Culture Beat – December 3

Brussels’ Czech Centre and world music promoter Muziekpublique host a special midweek concert by globetrotting fusion trio Eviyan. The group’s frontwoman, Moravian violinist and vocalist Iva Bittova, is no stranger to the capital, having performed here several times as a solo artist. But Eviyan is a new experience. Bittoni and bandmates Evan Ziporyn (clarinet) and Gyan Riley (guitar) are not just technical virtuosos; all three are composers in their own right. Their music is a meeting of the minds, bringing together influences and experiences from East to West, from traditional to contemporary and everything in between.

The new and improved Winter Wonders is now open for business. Every year the whimsical holiday village – which includes an internationally renowned Christmas market and loads of other attractions – claims a little bit more of the capital. In addition to the Grand Place, Bourse, Place Sainte-Catherine and Marché aux Poissons, Winter Wonders 2013 colonises the square at La Monnaie with a new interactive installation called Iceberg. This sprawling, immersive sound-and-light experience is the fruit of a collaboration between Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles, the City of Brussels, and Belgian power company Electrabel. Other attractions include an ice rink, giant slide, merry-go-rounds and a 55-metre Ferris wheel that offers spectacular views of the winter wonderland below.

Belgo-Moroccan-Polish bassist Malyka has paid her dues over the years by collaborating with several rock, reggae and world music bands. Now she takes centre stage with her own eponymous group. The eight-piece outfit blends sophisticated pop/rock composition with North African textures. Malyka and co present their new EP this Saturday at Pianofabriek in Saint-Gilles.

Monthly club event HotNights puts on its Christmas party at Autoworld Brasserie late Saturday night (and Sunday morning). DJ Elias has the difficult task of justifying the theme with a few holiday-flavoured tracks while keeping the disco as cheese-free as possible.

The European Quarter’s Dominican Church is a suitably sublime setting for the Irish in Europe Association’s International Charity Christmas Concert. Serbian violinist Dénes Dosztán and Hungarian organist Anikó Koroknai perform a programme that includes works by JS Bach, Arcangelo Corelli, César Franck and Dezso d’Antalffy, as well as a selection of traditional Irish and English Christmas carols.

If the spirit of charity stays with you through the weekend, you’re invited to join the ARTsenal Community Art Group at La Chaufferie on Sunday afternoon for a benefit art auction. All works are donated by the artists and all proceeds (including a €5 entrance fee) go directly to the typhoon-stricken people of the Philippines. Doors open at 14.30 and bidding starts at 16.00.

Outside Brussels

Country music is one of the United States’ most enduring cultural exports and the Belgians were early adopters (see Bobbejaan Schoepen and his transatlantic pilgrimage to the Grand Ole Opry). Nashville Roots’ roots don’t go that deep but the Walloon country group marks its 15th anniversary this week at Namur’s Théâtre Jardin Passion. Granted, theirs isn’t the rebel twang of Waylon Jennings but rather the triumphant drawl of latter-day chart singers like George Strait and Garth Brooks.