News

Five new releases this week, featuring trees, darkness, senior citizens, the Roaring Twenties, and some evil dead!

Le Brussels Summer Festival, la fête musicale qui se déroulera des 9 au 18 août prochains dans le Quartier Royal (pl. des Palais, pl. du Musée et Mont des Arts) vient de confirmer la présence de talents émergents. A l’impressionnante liste d’artistes qui avait déjà été publiée (comprenant notamment Puggy, Arno, Black Box Revelation, Absynthe Minded, Rachid Taha, Veence Hanao, Montevideo, Mélanie De Biasio, Dez Mona, V.O.) il convient désormais d’ajouter The Dandy Warhols, Saez, Scylla, Douglas Firs, Sir Yes Sir, Tonio, Nina Miskina, Benoît Carré, Recorder et Robi. Vous pouvez déjà vous procurer des places. Un pass d’un jour coûte €15 ou €25, tandis qu’il faut compter €40 pour un pass pour les dix jours. Plus d’info sur www.bsf.be et dans le numéro spécial d’AGENDA du mois d’août.

We don’t really understand what all the tourists see in Manneken Pis, but we don’t actually really care anyway. Russian artist Petro Wodkins is less indifferent. He calls Brussels “a boring city, filled with boring tourists” who “gather in the centre around a horrible little statue.” Wodkins wondered ”what would happen if we changed the horrible statue for something beautiful?” and last Monday morning, he put his money where his mouth is.

(© Saskia Vanderstichele)

Until 19 May, you can head off to the exhibition "Hard Rock Couture" at the Musical Instruments Museum to feast your eyes on some of the most iconic outfits of the world's biggest pop stars. Even today, the eccentric clothing of Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Freddie Mercury is a source of inspiration for their fans! Info: www.mim.be

On 9 June – exactly one year after the last sit-in – the organisers of Picnic the Streets are holding another demonstration at the Beurs/Bourse in Brussels. Last year, philosopher Philippe Van Parijs made a plea for “civil disobedience” because he was sick and tired of the total absence of a well-considered mobility plan for the lanes in the centre of Brussels with more attention for vulnerable road users. The first picnic attracted 2,000 participants. Mayor Thielemans paid heed to the picnickers’ complaints, and has announced that the renovation of the Beursplein/place de la Bourse will begin in 2015. It is by no means certain, however, that the new layout will take the action committee’s demands into account. That is the reason for another sit-in – to ensure the protest is not ignored. Info: www.facebook.com/PicnicTheStreet

Stadslabo voor kinderen en jongeren JES is op zoek naar jong muzikaal talent (tot 30 jaar!) voor de zesde editie van zijn tweejaarlijkse muziekconcours Het Kampioenschap van Brussel. Dat vindt eind november plaats in de AB na zes voorrondes in september en oktober. Voorwaarden om deel te nemen zijn dat de helft van de groepsleden in het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest woont en dat de band nog geen cd in de winkelrekken heeft liggen. Sta je te trappelen om in de voetsporen te treden van eerdere winnaars als The Black Box Revelation en Puggy? Schrijf je dan voor 15 augustus in en maak kans op een royale prijzenpot, zes dagen werken in de opnamestudio De Rockfabriek van JES en eeuwige roem! Info: www.hetkampioenschapvanbrussel.be

Don't give us that bored couple look! Have we got some spectacular news for you. Galerie Paris-Beijing has invited the British Magnum photographer Martin Parr for an exhibition at the Hôtel Winssinger in Saint-Gilles. Some sixty photographs have been selected from five of his famous series zooming in on our very human vulgarities and eccentricities, such as Small World, Luxury, Common Sense, Bored Couples, and The Last Resort. The chronicler of everyday life will be in Brussels for the opening on 29 May (at 6 pm). The exhibition will run until 27 July.

(© FKDL)

Ixelles and the W49 street art project are featured in The Huffington Post!! Parisian street artist FKDL's new wall, that was inaugurated last Tuesday 30 April, celebrates Audrey Hepburn's birthday on 4 May, twenty years after she passed away.

(Refugees in Blue Building, Brussels © Annemie Augustijns)

The jury of the Monography Series Award Nikon-Bozar has just awarded the Antwerp photographer Annemie Augustijns with the first prize. Her solo show at Bozar will run from 9 May to 30 June, and presents some 30 pictures of late modern architecture.

(© Heleen Rodiers)

A few days ago, the corner of chaussée d'Ixelles and rue Maes in Ixelles was decorated with the bow of an enormous packet boat. The new comic strip wall, designed by Brussels artist François Schuiten, is called The Ark and is part of the borough's Redessine Ixelles! project.