Culture beat – August 22

A flurry of festivals mark the end of summer in the capital, from family theatre, contemporary performance, outdoor music with a Flemish flavour and hot Latin beats

Director of the Brigittines contemporary arts centre, Patrick Bonté, injects new life into the Brigittines International Festival,with 13 thought-provoking shows, running until August 31. They include Black out, by Swiss company Cie Philippe Saire. The programme is themed ‘La crise et le grand large/The crisis and the open sea. Take advantage of the terrace and book tickets which include pre-show dinner.

Alternatively head outdoors and experience a change of tempo with Fiesta Latina in Bois de la Cambre (Carrefour des Attelages )this weekend. Creating a tropical ambiance in the woodland setting, the 11th edition provides a cultural escapade with music, dance, parades and tempting regional food and drink. The focus is one the Iberian peninsula. 

The Royal Park in the centre of Brussels is the magical setting for a couple of free events. First up is Théâtres Nomades festival, from Thursday until Sunday with around 50 shows. Transformed into a nomadic village, it stages performances, circus and street theatre for all ages. Don’t be surprised to see a hat passed around after some of the shows. The theme of the festival’s 7th edition is sexual equality and southern countries.

The park’s nomadic village is then replaced by two other free events, Ancienne Belgique’s annual outdoor celebration of Dutch-language music and emerging artists. From Monday to Friday there’s Boterhammen in het Park, an occasionto picnic and listen to folk. In the evening, the stage and surrounding area is lit with fairy lights for Feeërieën, a concert series featuring exciting new talent. The latter includes Sam Amidon, Damien Jurado and Julianna Barwick.

Marc De Backer is one of a handful of Belgian alternative musicians to have ‘made’ it in the US, although he’s hardly a household name back home. Having enjoyed both success across the pond as bass player and guitarist for cult bands Dog Eat Dog and Mucky Pup, he formed his own group, the annoyingly misspelt 10,000 Women Man. This long-overdue comeback gig at Madame Moustache on Wednesday marks the 10th (yes, tenth) anniversary of the band’s last concert.