Tattoorist Live

Tijs Vanneste created a six‑part series for VRT Canvas in which he travels as a roaming tattoo artist and collector of stories through London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Vienna and Berlin. In each city he meets fascinating tattoo artists — creators who are often outsiders themselves, expressing both their own identity and that of their city through ink. Tijs observes, listens, gets tattooed, and above all: he discovers each city through the eyes of its local tattoo artist.

These artists know their cities like no one else — not only because of the countless hours they’ve spent there, but also through the intimate conversations they have with locals during tattoo sessions. They offer Tijs insight into their unique style and their vision of tattooing. After tattooing him, they take him on a journey through the city’s hidden corners and special places.

‘Tattoorist’ is at once a travel programme, a cultural dialogue, and a portrait of Europe in ink, image and music. As the series takes shape, the music grows alongside it. For each city, Tijs writes soundscapes and his own musical adaptations — pieces that not only capture the city’s atmosphere but also reflect his personal impressions and encounters.

These soundscapes and songs now form the foundation of ‘Tattoorist Live’, an intense trip in which music and soundscapes merge into a moving experience. Tijs surrounds himself with Tangled Horns, the Kempen‑based guitar band with a formidable live reputation. For years they ruled the underground with their uncompromising energy and sound. Tijs, a fan from day one, now gives them a well‑deserved push toward a wider audience. Anyone who has ever seen Tangled Horns live knows what that means: energy you simply cannot withstand.

‘Tattoorist Live’ is more than a concert. It is a musical road movie on stage. Covers from the TV series flow seamlessly into soundscapes, after which the band erupts into rock versions that make each city breathe anew. From London punk attitude to Parisian poetry, from Berlin beats to Roman warmth: a European journey through sound, image and emotion.