Culture beat - June 13

Comedy and cabaret wrap up the Standupworld season at Théâtre 140 on June 22. Versatile performer Earl Okin kicks off proceedings with his entertaining combo of song and gags. The jazz and bossa nova musician is particularly adept at keeping an audience in thrall. He is followed by cabaret act Harry the Piano and Simon Bates, also from the UK. The virtuoso pianist and saxophonist regularly headline jazz and classical festivals. They are one duo who collect accolades wherever they play. Don’t forget the bar opens from 19.15 and a pre-show Indian meal is available for €12.

Bozar’s English-language book club closes the season with an epic: James Joyce’s modernist novel Ulysses on Tuesday. Writer and lecturer Lila Azam Zanganeh leads the discussion on the literary landmark. Set in one single day – June 16, 1904 -in the city of Dublin, Joyce’s reinvention of Homer’s Odyssey continues to top polls as the greatest novel of the 20th century. With summer holidays looming, maybe this is the push you need to finally tackle the tome.

John Buchan’s spy thriller The 39 Steps was dramatically revised by Alfred Hitchcock for his classic film and it this adaptation that continues to thrill audiences. It was Hitchcock who added a comic touch and sexual tension and this version is currently being performed in French at Théâtre Le Public. Les 39 Marches is running until June 27. The action-packed period romp is directed by Olivier Massart and stars Michelangelo Marchese and Joséphine de Renesse.

Returning to its habitual Flagey setting next  Wednesday is the Brussels Film Festival.  If the weather remains fine, it adds an extra buzz to the square with outdoor public screenings, outdoor bars and general bustle. The festival shows some 90 films with a focus on new works plus a music theme. It opens on June 19 with the Danish Kapringen by Tobias Lindholm. Guest of honour is French director Bertrand Tavernier, whose appearance is accompanied by a retrospective of his work at Cinematek. Also guest visiting is Charlotte Rampling, promoting the directorial debut of her son Barnaby Southcombe, I, Anna. Other premières include The Best Offer by Giuseppe Tornatore and Boven is het stil (It’s All So Quiet) by Wim Opbrouck. More details next week.

Certain bands have a particular affinity with Belgium, for some reason, such as Tindersticks or Asian Dub Foundation. Maybe it’s the warmth of the welcome, maybe they played one truly memorable gig and have remained grateful ever since, who knows? One of those bands, Therapy?, wouldn’t have any problems filing for Belgian citizenship: their popularity in this country is possibly as high as it is in their native Northern Ireland. This despite the fact that their most commercially successful period was twenty years ago. Frontman Andy Cairns takes momentary leave from his bandmates (no breakup on the horizon, rest assured) and plays a 100% acoustic solo concert at the Botanique on Friday.

American singer songwriter Bob Dylan rolls into Brussels this autumn for his first appearance in the country since 2009. Tickets for the concert on November 10 at Forest National go on sale, Saturday June 15, 10.00 at www.sherpa.be, telephone 0900.84.007 or from Fnac. Tickets priced between €64-74. Gracia Live.

Meanwhile ONE Campaign and Ancienne Belgique have launched a search for the next Bob Dylan. The talent search is looking for an unsigned artist in Belgium “who has the power to move people to action through the action of the protest song,” announced a press release today. It is part of a global campaign involving artists such as Arno, U2, Sting, Angelique Kidjo, Mumford and Sons & Elvis Costello, Tiken Jah Fakoly and Ed Sheeran, Tryo and Kenzah Farah. The winner gets to record their song in AB’s recording studio and have a video showcased on the ONE website plus perform live at the Brussels free music festival Feeërieën in August. Details from http://act.one.org/survey/brussels_music_competition .