegar & Salt on 6th of April, at Dürer Kert. The band will be joined on tour by a string quartet.

    Formed in Belgium in 1995, Hooverphonic's style has been eclectic and diverse from the start, incorporating elements of pop, rock and electronic music. The band was originally founded by Alex Callier, Raymond Geerts and Liesje Sadonius, and was later joined by singer Geike Arnaert, then only 18 years old. By the time The Magnificent Tree was released as their third studio album in 2000, the band had already garnered several accolades for their unique style and hauntingly beautiful compositions. Their debut album, New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular, introduced audiences to their dreamy trip-hop sound and won critical acclaim, while the subsequent Blue Wonder Power Milk further cemented their reputation with its lush instrumentation and cinematic soundscape. With tracks like Club Montepulciano and This Strange Effect, they proved that their atmospheric, melancholic music resonates with audiences.

    At the same time, The Magnificent Tree was the album that gave them their breakthrough on an international level. The album, released in 2000, featured hits such as Mad About You and Vinegar & Salt, which were picked up by the mainstream and helped the band consolidate their position in the music industry. Featuring Geike Arnaert's ethereal vocals at the centre, The Magnificent Tree became a significant milestone in Hooverphonic's career, showcasing their songwriting talent and sonic evolution. The album blended trip-hop with pop sensibilities, impressing audiences worldwide with its unique instrumentation.

    Overall, it is true that Hooverphonic's musical journey that led to The Magnificent Tree has been characterised by a commitment to innovation, artistic development and pushing the boundaries of alternative and electronic music. The album has become a timeless classic, embodying the band's distinctive style and laying the foundations for further success in the years to come. And Hooverphonic has been an actively touring and creative band ever since, although the line-up has changed several times over the years, and after her departure in 2020 Geike Arnaert returned to lead the band, once again providing the sound of her magical voice. And now, the iconic songs of 25-year-old The Magnificent Tree will be performed on 6th April at the Dürer Kert, with a string quartet to make the evening even more special.