Summer drinks in Brussels, a music festival in Liège, a new bar in Antwerp, and more. See you there!
Artsy drinks: Summer Thursdays at Bozar
Thursday, 7 July Brussels
At Bozar, Thursday is never just another day: traditionally it’s the day of the week dedicated to late night openings, talks, or other events. To make these special Thursday nights even more pleasant, Bozar has now put up a lovely outdoor Summer Bar on its roof, featuring the Lighthouse for Lampedusa model and great views over the city.
Music festival I: Les Ardentes
From 6 to 10 July Liège
Five days of guaranteed festival fun await you this week in Liege, where international acts and local heros meet on the banks of the Meuse river. Festival goers appreciate it not only for its lovely scenery, but also for hte welcoming, friendly atmosphere, and of course the varied line-up, which this year features Cat Power, Flying Lotus, Action Bronson, Naive New Beaters, and many others.
Outdoor film festival: L’heure d’été at Bruxelles-Les-Bains & Cinema Galeries
From 6 July to 7 August Brussels
Every year Cinema Galeries, one of Brussels’ best independent movie theatres, puts on summer film festival “L’heure d’été”, offering a well-curated programme of outdoor screenings. Partnering up with city beach project Bruxelles-Les-Bains, it lets film buffs enjoy movies on the big screen while slouching in a beach chair under the starry sky. This year’s theme: Madrid.
Launch: Juno
Thursday, 7 July Antwerp
There’s a new kid in town: Antwerp welcomes Juno this week, a lunch bar specialized in Middle Eastern cuisine. Come celebrate the opening, have a bite, and try one of the delicious drinks created by The Mocktailclub, an initiative promoting alcohol-free cocktails.
Art night: 4fold at Le Lac
Friday, 8 July Brussels
On 8 July genre-crossing Antwerp art collective 4fold comes to Brussels for a night of performances, music, live painting and more, taking over art space Le Lac. Run by a group of artists who wanted to set up a place that breathes freedom and creativity, it’s located in a massive former warehouse of 1500 square meters and is yet another proof for Molenbeek’s blossoming art scene.
Music festival II: Gent Jazz
From 7 to 16 July Ghent
Every summer Ghent’s annual jazz festival takes over the city for about two weeks, making the fringy musical genre more accessible for the wider public and offering a great opportunity to enjoy outdoor concerts in beautiful locations throughout Ghent. The vast line-up not only includes jazz virtuosos, but also other musical projects from soul and pop to electro which are somehow related to the genre. With Balthazar, Kamasi Washington, and many others.
Birthday bash: 22tracks turns 5 at Beursschouwburg
Saturday, 9 July Brussels
22tracks, a music discovery service curated by local top DJs with the goal to guide listeners through an over-saturated musical landscape, turns 5 this month. For the occasion 22tracks takes over the entire Beursschouwburg building, throwing a huge birthday bash across four rooms. Music-wise you’ll get to hear the best Brussels has to offer in all kinds of genres from house and beats to tropical and soul.
Honoré δ’O and more at Mu.ZEE
Until 4 September Ostend
This museum alone is reason enough to pay Ostend a visit, especially if you want to learn more about Belgian art history. It’s vast permanent collection specializes in art from 1830 onwards and includes 180 works by Léon Spilliaert, 350 works by Paul Joostens, and a large collection of works by James Ensor and Permeke. Plus there are pieces by Raoul De Keyser, Panamarenko, Marcel Broodthaers, Luc Tuymans, and other Belgian art stars. Mu.ZEE also does temporary exhibitions, currently the brilliant “Holy Molecule”, a show looking back on the oeuvre of Belgian artist Honoré δ’O. His sculptures, assemblages and chain-reactions, partly interactive, are made out of everyday objects and materials and continually change, split and multiply in an endless variety of ways.