Culture beat – May 8

Make the most this weekend of a triple brew of events: Zinneke, Iris Day and the first–ever Bulletin Brussels’ International Days. First up is Zinneke Parade on Saturday, the urban community project that is two years in the making. The artsy, biennial procession is for the first time being transformed into a street festival. Not only will this edition be bigger, but it will also be more interactive, particularly in its host neighbourhoods in the city centre. The theme of the 22nd  edition is temptation, so let yourself be seduced…

Zinneke slots into the annual Brussels festival, Iris Day, celebrating its 25th anniversary all weekend. Entertainment is across the city with shows, workshops and free concerts on Saturday evening: Ralvero, R3hab, Bakermat, Jay Hardway, and Sunday evening: Winner of Be on Stage competition, Salvatore Adamo and The Kings of Pop. Making its first appearance is the Brussels Food Truck Festival, from Friday to Sunday. Around 40 food trucks from Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Luxembourg will be parked under the trees in Boulevard de l’Impératrice. Take a tour of a new generation of creative chefs and cuisine – all mobile for the day. Sample Belgian specialities, world cuisine, organic food, cocktails, and even the latest protein source, insects. A jury  of amateur and professional critics will be judging the trucks on their service, look and cuisine in the Food Truck Awards.

It’s more than a Welcome Festival, the Bulletin Brussels’ International Days (BBID) is 12 days of events for expats in the capital. Join us on Sunday when the programme kicks off at Bozar with a welcome fair: art workshops and free concerts by international schools, and stands with local clubs and associations. From 11.00 to 18.00. Register now for tickets!

The tragic tale of Macbeth is given a contemporary twist in a new adaptation at KVS_Bol on May 13, 15 and 16. Verdi’s classical opera is the starting point for South African director Brett Bailey’s production, a collaboration with Brussels composer Fabrizio Cassol. Set in eastern Congo (DRC), Bailey explores the colonial exploitation of the African continent with Third World Bunfight company (Cape Town). In English with French and Dutch surtitles (part of Kunstenfestivaldesarts)

Les Nuits botanique, May 16 to 22, is the annual spring rendezvous of latest music trends, although Belgian rolling stone icon Arno also has his place in the programme. Organisers hope to top last year’s record attendance of 37,000 with a line-up that includes Cascadeur, Mac DeMarco, Scylla, François & The Atlas Mountains, and The Flaming Lips. Save some energy for the after parties.

The sumptuous international acrobatic horse show Cavalia, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in a big white top at Brussels Expo (visible from the Ring). Performing until May 25, tickets are from €55 to €235, reflecting how expensive it is for the Montreal-based company to saddle up 50 horses and transport them around the world.

It’s the Greek presidency of the EU until the end of June. The exhibition of contemporary art No Country for Young Men continues at Bozar until August 3 while a concert of traditional music is performed at the arts centre on May 16 by Savina Yannatou and her band Primavera en Salonico. Fans of the country’s cuisine can find information on Greek products in Belgium, recipes and a competition, at http://www.adiscoveringnetwork.eu/

Liège

The city’s annual international jazz festival, renamed Mithra Jazz, offers an ambitious programme from today (Thursday) until Saturday at Palais des Congrès. It opens this evening with contemporary chanson star Paolo Conte (already sold out) and tomorrow it’s the turn of multi-genre singer Thomas Dutronc. Jazz cats will be queuing to catch musical giants Dave Holland and Kenny Baron on Friday evening. Another highlight is American free jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp, performing with his 25-member big band on Saturday evening.