The first Brussels Jazz Weekend, which replaces the Brussels Jazz Marathon, will take place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Brussels city centre and in Ixelles. During this festival, jazz, blues, funk and global music festival spectatators can attend free concerts, in particular in public squares.
This kicks off in the Grand Place but with subsequent concerts in the Place Sainte-Catherine, the Place du Grand Sablon, Place du Luxembourg and the Place Fernand Cocq in Ixelles.
There is also range of ‘Indoor’ activities on offer, being more intimate sessions in 80 of the capital’s clubs and bars. These include the most significant jazz locations being L'Archiduc, Café Bizon and the Sounds Jazz Club in Ixelles.
On the Grand Place, today (Friday) the headline acts are Daniel Romeo & The Crazy Moondog Band, Marc Lelangue & The Heavy Muffulettas tomorrow (Saturday) and Pierre “Urbex” on Sunday.
Amongst the most noteworthy international artists on the line up feature Snow Owl (Austria), Nono Garcia (Spain), the pianist Evgeny Lebedev (Russia) and Vilem Spilka (the Czech Republic).
The festival is also promoting young talent (individuals at the start of their career) including Théo Zipper, Ananke and even PINTO.
Moreover, on Friday and Saturday the La Tentation venue will host, until 2 a.m. in the morning, the dance marathon, Bru Jazz Jive.
With a family programme, the Bru Jazz Kids, will offer in the Place du Grand Sablon tomorrow the chance for families to listen to jazz versions of well known children’s songs played by the pianist Manuel Hermia and his trio. This will be followed by Disney soundtrack interpretations by the group Ixhor.
On Sunday afternoon, Ixelles will hold the 13th edition of the “Solidar XL” on the Place Fernand Cocq.
The proceeds from the event, which will amongst others host Soldier Hems and Marka, will go to the charity Rolling Douche. The latter offers a mobile hygiene service to the homeless.
The Brussels Times
