30 of the best live music venues in Brussels and beyond

BRUSSELS

A l’Imaige Nostre-Dame
Tucked down a tiny passageway, l’Imaige is popular with tourists and locals for the live music held every Thursday to Saturday.
3 Impasse des Cadeaux

Ancienne Belgique
Concert venue hosting gigs by established international names and young talent of all genres.
110 Boulevard Anspach

Art Base
The multimedia space has an eclectic line-up of acts several nights a week, specialising in gypsy jazz and Latino and Greek music.
29 Rue des Sables

Bizon
As popular among local musicians as it is with tourists for its Monday blues jam. Concerts on Wednesdays.
7 Rue du Pont de la Carpe

Le Botanique
Former botanic garden hosting festivals, exhibitions and 250 concerts a year.
236 Rue Royale

Café Floréo
Hosts milonga nights of Argentinian tango, Wednesday night jam sessions, soul and funk parties and weekend DJ sets.
19 Rue des Riches-Claires

Michael Collins
An Irish pub that often provides live music on the weekend, this bar has a lively yet homely feel to it.
Corner Rue du Bailli/Avenue Louise

Music Village
As the heart of jazz in Brussels, this bar close to the Grand’Place offers regular live concerts from international performers.
50 Rue de la Pierre

La Porte Noire
This underground bar with its brick interior and low rounded roof has concerts every Thursday night with Irish traditional music sessions every other Tuesday.
67 Rue des Alexiens

Recyclart
A publicly funded bar, restaurant and performance and art space that puts on regular shows and parties.
13 Rue de Manchester

Scott’s Bar
The place to go on a Saturday night with many of the city’s gigging musicians on its roster.
51 Rue Montagne aux Herbes Potagères

Sounds Jazz Club
No-frills bar with jazz from local and international artists six nights a week.
28 Rue de la Tulipe

La Tentation
Officially a cultural centre for Galician heritage, this cafe and event space in the city centre offers musical fun nearly every night of the week.
28 Rue de Laeken

Thon Hotel
Live music every Tuesday evening.
17 Avenue du Boulevard

OUTSIDE BRUSSELS

Belvedere
Intimate concert space in former cable car terminus atop the city’s citadel. It also houses exhibitions, workshops and installations.
1 Avenue Marie d’Artois, Namur

Cactus Muziekcentrum
Club and concert venue hosting mainly Belgian acts.
4 Sint-Sebastiaansstraat, Bruges

L’Escalier
National and local artists perform here, while DJs alternate between techno and house.
26 Rue Saint-Jean-en-Isle, Liège

Ferme du Biereau
Hosts up-and-coming and established musicians of all genres.
Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve

Le Forum
Art Deco concert, performance and show space, hosting music, theatre and comedy.
12-14 Rue Pont d’Avroy, Liège

Handelsbeurs
Creative music house that presents and produces a range of projects.
29 Kouter, Ghent

Kultura
Non-profit space staging concerts, exhibitions and performances.
13 Rue Roture, Liège

Muziekodroom
Pop, rock, punk and funk from local and international acts.
9 Bootstraat, Hasselt

Reflektor
Contemporary music hall in the building of the former Sauvenière swimming pool. Rock, pop, electro, techno, house, dub, reggae, hiphop, world, jazz, funk and more.
24 Place Xavier Neujean, Liège

Rockerill
Once a forge, the site has a new lease of life as a cultural and artist centre. It’s also home to Rockerill Records.
136 Rue de la Providence, Charleroi

De Roma
Old-fashioned concert hall and cinema hosting major international acts and local perfomers.
286 Turnhoutsebaan, Antwerp

Spirit 66
US-style club staging 15-20 gigs a month, including blues, rock, metal, jazz, country, salsa and reggae.
16 Place du Martyr, Verviers

Trix
Club and workshop for alternative pop music.
28/30 Noordersingel, Antwerp

Vooruit
Historic arts complex presenting music, theatre and literary events.
23 Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat

Wex
Concert venue with a capacity of up to 1,000, staging major shows.
1 Rue des Deux Provinces, Marche-en-Famenne

La Zone
Cultural collective with music, theatre, exhibitions and workshops.
27 Rue Méan, Liège