What's on this week: 6-12 January

Need some laughter to beat the January blues? The English comedy night at the Black Sheep makes its new-year return with up-and-coming Canadian funnywoman Dana Alexander and Spain's Xavier Castells. Alexander's comedic style has been described as "smart, irreverent and revolutionary", while Castells has been busy touring Europe after opting to perform in English instead of his native Spanish. 
10 January 20.00, Black Sheep, Ixelles

To celebrate the publication in colour of Hergé’s first Tintin adventure Tintin in the Land of the Soviets, the legendary character is making a special appearance in the Grand‘Place. The mop-haired reporter is due to wave to fans from the balcony of the town hall; but is minus his faithful hound Snowy. Owners of fox terriers with a passing resemblance to the mythical mutt are invited to take part in a competition that will reward the dog that looks most like Snowy. There is also a competition for the best Tintin comic-strip fancy dress. Tintin will arrive at Brussels central train station at 14.00 and make his way to the Grand’Place by Amilcar. Afterwards, he will appear at Galerie Tintin in Place du Sablon. Publishers Moulinsart and Casterman have organised the colourful event to mark the publication of the new album on 11 January. The original was first published in 1929 and never re-worked in Hergé’s lifetime. It marked the beginning of the Tintin saga of adventures. “This colour version accentuates both the legibility of the story and the clarity of the drawings, and literally astonishes with its contemporary appearance, as if it were a new volume,” said the publishers in a press release.
Saturday 7 January, 14.00-16.45, Grand’Place & Place du Sablon, Brussels

Test your French and knowledge of Belgian politics in the 19th edition of the annual satire Sois Belge et tais-toi, now a veritable seasonal institution. In addition to poking fun at the coalition government, CETA, strikes, the terrorism threat, SNCB and the royal family, the review of 2016 doesn’t spare Brexit and the election of Donald Trump in its song and dance pastiches. Written and performed by André and Baudouin Remy, alongside Elsa Erroyaux, Joël Riguelle, Stéphanie Coerten and Philippe Peters.
Until 23 May, venues in Brussels and around the country

Kick off 2017 with an alternative theory of economics. US-based economist Julie Nelson is invited by Full Circle to talk on Economics as if People Matter. The University of Massachusetts professor researches feminism and economics. Says Full Circle: “Julie Nelson’s impassioned and perceptive work debunks the ingrained notion that our economic lives are separate from our moral values and human relationships.” The Brussels networking club for expats and Belgians that invites speakers to talk on various thought-provoking subjects. Registration necessary.
12 January, 18.30-20.30, venue to be confirmed, Brussels

Brussels has always been synonymous with jazz (after all the saxophone was invented in Belgium), but this year the offer will be particularly rich. As usual there will be the Brussels Jazz Festival, the River Jazz Festival, the Djangofolllies, the Brussels Jazz Marathon, the Brosella Folk & Jazz Festival and the Marni Jazz Festival, but since 2017 is the 100th anniversary of the release of the first jazz album (The Original Dixieland Jazz Band playing Livery Stable Blues), the Ancienne Belgique and Flagey are both filling their schedules with every sort of jazz imaginable and the city is planning a number of live concerts all over town.
www.jazz.brussels