Culture beat November 29

Belfast punk-rock band Stiff Little Fingers make an appearance at Magasin 4 tonight (Saturday) with latest album No Going Back. Originally formed in 1977, the band broke up in 1982 before getting back together in 1987. There have been a few changes in the line-up, but the present foursome includes Jake Burns, Ali McMordie, Ian McCallum and Steve Grantley.

Join in the Belgian pre-Christmas feast of Saint-Nicolas/Sinterklaas (December 6) and sample some seasonal specialities at Maison Dandoy this afternoon (Saturday) at Chez Smets Premium Store – 650 Chaussée de Louvain. The bearded fellow will be putting in an appearance himself. Dandoy is the speculoos specialist; in addition to gingerbread figurines there are plenty of seasonal gift ideas.

What better venue for the retro-futuristic exhibition Orange Dreams: Plastic is fantastic than Brussels landmark The Atomium. Until May 25, this show explores the most original aspects of the material that symbolised design in the 1960s and early 70s. The everyday objects on show were expected to revolutionise our lives…

The winter sun this weekend is prefect for sipping the first mulled wine of the season. You have the choice in Brussels between Nocturnes du Sablon today and tomorrow which let’s be honest is an upmarket gastronomic experience, or the Winter Wonders Christmas market with all the local specialities of the season, including croustillants/smoutebollen.

Moroccan choreographer and dancer Radouan Mriziga performs his first work 55 in a premiere at Kaaistudio’s on December 2 and 3. The former PARTS dancer is artist-in-residence at the Moussem nomadic arts centre. The solo work explores perspective as well as the expectations of an audience. 55 is also performed in Genk and Berchem.

After missing the top prize-winning film Timbuktu at the international francophone film festival in Namur in October, I’m hoping to catch it at a premiere screening at Bozar on Friday December 5 in the presence of director Abderrahmane Sissako and actress Toulou Kiki. The Franco-Mauritanian Cannes-selected film studies religious extremism and the violence of terror in Sissako’s home country Mali. The Guardian’s film critic Peter Bradshaw described it as “a passionate and visually beautiful film”. Read his review here. In Arabic/English/Bambara, subtitles French/Dutch.

World music and folk concert organiser Muziekpublique stages the first AfricAlive festival at Théâtre Molière with concerts on November 29: Aboubakar Traoré (Burkina) and Kasse Mady Diabaté (Mali) with Ballake Sissoko; December 13, Ny Malagasy Orkestra (Madagascar). There’s a change of tempo next weekend with English folk singer-songwriter Chris Wood on Friday December 5 and Portuguese fado rising star Carminho on Saturday December 6.

Looking ahead, the Frank McGuinnes play Dolly West’s Kitchen is the Irish Theatre Group’s next production at Bronks Theatre, December 9 to 13.Directed by Isabel Walsh, it tells the story of Dolly West who returns from Italy during World War Two to her home in county Donegal. Exploring the role of women, family life and the wartime neutrality of Ireland, it is a dark and fascinating drama.

Philppe Van Parijs is the next high-profile guest at Full Circle’s Talking Heads dinner on December 11. The Belgian economist and philosopher speaks on the topic: A Basic Income… a good idea? International professional club Full Circle organises events every month. Venues vary from exhibition spaces and art galleries to unusual locations, all centrally located in Brussels. Members are informed about the venue 48 hours in advance.