Page 94 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

92  BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG REGION B Y REGION

ENTERTAINMENT IN BRUSSELS

Lying at the crossroads of London, Paris, notably in opera and modern dance, while
Amsterdam and Cologne, Brussels enjoys its cosmopolitan culture ensures that the
the presence of the best international latest films arrive quickly. There is a lively
touring groups. The calendar is full of first- club scene, with venues attracting revellers
rate opera, jazz, rock and classical and world from all over Europe. Many bars and cafés
music, glittering with performers of world host live music, providing an easy
renown. The city also generates its own continuum between traditional taverns
productions of international acclaim, and DJ-fuelled dance floors.

Listings and Tickets Dance Rock, Reggae, Folk
and World
Most expatriates in Brussels Belgium is particularly strong
depend on the weekly English in the field of modern dance. Brussels is one of the best
listings guide, Brussels Its leading choreo graphers cities in Europe to catch
Unlimited, and a monthly such as Michèle Anne de up-and-coming acts, generally
online magazine, The Bulletin, Mey and Wim Vandekeybus at reason able ticket prices.
which also provides cultural have enormous influence The Forêt-National, lying
infor mation, weather reports, internationally. Another southeast of the city centre,
news, reviews and event listings. important figure, Anne Teresa is Belgium’s top arena for big-
Agenda is a trilingual listings De Keersmaeker, is the director name acts. Closer to the centre,
magazine that can be found in of the world-renowned Brussels’s other venues tend to
boxes out side super markets. Its Rosas Company. be more intimate, and each
website also has extensive, have their own favoured genres.
up-to-date listings in French Jazz Café Central leans towards R&B,
and Dutch. The Brussels Tourist blues, bossa nova and ambient,
Office pro duces brochures, Every May, jazz fans from while Cirque Royale favours
along with useful information around the world congregate indie rock, and has a reputation
on its website: www.visitbrussels. for the Brussels Jazz Marathon, for booking bands before they
be. Tickets for many events are much of which is free. become house hold names. The
available from Fnac (see p91). The quintessential Brussels downtown Ancienne Belgique
jazz venue is the venerable has a similar line-up, but for
L’Archiduc, an Art Deco gem more established acts.
Classical Music in the city centre which hosts The Flemish student venue
The Théâtre Royal de la regular concerts every Kultuur Kaffee at the Vrij
Monnaie is one of Europe’s week end. The Music Village Universiteit Brussel, the city’s
best opera houses. Tickets can stretches across two 17th- Dutch-language univer sity,
be cheap, but many pro duc- century build ings near the always has a strong line-up and
tions sell out in advance. The Grand Place and features serves the cheapest beer in the
Victor Horta-designed Palais both local and inter national city. Recyclart plays avant-garde
des Beaux-Arts (BOZAR), the names. Sounds, in Ixelles, is techno, hardcore, punk and
country’s most notable cul tural anoth er popular jazz club some world music in a refitted
venue, is home to the Belgian boasting a prolific agenda train sta tion. The impressive
National Orchestra. of concerts. Halles de Schaerbeek, formerly
a 19th-century market, hosts
a range of dif ferent groups
and other arts events. Reggae
concerts are often held at
the VK Club (Vaartkapoen),
while Flemish acts are
showcased at the
Beursschouwburg, the Flemish
cultural com mun ity centre.

Nightlife
Brussels’s bright young things
start the weekend in St Géry,
a square in the fashion district
of Rue Antoine Dansaert. This
Dramatic performance at the prestigious Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie area is home to such bars as the

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Date 5th March 2013
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