XL AIR Invites Kiosk Radio, Microwave, Radio Panik, Koen Galle, Minka De Regt & Douwe Haenen

Online community radio in Brussels

XL AIR is an online radio station at RITCS where young people can experiment with radio and sound.

But XL AIR is not the only online radio station in the city. In recent years, several online community radio stations have emerged in Brussels, focusing on local communities with a unique musical identity.

"Where do these radio stations come from, what is their purpose, and how do they interact with the city?" are just a few questions, ready to get answered.

XL AIR invites

The evening consists of:

• An introduction to the concept of “online community radio” by Koen Galle (nightlife and radio author).
• A panel discussion with Jim Becker (co-founder of Kiosk Radio), Seppe Claes (co-founder of Microwave Radio), Nancy Junion (Radio Panik), Koen Galle and Minka De Regt.
• An interactive discussion with the audience, moderated by Douwe Haenen (Curieus).

Interactive discussion

The focus of the evening will be on interactive discussion, because XL AIR, as a research platform, wants to gain new insights into this topic. This will not be a passive Q&A, but a well-prepared moment of interaction with all those present, whom we will actively question (in working groups on various topics), according to the methodology of moderator Douwe Haenen.

Bios

Koen Galle (author, radio editor, dj and nightlife-expert)

Koen Galle (born 1983) founded his publishing house, AfterClub, to uncover stories about Belgium's rich electronic music culture and nightlife. He first got hooked on dance music in the late 1990s and eventually made a name for himself as a club and radio DJ. Over time, his fascination with the people and stories behind the music led him to begin writing and publishing.

Koen Galle is, above all, a storyteller with a deep passion for uncovering the heart of people's experiences. With a genuine curiosity for personal stories, he immerses himself in the community to discover unheard voices. Through his work, he brings forward narratives that might otherwise fade into obscurity, offering a reliable perspective that bridges past and present, history and the contemporary scene.

• koengalle.substack.com
• koengalle.party

Jim Becker (Kiosk Radio)

Co-founder of Kiosk Radio, a community web radio station and streaming platform broadcasting 24/7 from a wooden kiosk in the heart of Brussels’ historic 'Parc Royal'. Since 2017, it’s been a place where music drifts between genres without boundaries or rules.

What started as a meeting point for Belgium’s underground has grown into a platform with a global reach. The schedule mixes live DJ sets, pre-recorded shows and conversations, bringing together local crews with international artists passing through. The kiosk itself is more than just a studio: it's a gathering place for locals and visitors alike. A meeting point where different communities overlap, with music as the common ground.

• https://kioskradio.com/about

Seppe Claes (Microwave Radio)

Co-founder of Microwave, an independent webradio streaming 24/7 from Brussels, providing a platform where all kinds of artists can express themselves through audio and video.

Through their webradio they try to remove the barrier for upcoming artists to show their work. While also closing the gap between different art disciplines, combining audio and visual to complement and augment each other.

To break out of this online box, Microwave is extending their vision to connect artists from all disciplines through live events.

• https://www.microwave.live/

Minka De Regt

Minka de Regt is a DJ/sound artist, anthropologist, and researcher, based in Rotterdam. She graduated from the Research Master’s program in Gender Studies at Utrecht University, developing research interests in multisensory anthropology, sound studies, digital media, and the commons. Her master's thesis focused on online community radio in Copenhagen (Drift Radio) and Palestine (Radio Alhara) from a feminist, transnational perspective. She is the author of ‘Online Community Radio ‘On the Margins': Rethinking Borders and Futures through Palestinian Radio Alhara’ in Junctions, and co-author of a forthcoming book chapter that delves further into Radio Alhara's sonic interventions.

Radio Panik

Radio Panik is a free radio station that defines itself as a community radio station promoting expression and creativity, as well as a multi- and intercultural radio station. It was created in 1983 on the initiative of a group of people campaigning against racism and for human rights.

Although its involvement at the local level, both socially and culturally, has gradually become one of its priority objectives, it has never lost sight of its ‘generalist’ mission and remains, within an increasingly uniform media landscape, a communication tool whose marginal position promotes freedom, independence and diversity.

Douwe Haenen (Curieus)

Douwe Haenen is a program maker and heritage professional. During his studies at the Reinwardt Academy, he focused on ethical issues within the cultural sector. He has worked with and advised organizations such as deBuren, the Bonnefantenmuseum, OSCAM, and SHCL. He is currently a program maker at Curieus, where he remains committed to promoting accessibility and participation in the cultural sector. Additionally, he is involved with the Brussels-based collective Matinée.