A music festival in Liège, a gallery launch in Brussels, rooftop yoga in Antwerp, and more. See you there!

Music festival I: Les Ardentes

From 9 to 12 July Liège

This week the 10th edition of Liege’s musical highlight of the year kicks off, the annual Les Ardentes. Being located in the city but simultaneously at the borders of river Meuse, the festival nicely combines a rural with an urban atmosphere. The line-up inludes all music genres from rock and electro to folk and pop, featuring a number of outstanding highlights: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Metronomy, La Roux, Temples, The Hives, Deus, Iggy Pop, Great Mountain Fire, Slow Magic, Balthazar and Paul Weller are on the top of our list.

Gallery launch: Studio Baxton

Thursday, 9 July, 18h30 Brussels

Studio Baxton, the brainchild of photography passionates Silvano Magnone, Nicolas Lambert and Vincent Bouchendhomme, opened a year and a half ago in Brussels. The project is dedicated to ancient photography techniques such as wet plate photography, which clients are invited to witness in the darkroom. Plus, the shop sells everything fans of vintage and analogue photography can dream of, and it regularly hosts workshops and exhibitions. Now Studio Baxton is expanding, inaugurating a new, much bigger space spread over two levels, with a proper gallery room on the first floor. You’re invited to the opening this Thursday!

Last days: George Condo at Xavier Hufkens

Runs until Saturday, 11 July Brussels

American artist George Condo’s work is part of numerous renowned museum collections from the Guggenheim to MoMA, and accordingly is being considered as one of the country’s most significant living artists today. If you haven’t done so already, make sure to check out his current exhibition at Brussels’ Xavier Hufkens Gallery. While Condo has mainly made a name for himself as a painter, “Works on Paper” emphasizes the importance of drawing in his overall oeuvre, something that the artists holds close to his heart: „I want to stand up for drawing.”In his creations he shows references to both art history and popular culture and exposes raw emotional states as well as political, cultural and social issues.

Finissage: Johan Gustavsson & Thomas Vandenberghe at Tique

Friday, 10 July, 18h00 Antwerp

Antwerp’s art space Tique currently presents a duo exhibition featuring Swedish artist Johan Gustavsson and Thomas Vandenberghe, an artist born in Ghent, who both draw on their immediate surroundings for inspiration. Vandenberghe’s intimate, nostalgia-infused black-and-white photography mainly deals with memories and the act of remembering, while Gustavsson is known for his delicate drawings revolving around intuitive thinking and basic human dilemmas.

Opening: De Kaai Zomerstrand

Saturday, 11 July, 18h00 Antwerp

Located in Aard, Wetteren, at the shore of river Schelde, De Kaai summer beach is a great spot to hangout during the sunny days. After its big success last year, the lovely pop-up bar is back this week, offering not only a place to enjoy a beer, but also space for children, food trucks and changing cultural and sporty activities from concerts to pétanque tournaments.

Summer project: Urban rooftop Yoga at Coffeelabs

From 8 to 29 July Antwerp

Doing yoga in the summer often means being locked into a badly ventilated room. But not anymore: Antwerp’s lovely Coffeelabs which we love not only for its delicious coffee but also for its lovely rooftop terrace, now invites you to a number of outdoor yoga classes on said rooftop. On the menu is not only  yoga with a view but also special detox meals: the perfect way to stay fit during these hot summer months. Write to coffeelabs@idealabs.be to sign up!

Music festival II: Cactus

From 10 to 12 July Bruges

For three days Cactus festival, which was born back in 1982, takes over Bruges’ gorgeous Minnewaterpark. It’s organized by the creative minds behind Bruges major music venue, the Cactus Club, and once more presents a great line-up featuring Deus, Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, Sohn, Perfume Genius, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Balthazar, and many others.

Art market & open doors: In De Ruimte

From 10 to 12 July Antwerp

In De Ruimte is a cultural project located in Ghent that hosts work spaces for artists, exhibitions, workshops and more. This weekend it opens its doors to the public, giving you the chance to visit the different studios covering carpentry, painting, design, fashion and other artistic disciplines. There’ll also be a market, musical performances, food and drinks. Not to miss!

Music festival III: Gent Jazz

From 10 to 18 July Ghent

Ghent’s nine days of jazz offer everything a jazz fan can wish for, and more. With its adventurous line-up it tries to bring together jazz with different genres from electronica to soul and pop. It’s located on the city’s beautiful Bijloke site and features two stages on which you can discover such unlikely collaborations as the one between Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. If you prefer to get your dose of jazz in a more intimate setting, the daily jazz lunches at Sandton Grand Hotel Reylof during the festival are a great alternative.

Outdoor get-together: Piknik Musik at De Bruul

Sunday, 12 July, 13-21h00 Leuven

Here’s the perfect recipe for a sunny Sunday: Piknik Musik, a huge public picnic, brings you a free outdoor yoga session, a selection of food trucks, a pétanque tournament, drinks and a background soundtrack provided by a number of DJs from Preachermann to Leuven Northern Soul. A simple but lovely concept that will also travel to Kessel-Lo and Rotselaar this summer. See you there!

Birthday bash: Studio Collect

Sunday, 12 July, 12-18h00 Antwerp

This week Belgian jewellery brand Studio Collect celebrates its second birthday, and on the occasion opens its doors together with Specht Studio to let you take a look behind the scenes and sip on a delicious cocktail. Studio Collect is a collaboration by four designers who all met while studying at Antwerp’s Royal Academy. Their beautiful creations are all designed and produced on Belgian grounds.

Cover photo Murielle Victorine Scherre