SPECIAL EVENT

Feria Andaluza

Spain comes to Flanders for the 12th edition of Feria Andaluza. Some 30,000 visitors are expected to visit this free festival, which features music, dance, equestrian shows and, of course, authentic food and drink. Tapas and sangria? Yes, please. (The warm Spanish sun, on the other hand, had to stay down south). The Feria is put on by Antwerp’s flamenco centre Peña Al Andalus, so it’s not surprising to find the programme brimming with flamenco orchestras and instructional workshops for the rhythm-challenged (there’s even a special dance programme for kids). The fiesta continues late into the night with cocktails and Spanish DJs spinning steamy Latin club records. Georgio Valentino

24-26 May
De Schorre, Boom (Antwerp province)
www.feriaandaluza.be

More special events this week

Brussels
Yo!fest: Music festival hosted by the European Youth Forum, featuring free concerts, debates, workshops, a picnic and more
MAY 30-31 at the Esplanade of the European Parliament
www.yofest.eu

Ghent
Les Gôuts de Gand: Annual world music festival in Ghent’s historic Portus Ganda neighbourhood
featuring free concerts all day long, a world market, after-parties and more
MAY 25 in and around St-Baaf’s Abbey Park,
Voorhoutkaai 43
www.decentrale.be

Mol
Regional Products Market: Market inside abbey walls, featuring some 30 stands selling local cheeses, mustards, liqueurs and other products from Antwerp province
MAY 26 10.00-17.00 at the Norbertine Abbey of Postel, Abdijlaan 10
www.gemeentemol.be

CONCERT

Arctic Monkeys

Since the days of The Beatles, one of the UK’s chief pop-culture exports has been fresh-faced, high-energy guitar bands. Arctic Monkeys may not be in the same league as the Fab Four, but the Alex Turner-led quartet made their ascent to the top of the charts look blissfully easy, almost accidental. Naivety, it seems, is part of the charm. The Sheffield band remain a hot commodity after 10 years, four best-selling albums and numerous number one hits, including “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” and “Brianstorm”. They’re so hot, in fact, that if you’re keen to catch them on their autumn tour, you should reserve now. GV

9 November, 20.00
Vorst Nationaal, Brussels
www.vorstnationaal.be

More concerts this week

Brussels
Gianna Nannini: “Là Gianna”, one of Italy’s foremost pop singers
MAY 24 20.00 at Ancienne Belgique, Anspachlaan 110
www.abconcerts.be

Belgian Beatbox Championship: Fifth edition of the competition featuring the best 16 Belgian beatboxers battling for the honour to represent their country at the world championships
JUN 1 19.00 at KVS, Arduinkaai 7
www.beatbox.be

Ghent
Selda Bag˘can: Turkish folk singer, who has gone from activist protest songs of the 1970s to electronica and rock’n’roll today
MAY 26 20.00 at Vooruit, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 23
www.vooruit.be

FESTIVAL

Brussels Jazz Marathon

Once upon a time, the Brussels Jazz Marathon was a modest neighbourhood shindig, but today it is one of the capital’s biggest musical events. Hundreds of jazz cats from Belgium and abroad perform on four open-air stages (located strategically at the Grote Markt, Zavel, Sint-Katelijneplein and Fernand Cocqplein) as well as dozens of participating bars. And the whole thing is free. The city of Brussels is also throwing in free shuttle busses. The Marathon isn’t just for aficionados; everyone is invited to discover the depth and breadth of jazz. There’s classic jazz, world fusion and contemporary acts like the Neil Cowley Trio (pictured). The three Britons have made a name for themselves by blending jazz, avant-garde and pop/rock. Performing on opening night at the Grote Markt, Cowley and his crew were named UK Jazz Artist of the Year in January. GV

24-26 May
Across Brussels
www.brusselsjazzmarathon.be

More festivals this week

Kuurne (West Flanders)
Jazz Kuurne 2013: Jazz festival featuring the UK’s Neil Cowley Trio, Lionel Beuvens 4tet and Pure Elastic Quintet
MAY 25 18.30-00.30 at Kubox, Kattestraat 188
www.jazzkuurne.be

Mechelen
Pataboem: New music festival within the walls of Mechelen’s begijnhof, featuring free concerts by a diverse array of bands, including Quinteto Aster, Fanfare Produit Blanc and De Letter Geletterden
MAY 25 16.00-23.00 at Groot Begijnhof Mechelen, Nonnenstraat
www.groot-begijnhof-mechelen.be

Puurs
Duvel Blues Festival: Annual international blues festival, featuring American blues greats Otis Taylor, Eric Bibb and Trampled Under Foot, among others
MAY 25 at Hof van Coolhem, Coolhemstraat 64
www.duvelblues.be

PERFORMANCE

Mush-Room

Choreographer Grace Ellen Barkey and her Brussels-based Needcompany are known for their whimsical contemporary performances. San Francisco’s gonzo music collective the Residents are, for their part, generally considered the weirdest pop group since Captain Beefheart. Geography aside, theirs is a most logical collaboration. And it has come to pass with the production Mush-Room, a bizarre but memorable romp through the fungal world, with Barkey’s dancers boogying to a score composed by the Residents. The bad news: the soundtrack is recorded, and so said Residents will not be performing live. GV

27-28 May, 20.30
STUK, Leuven
www.stuk.be

More performances this week

Antwerp
Marktplaats 76: Needcompany presents the latest production by director Jan Lauwers, which examines how people collectively cope with suffering and tragedy (in English)
MAY 30-JUN 1 20.00 at deSingel, Desguinlei 25
www.desingel.be

Brussels
The Importance of Being Earnest: The Irish Theatre Company presents Oscar Wilde’s famous play, directed by Andrew McIlroy (in English)
Until MAY 25 20.00 at Bozar, Ravensteinstraat 23
www.bozar.be

Ghent
Sheepnoise & Shopping Bags: Flemish artists Annelien Vermeir and Claire Stragier’s don black masks for this interactive installation that creatively recreates the stages of processing textiles
MAY 29 & JUN 1 20.30 at Vooruit, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 23
www.vooruit.be