The inaugural edition of the Abrupt festival, dedicated to electronic music and debate, opens in Brussels on Wednesday for five days of artistic innovation.
The festival features more than seven concerts, six club nights, and numerous conferences. It promises a unique blend of electronic music and intellectual dialogue.
Born from the legacy of the Nuits Sonores festival, Abrupt is driven by the Reset Brussels team and aims to merge music and ideas.
Events will take place at some of the city’s most iconic cultural venues, including Botanique, C12, Bozar, Ancienne Belgique, and the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula.
The opening performance on Wednesday evening will feature Danish composer and violist Astrid Sonne, as well as a duo formed by Kevin Richard Martin (The Bug) and Joseph Kamaru (KMRU).
On Thursday, Maxime Denuc will perform at the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula, combining powerful organ sounds with rave and baroque music.
Violinist Elisabeth Klinck is also set to perform, and other featured artists include Brazilian funk DJ Anderson do Paraiso, Hadone (live), Jakojako, and Marie-Julie.
In addition to concerts and club nights, the festival will include debates, workshops, and various other activities.
Emphasising a transdisciplinary approach, Abrupt prides itself on being avant-garde and seeking innovative ideas and experiments to reflect the dynamism of our time.
"The new festival name aligns with a strengthened artistic vision and Brussels roots," stated the organisers.
They added, "The word ‘Abrupt’ is the same in French, Dutch, German, and English, and incorporates ‘BRU’ as a nod to Brussels. This new name signifies a sudden and unexpected shift, perfectly capturing the festival’s dynamic and surprising nature."
