Culture beat – June 20

Storm clouds may be hovering, but nevertheless the Summer solstice means it is the annual and 29th edition of the free music bonanza Fête de la Musique this weekend,  June 21 to 23. No fewer than 700 concerts in 55 towns and cities around the two regions are programmed, with every musical genre represented. In Brussels, the main stage moves to the esplanade of Cinquantenaire Park due to renovation work in Place des Palais. The line-up stays the same on Saturday with La Grande Sophie headlining Montevideo, BRNS, La Chiva Gantiva, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Agoria. But Brussels-Wallonia Federation remain in Royal Park with Paon, Gaëtan Streel, Veence Hanao, Superlux and The Peas Project. Outdoor film concerts at Flagey link up with the Brussels Film Festival while on Sunday there are a raft of activities for all the family at the Sablon.

As previewed last week, the Brussels Film Festival opened on Wednesday with Danish director Tobias Lindholm’s taut psychological thriller Kapringen (A Hijacking), on general release from July 10. Lindholm scripted the equally acclaimed Jagten (The Hunt) and numerous episodes of the cult political TV series Borgen. Two of the latter’s principal stars are cast in the film’s key roles as the distraught cook (Pilou Asbæk) aboard the hostage cargo ship and  the Danish shipping line CEO (Søren Maling), who defiantly leads the negotiations with the Somalian pirates. It’s a tense and realistic game of chess-like moves as ransom figures are chillingly exchanged and the emotional cost soars. There is a deliberate absence of Hollywood-style action – even the seizing of the ship in the Indian Ocean is not shown – resulting in a claustrophobic and tense drama from which there can be no real winners. The festival continues until June 26 with features, shorts, music docs, outdoor screenings and a retrospective of Bertrand Tavernier’s films, the festival’s guest of honour. There are also competitions under the expert eyes of a jury that includes Belgian directors Joachim Lafosse and Sam Louwynck. English actress Charlotte Rampling also makes an appearance for the festival finale on June 26.

Love in multifarious forms is celebrated at the highly-acclaimed Festival Musiq’3 at Flagey from June 28 to 30. It offers more than 50 romance-themed concerts and for the first time an outpost at Théâtre Marni (staging among other events, classical impro entitled Nights Shift on Friday and Saturday). The festival opens with the Trilogy ensemble, a violin group that includes 2009 Queen Elisabeth prizewinner Lorenzo Gatto, plus the Brussels Philharmonic conducted by festival guest Patrick Davin. Also declaring their love in music and song are pianist Frank Braley, baroque ensemble Ricercar Consort, big band West Music Club ‘Love Standards’, English vocalists Voces8 and rock groups V.O. plus performances by Royal Conservatory students. Additional activities range from a family storytelling concert on June 30, workshops, screenings, talks, and a musical speeddating; seven minutes chat with individual musicians. With Place Sainte-Croix hosting a festival tent and bar, and several free concerts all weekend, the festival is a an excellent start to the summer holidays.

As Brussels prepares for its twice yearly EU summit, an alternative event is staged at Bozar, the first Citizens’ summit on Europe on June 24 and 25. Around 400 active European citizens, from varying sectors, gather for the counter summit to discuss the future of Europe, the impact of the EU on its people, plus global issues. Organised by the Brussels Centre for Fine Arts and the EU Civil Society Contact Group, it is to be an annual event (in English). Participation is free via subscription, although this year’s event is currently full.

The Friday night summer gatherings Apéros Urbains are well underway with this Friday’s rendezvous set for Jeux d’Hiver at Bois de la Cambre from 17.00-22.00. The street party-style afterwork tipple comes complete with music, entertainment and DJ after-parties (until 23.30 at Fuse, K-Nal and Vaudeville). Each Friday evening event is staged in differing squares and parks around the city. The social phenomenon has now also spread to other towns and cities around the country.

Outside Brussels

If it’s summer, it’s sand and sculpture at Blankenberge on the Belgian coast. Sandwonderland gives you The World Collection, a tour of world and popular history, from ancient Egypt to Lady Gaga to David Beckham. There are a total of 150 sculptures, representing six weeks of work by 33 artists of 12 different nationalities and an impressive 20,000 tonnes of sand. The festival continues until September 15.