The Chasseurs de Prinkères brass band continues an old Brussels folk tradition that saw companies of merry zwanzeurs (a Brussels dialect term meaning revellers or jokers) set off in procession every May from central Brussels, the Marolles/Marollen and the Maritime Quarter, preceded by a brass band dressed in costume, bound for Uccle/Ukkel’s Saint-Job/Sint-Job district, on the pretext of hunting the cockchafer, which was then considered a harmful insect. These processions were a significant part of Brussels folklore. This popular tradition reached its peak in the 19th century, before dying out shortly after the First World War. It was first resurrected in the 1970s under the aegis of the Bergspelers association, based in Saint-Job/Sint-Job, only to fall into oblivion once again. In 2014, the brass band was re-formed and performed its first parade at the second ‘Homborch en Fête’ festival. Although based in Uccle/Ukkel, the band performs regularly throughout Brussels and beyond (mainly at carnivals). The current group consists of around 10 amateur brass and percussion musicians of all ages and levels. Its repertoire is drawn mainly from Brussels folklore, but also incorporates international folk traditions from as far afield as South America. The Chasseurs de Prinkères (whose name means ‘Cockchafer Hunters’ in Brussels dialect) have taken part in the Saint-Verhaegen/Sint-Verhaegen procession, the annual festival celebrated by students of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). They also provide entertainment during dressings of Manneken Pis. The band’s aim is to reconnect with our collective history, and to bring street, neighbourhood and community festivals to life in a traditional way, with processions and music.