What’s on this week: 25 May

Ghent-based tribute band New Dark Age are touring Flanders to pay homage to cult London post-punk group The Sound, who released a string of critically acclaimed albums in the 1980s before fizzling out. The band’s leader, Adrian Borland, eventually threw himself under a London train. The recent resurgence of interest in all things post-punk has led to a reappraisal of The Sound and their place in the history books. New Dark Age perform songs from the band’s first two albums, Jeopardy and From the Lion’s Mouth. Other dates include Brussels, Kortrijk and Antwerp.
27 May, 21.00 at Charlatan, Ghent

Berlin-based artist Simon Denny’s first solo exhibition in Belgium combines brand new work with pieces presented at last year’s Venice Biennale (where he represented his native New Zealand). The young artist’s critique of globalisation is in keeping with his generation’s salutary sense of rebellion. Denny’s multimedia installations are overtly political, targeting by name – or corporate logo – businesses like Samsung and government agencies like the US National Security Agency. On the technical level, he fuses postmodern hyperrealism with a wry surrealist sensibility. Official documents are juxtaposed with bizarre, seemingly unrelated artefacts to suggest the absurdity of it all.
Until 14 August at Wiels, Brussels

Apéro Saint-Gilles returns after a long winter’s hibernation. If you don’t already know, this weekly, open-air party is an institution in Brussels’ most cosmopolitan commune. Sint-Gillis residents hail from all corners of the world and work in all corners of Brussels, but after they clock out on Friday, they all convene in front of the town hall for a happy hour that stretches into the night. The weekly event boasts pop-up cocktail bars and made-to-order burgers by Urban Cook. This grand re-opening evening features live music by L-Fêtes.
27 May to 29 July, from 17.00 at Maurice Van Meenenplein, Brussels

Quilt: The four-piece indie-rock band from Boston perform a happy mix of folk, psychedelic pop and 1960s wanderlust. 28 May 20.00, Cactus Muziekcentrum, Sint-Sebastiaanstraat 4, Bruges

Papegaaifeesten 2016: Annual street party featuring live music, children’s entertainment, flea market, cake and coffee and more. 28 May 10.00-20.00, Casinoplein, Ghent

Wereldfeest: World festival for the promotion of sustainability and fair pay for farmers in the South, featuring dozens of stands run by various non-profit organisations, food stands selling world cuisine and live music by the Macedonian Balkan band Kočani Orkestar, among many others. 28 May 13.00, De Bruulpark, Pieter Coutereelstraat, Leuven

Côté Jardin: Musical picnic on the lawns of the old Bijloke abbey, featuring concerts in a broad range of genres and styles for all ages, in addition to graffiti workshops and food and drink stands (or bring your own). 29 May 11.00-22.00, Muziekcentrum De Bijloke, Jozef Kluyskensstraat 2, Ghent

Feest in ’t kasteel: Festival inside Ghent’s famous castle, inviting all ages to learn to shoot a bow and arrow, bake bread, weave and braid, battle knights, watch puppet theatre and sing and dance the medieval way. 29 May 10.00-18.00, Gravensteen, Ghent

Geefplein: Event where people gather to give away clothes, toys, kitchen accessories and more used household items, or to pick up a few second-hand finds. 29 May 11.00-18.00, Maria Hendrikapark, Ostend