The days are getting noticeably shorter, and venturing outside has become an increasingly unappealing prospect. Luckily, there are plenty of cosy events taking place in the Belgian capital this weekend.
From local winter celebrations to underground music festivals, discover our favourite events happening in Brussels below.
Arts, music and culture
River Jazz Festival, various locations in Brussels, until Saturday 9 December
The final weekend of this iconic autumn festival puts three of the Brussels jazz institutions (the Théâtre Marni, the Senghor and the Jazz Station) in the limelight, bringing music lovers the best of contemporary jazz.
Galland & Braff soundcheck at River Jazz Festival 2020. Credit: Stéphane Galland
On Friday, the Joris Posthumus Trio will perform, alternating between fast-swinging melodies and moving ballads. On Saturday, Griboujazz II will bring jazz to children during an interactive show. Finally, the unmissable diatonic accordionist Anne Niepold will close the festival on Sunday, presenting three different projects in each of the three venues.
Find more information here.
Finale Concours Circuit, Botanique, Friday 8 December
For 25 years, the Concours Circuit has helped to reveal a wealth of talent in French-speaking Belgium, and this year will be no exception. The event, providing opportunities to perform live, helps these projects to emerge and to get noticed by the Belgian music industry.
Credit: Concours Circuit
Of the 460 submissions, five projects were selected to perform during the long-awaited final this Friday: Dorothy Gale's electro-punk, Floèmee's acoustic electro, Flxwride's trap metal hip-hop, Fokkop.Era's punk hip-hop and Ocean Encounters' metalcore. The organisers say that they "reflect the vibrancy of the music scene in French-speaking community, not only in terms of quality but also in terms of diversity."
Find more information here.
Unique concerts
Coudenberg Sound Box Fest 2023, Coudenberg, until 17 December
Much more than a classical music festival, Coudenberg Sound Box Fest offers audiences a double concert as well as a visit to the unique archaeological site of the Coudenberg Palace. The aim is to reconnect its audience with Belgium's archaeological, historical and artistic heritage, but also to introduce them to music dating back to the 14th century, through baroque, jazz, folk and electronic music.
Credit: Coudenberg
Each concert will be dedicated to one of the natural elements, which will symbolically link musical genres. This Sunday, cellist Petar Pejčić will perform music by György Ligeti, Zoltán Kodály and Jacqueline Fontyn while double bassist Anneleen Boehme will give visitors a jazz improv session.
Find more information here.
Music Chapel Festival, Flagey, until Sunday 10 December
The 14th edition of the Music Chapel Festival pays tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. The classical music festival offers a unique opportunity to (re)discover the richness of the musical genius' work.
Vlaams Radiokoor. Credit: Flagey / Wouter van Vaerenbergh
Aside from the awe-inspiring live concerts, displaying his most famous concerti, beautiful arias and intimate chamber music compositions, the festival will also host talks and lectures about his work.
Find more information here.
Keep moving
Hangar x Paradise City, Gare Maritime, Saturday 9 December
Brussels-based electronic music collective Hangar is collaborating with the Paradise City Festival to organise a ten-hour day rave 'Maritim' at Gare Maritime – one of the most unique venues in the capital.
Credit: Hangar
The inaugural edition will welcome up to 6,000 people with an "eclectic and genre-bending" line-up, including a special extended set by Swiss electronic music duo Adriatique. The party will run from 15:00 to 01:00.
Find more information here.
Winter magic
Winter Pop, Square Ambiorix, until Sunday 10 December
While Brussels' largest festive celebration Winter Wonders is also arguably the most famous, there is something to be said for Winter Pop – the cosier, local version. Winter Pop's small caravans are setting up shop in three Brussels neighbourhoods to host fun and festive activities in collaboration with local associations and a host of talented artists.
Credit: Winter Pop
After spending a weekend in Neder-over-Heembeek at the start of the month, the caravans will come to Square Ambiorix on Friday. Expect workshops for children, circus performances, live concerts, DJ sets, delicious snacks from food trucks, fire spectacles and more!
Find more information here.
