Culture beat – April 18

Roll up, roll up, Hopla! circus festival has set up camp downtown. The annual spring rendezvous for circus arts is entertaining crowds until April 20 in and around Sainte-Catherine. From its hub at Vismet it is staging contemporary acts suitable for all ages, specially designed for an urban setting. And they are all free. This evening (Friday), don’t  miss Apero Funamble (16.00-19.30) on the banks of the canal at Place Sainctelette. Two wires will be suspended across the water for a thrilling show. Over the weekend, there are activities and performances by professional companies and aspiring acrobats from the Ecole Supérieure des Arts du Cirque. Test your own circus skills, from tightrope walking to trapeze and juggling. Reservation necessary for some shows.

This weekend is the last chance to catch a sci-fi or fantasy film as the BIFF wraps up after almost two weeks of screenings at Bozar. The international European fantastic film festival is showing movies until late Sunday night.

On Tuesday, the European dance project Métamorphoses, kicks off its Belgian leg at Les Brigittines arts centre.  Three contemporary choreographers from Belgium, France and Poland are performing until Friday along with other multidisciplinary artists participating in the project.  Karine Ponties (Belgium), Dario La Stella (Italy) and Dominika Knapik (Poland) have each created a new work on the theme of transformation that will be presented in each of the three countries. Free entrance if reserved in advance.

Cuban troubadour Pedro Luis Ferrer presents his new CD entitled Final next Saturday (April 26) at Muziekpublique. The controversial singer (ostracised by the artistic establishment for his ambivalent political stance) is nevertheless one of the key figures in contemporary Cuban music and the Nueva Trova movement. Ferrer’s collection of recordings is small but each song reveals his heart and his compassion.

Outside Brussels

The arrival of spring public holidays signals the start of some Anglo-Saxon modern roots and rock  music down in Lessines (Hainaut province). The annual fixtures kick off on Easter Monday with a concert by The Stranglers , part of The Ruby Tour 1974-2014. Then the British punk rockers return on May 1 to headline a full programme of folk, roots, blues, garage and rock in the Roots & Roses Festival. Bands include The Godfathers and The Jim Jones Revue from UK, plus American and Canadian groups  Big Sugar, Little X Monkey, King Khan & The Shrines, The Dream Syndicate. Bai Kamara Jr and Bertrand Lani form part of the Belgian contingent.