Boterhammen in het Park & Feeërieën
22-26 August
Warande Park, Brussels
Going back to work is a drag after a summer full of festivals, freedom and fun. To make the suffering of thousands of weary commuters just a little more bearable, Brussels concert hall Ancienne Belgique and the Flemish Community bring you Boterhammen in het Park (Sandwiches in the Park). Boterhammen is a free series of concerts in the heart of Brussels. Flemish and Dutch-speaking artists perform in the beautifully restored kiosk in the centre of Warande Park between the Royal Palace and the Parliament.
Given that the concerts take place during lunchtime, they are the perfect excuse to silently wander away from work and plunge back into the festival atmosphere. This year’s edition includes Flemish pop and rock bands like Yevgueni, Buurman and Berlaen. The festival ends in style with nostalgic songs sung by the famous Flemish singersongwiter Johan Verminnen and cosy jazz in the Antwerp dialect sung by the enchanting Hans Mortelmans.
That is not all: to add to the already very friendly atmosphere, kids enjoy performances and sing-songs, and every visitor is offered a free sandwich. Really.
Those who just cannot say goodbye to summer yet can come back to the park after work. In the same week, a second festival takes place at the exact same location in the evenings: Feeërieën (no exact translation, but it has something to do with fairies). Warande Park is magically lit for the occasion, and an excellent collection of international bands show their intimate side.
Just a glimpse at the menu: Murder from Denmark, Vladislav Delay Quartet from Finland, Brooklyn’s Awesome Tapes from Africa and Think Timbre from Canada. But without any doubt, Flanders’ very own Birds That Change Colour is the most interesting band at the Feeërieën festival. The band, performing on the 24th, very intense music best described as psychedelic folk. Fascinating and musically revolutionary. Do not miss them.
- Daan Bauwens
Laus Polyphoniae: The Festival of Flanders' Antwerp stint, devoted this year to Portugal, with the Huelgas Ensemble, Jordi Savall and his Capella Reial de Catalunya, fado singers and special concerts for children and babies
AUG 20-28 at Amuz, Kammenstraat 81
www.amuz.be
Open Air #5: Outdoor cultural festival with musical and performative works by various international artists, plus concerts by Peeesseye and Ohno Cooperation
AUG 27 19.00 at Air Antwerpen, Oosterweelsteenweg 3
www.airantwerpen.be
Boterhammen in het Park: Free outdoor lunchtime festival of Flemish and Dutch rock and pop music with line-up including Yevgueni, Berlaen, Axl Peleman, Eva De Roovere, Hannelore Bedert, Lucky Fonz III, Johan Verminnen and Hans Mortelmans
AUG 22-26 120.00 at Warande Park 02.548.24.24 or
www.abconcerts.be.
Brussels Summer Festival: Tenth edition of the annual festival featuring a diverse music programme by Jamie Cullum, Caravan Creek, The Hong Kong Dong, Xaman-Ek, Baden Baden, Ian Kelly, Tailors of Panama, Harvey Quinnt, more. Plus film screenings, open-door musuem events, street theatre,
sound and light show
Until AUG 21 in venues around the city
www.bsf.be
Brussels Village Festival: 7th edition of the summer jazz & Latino festival with 45 live concerts featuring one band each week
Until AUG 27 Tues-Sat at The Music Village, Steenstraat 50
02.513.13.45, www.themusicvillage.com
City Parade: Massive party with DJs and dancing
AUG 27 at Heizel (under the Atomium)
www.cityparade.be
Feeërieën 2011: Free outdoor festival with an international-edged musical programme. Many bands are performing for first time in Belgium and each evening has its own musical theme
AUG 22-26 19.00 at Warande Park
www.abconcerts.be
Klarafestival: ‘Utopia' is the central theme of the Festival of Flanders' Brussels stopover - a lavish extravaganza starring cellist Steven Isserlis, pianist Markus Groh, conductors Roger Norrington and Neville Marriner and other classical celebs. The guest of honour this year is Belgian conductor René Jacobs, an indefatigable champion of long-lost Baroque masterpieces and de-duster of Mozart and Haydn operas
SEP 1-16 at venues across the city
www.klarafestival.be
Helden in het Park: Free outdoor world music festival
Until AUG 18 at Heldenpark
www.n9.be
Jazz Hoeilaart: 33rd edition of the international contest for young jazz groups, plus concerts by Jef Neve Trio, Dre Pallemaerts Quartet and Eric Melaerts & Jean Blaute
SEP 22-24 at De Bosuil, Witherendreef 1
www.jazzhoeilaart.be
Pukkelpop: One of Belgium's biggest rock festivals featuring Foo Fighters, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Rise Against, Skunk Anansie, Paul Kalkbrenner, Fleet Foxes, Eminem, Deftones, Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 77, Within Temptation, The Offspring, dEUS, Duck Sauce, Trentemøller, Lykki Li, Das Pop, The View, Stromae and many more
AUG 18-20 at Festivalweide Kiewit, Kempische Steenweg
www.pukkelpop.be
Madou Festival: Outdoor festival
featuring Soul Vision, Radio Bambu
Soundsytem and more, plus djembe
workshops, children’s entertainment,
breakfast and BBQ
AUG 19-20 at Heirweg 32
www.deschaduw.net
Cha Cha Festival: Open-air African culture festival featuring music by Ballet Langi, Ithran, Dizzy Mandjeku & Odemba Ok Jazz All stars, plus gastronomy, fashion, literature, dance, art and storytelling
AUG 20 16.00-23.00 at Zevensprong, Vital Decosterstraat 67
www.banaleuven.be
Colora Festival: World music festival, plus a series of free café concerts
AUG 19-21 at De Zevensprong, Vital Decosterstraat 67, and cafés across the city
www.colora.org
Piknik Musik: Live music by Ben & Nolle, Briz, Raoul Lambert, more, plus sushi, vegetarian and Indian food
AUG 21 13.00-21.00 at Van Waeyenberghpark, Edouard Remyvest
www.piknikmusik.be
Maanrock: 15th edition of the free rock festival with line-up including Fixkes, The Van Jets, Mintzkov, Das Pop, Arid, Hermanos Inglesos, Mama's Jasje, Leki & The Sweet Mints, The Magical Flying Thunderbirds, De Kreuners, Clouseau and more
AUG 20 & 21 in the city centre
www.maanrock.be
Gipsy's in het park: 9th annual family festival featuring concerts by Nomad Swing, Thierry Robin Trio, Mec Yek and Orchestre International du Vetex, plus film screenings and children's activities including storytelling, games and circus acts
AUG 27 17.00-00.00 at Beukenpark, Kapellestraat 19
www.gipsysinhetpark.be
Flemish Organ Days: Discover the instrument through three days of concerts, demonstrations, workshops for children and grown-ups, plus an exhibition and competition
AUG 18-20 at churches across the city
www.orgelinvlaanderen.be
Moulin Rock Festival: 10th edition of the rock festival featuring young bands and musicians
SEP 9-10 at Festivalterrien Moulin Rock, Molenstraat
www.moulinrock.be
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