One swinging tent
After a rather gloomy end of year period last year, people were finally able to once again enjoy each other and live music in 2021. As a result, comparisons with the ‘roaring twenties’ were never far off and also served as an inspiration for this brand new winter festival. The concerts are taking place in the historical spiegeltent Salon Perdu which will be set up for the occasion on the Nieuwe Graanmarkt / Place du Nouveau Marché aux Grains in the centre of Brussels. This travelling dance hall in art deco style has been touring Europe for over a century now. In the 1920s, jazz bands were extremely popular: glamorous partygoers graced the dance floor and went crazy on charleston and Lindy Hop in this mobile venue. It is this exuberant feeling and setting Brussels Jazz Weekend wants to evoke a hundred years later with its first festival night that is hosted by the Brussels Swing Dance Club. Catchy dance demonstrations and initiations to live music by small bands Reverent Juke and Swingalicious will kick off the weekend in a festive way.
Michel Herr, Nathalie Loriers & Mâäk quintet
During the weekend, the doors to the heated spiegeltent open as early as 3 p.m. for a diverse programme. On Saturday, renowned names from the established Belgian jazz scene such as Michel Herr, Nathalie Loriers & Mâäk quintet, bring more warmth to the tent and on Sunday, young experimental jazz talents such as Don Kapot and Ananke will give it their all.
Never waste a good crisis
Brussels Jazz Weekend has proven over the past one and a half years that bleak times don’t need to be all doom and gloom. During the seemingly hopeless situation of the pandemic, the festival reinvented itself. Last May, a special balcony edition spread across all 19 municipalities of the Brussels region and offered live jazz from iconic balconies. On top of that, the organisation launched the new promotional platform Brussels Jazz Alert, for up-and-coming Brussels jazz talent. With this new winter edition, Brussels Jazz Weekend once again brings a strong, brand new event to the capital.
Practical
Although the festival is free, registration beforehand and a valid Covid Safe Ticket are mandatory.
