Festivals & events

A lot of people, in town, came up with an idea of organizing stuff for their own pleasure and for their friends. “Friends” being a loose term here, as most of the time is open door to anyone interested.

That’s how the Bed and Breakfast started: a loft share by 5 people who love music and wish to have some concerts at their vey nice place. So they’re just doing it and it works perfectly. The place is huge enough to welcome up to 100 people, the bar is cheap and the venue is close to the metro station Clemenceau, which make it very convenient to go to even if this neighborhood is not known for its nightlife!

It’s very exciting and nice to show up in a private place, to ring at the door, and to walk trough this long corridor to arrive at the back of the house… 

The Bed and breakfast offers the opportunity to meet new people and to discover a lot of different kind of music, experimental most of the time! 

It seems that the name comes from the fact that for the night birds spending there the whole night, a breakfast is organised in the early morning! 

I think this address is worth the visit, even if you’re not sure you’ll appreciate the music, as it gives the opportunity to meet young and creative people and to have an overview of the underground scene of Brussels.

Brussels already enjoys a very healthy and vibrant jazz scene, with local acts regularly performing live in its myriad bars and a coterie of foreign stars passing through all the time. Once a year, however, for 3 days, Brussels transforms into the jazz capital of the world, a city of swing, where the crowds of shoppers and drinkers move in syncopation. I’m talking about the Brussels Jazz Marathon.

What is it? The Brussels Jazz Marathon has become a much anticipated annual tradition in the city, inviting over 700 musical acts (jazz is taken in it broadest sense) to perform in venues across the city. Basically, every bar takes part and there are continuous performances on stages scattered throughout the city centre and Ixelles. The most amazing thing about this festival? It’s all 100% free of charge. Unbelievable, I know.

One of my friends fell in love with jazz because of this festival 2 years ago and now comes back to Brussels every year to take part. I even have another friend who is taking the whole week off to dedicate herself to the jazzy goodness. As for me, well, I’ll be shuffling from bar to bar, stage to stage, trying to cram in as much jazz as is humanly possible.