Culture Beat: Halloween, Herbie Hancock and half-term high-jinks

The Bulletin's weekly arts round-up for Brussels and beyond

MUSIC

Halloween Ball, La Compilothèque

As Halloween falls on the eve of a public holiday, there’s no excuse not to enjoy some freakish fun. Look no further than this masked ball with a musical programme at the fittingly bohemian canalside venue. Heading the line-up is Georgio ‘the Dove’ Valentino (pictured, who moonlights as an arts and lifestyle reporter for The Bulletin and Flanders Today) and his Société des Mélancoliques (the full name of his horse-and-pony show). In support is Baby Fire, a local arty-garage duo. Edible goodies will be available but we can’t guarantee there’ll be trick-or-treating or bobbing for apples. Entry is €5.

October 31, 20.00, www.georgiothedovevalentino.com

Herbie Hancock – Plugged In, Bozar

The legendary jazz pianist rolls into Brussels on his first solo tour of Europe in a 50-year career. The one-nighter entitled A Night of Solo Explorations is a flagship concert for the annual autumn Skoda Jazz festival. With 14 Grammy awards, Hancock is one of the world greats and a veteran innovator. In his early 20s he redefined the rhythm section in the Miles David Band and has since encompassed Eastern mysticism, fusion, pop and hip-hop while continually performing the brand of acoustic jazz that made his name. The charismatic musician will perform hits from the full gamut of his ground-breaking career. With 70 concerts in Brussels and around the country, the 27th season of Skoda Jazz features contemporary international guitarists John Scofield, Bill Frisell and Marc Ribot, Belgians Fabien Degryse, Steve Houben, Bert Joris and Soledad and a 70th birthday concert by Anglo-Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine surrounded by musical friends Toots Thielemans, Didier Lockwood and others. 

November 2, 20.00, www.bozar.be/activity.php?id=12692&  www.skodajazz.be 

FILM 

Tango Libre, Bozar

Premiering at Bozar before going on general release in Belgium on November 7 is this already award-winning film directed by Brussels-born Frédéric Fonteyne and starring many of the country’s finest actors. Fonteyne and leading lady Anne Paulicevich will be at the screening along with tango dancers Mariano Chicho Frumboli and Pablo Hernan Tegli. The film closes (after eight years) the Fonteyne trilogy focused on women and love started by Une Liaison pornographique and La Femme de Gilles. As the title suggests, tango is the backdrop to this story of a prison guard (François Damiens), two inmates (Sergi López and Jan Hammenecker) and Alice (played by the excellent Paulicevich who shares credit for adaptation and dialogue with Belgian writer Philippe Blasband). The quartet’s increasingly tangled web of relationships advances to a climatic end to the cadence of the sultry dance. Providing the evening with a full tango flavour, a flash mob precedes the screening at 19.00 inspired by the dances featured in the film. Join in by learning the steps here. 

Oct 31, 20.00, www.bozar.be/activity.php?id=12849&selectiondate=2012-10-24

FAIR

Japan Expo Belgium, Tour & Taxis

You don’t have to plan, budget and hop on a long-haul flight to enjoy some of the marvels of the country of the rising sun. The second edition of this festival has it all: screenings, karaoke, quizzes, competitions, martial arts demonstrations, origami, reiki, shiatsu, manga, DVDs, clothes, accessories and exclusive goodies direct from the Far East. 

November 2-4, www.japan-expo.be 

KIDS

La Rose blanche, Théâtre La Montagne Magique 

In 1944, four musicians in a dilapidated theatre in Munich perform songs that are banned by the Nazis. Staged here by the Théâtre du Copeau, this is a brilliant work of song, music, pantomime and theatre. For ages nine and up (in French).

October 26, 19.30, http://www.theatremontagnemagique.be/?p=4692

Bloed!, GC De Kriekelaar

This Halloween-themed show is not for wimps. Performed by the Froefroe company, it takes the audience on a journey into dark caverns, wobbly gravestones and hunchbacked monsters. You have been warned. For ages eight and up (in Dutch).

October 31, 15.00, http://dekriekelaar.vgc.be/

Filem’on, multiple venues in Brussels

The sixth edition of the international festival of children’s films is aimed at two- to 15-year-olds and focuses on movement. Watch bike adventures, dance flicks and all sorts of other action among the 80 films that range from classics, shorts and features to animations, documentaries and world cinema. Workshops are also available to hone acting and directing skills. Screenings are at Cinematek, Aventure, Nova, Espace Delvaux, Ten Weyngaert, Everna and Pianofabriek. The festival opens at Cinematek with a film concert. 

October 28-November 4, www.filemon.be

EXHIBITION IN VERVIERS

Chocol@ts, Stavelot Abbey 

Now here’s an occasion worth celebrating: the 100th anniversary of the praline is feted in Wallonie des Saveurs, a tasty programme of events organised by the Walloon Region’s tourist office. In collaboration with local macaroon and cocoa master Jean-Philippe Darcis and Brussels chocolatier extraordinaire Pierre Marcolini, this exhibition explores the history of cocoa as well as the world of chocolate today and in the future. A new praline has been specially launched for the occasion: La Principautaire. We have yet to sample it, but watch this space…

Until February 24, www.abbayedestavelot.be