Culture beat – April 25

Students from music and drama schools in Brussels and Wallonia show off their talent in the performing arts event Festival Courants d’Air that runs until Sunday. Organised by Brussels Conservatory it is staged at multiple venues in the city centre, including Halles-Saint Géry, La Bellone and Brussels Parliament. Around 180 students are taking part, presenting theatre, circus, musique, jazz, and opera.

As Art Brussels opens today (Friday) for its 32nd edition, the capital continues to affirm itself as a major cutting-edge contemporary art centre. Only half of the 400 galleries from around the world that applied for a stand, have been accepted at the international event at Brussels Expo. Galleries, showing some 2,000 artists, are organised in sections that showcase young artists, established names and a brand-new Curator’s View selection, hand-picked by the fair’s artistic director Katerina Gregos. The fair also pays tribute to Belgian collectors with the exhibition Portrait of the Collector as a Work of Art. Running alongside the event is OFF Art Fair (pictured) at Tour & Taxis, the third annual contemporary art fair with an alternative edge, featuring young artists and more than 45 galleries. Until April 28.

Live comedy fans are spoilt for choice in the International Comedy Week from  April 28 to May 2. The long-running francophone festival Juste Pour Rire includes four nights with English-language comedians. Headlining are American Al Lubel and Canadian Pete Johansson, performing alongside British-Flemish comedian Nigel Williams, Ireland’s David Hayden and Australia’s Yianni Agisilaou. The first three evenings at the Kings of Comedy Club cost €15, while the closing night with Al Lubel is €25. A €56 festival pass gives access to all four shows.

The monthly Bozar Book Club features American author Rachel Kushner’s 2013 novel The Flamethrowers on April 29. The international-oriented literary salon in where readers gather to discuss a selected title, alters language each month. Flemish novelist Roderik Six will lead the discussion on Kushner’s latest novel which was a finalist for the 2013 National Book Award and a New York Times bestseller.

Take advantage of Bozar Night on April 30 (on the eve of the public holiday) for a late night opening at the arts centre, with concerts by Actress, Kangding Ray and Evian Christ, among others, plus DJ sets, electronica and exhibitions, including Flemish artist Michaël Borremans and ancient and modern Greek art.

Lessines

Win a pair of tickets for the Roots & Roses Festival in Lessines (Hainaut province) on May 1 when The Stranglers headline a programme of folk, roots, blues, garage and rock. 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.

To win a pair of tickets, send an email to webmaster@thebulletin.be, with "Roots & Roses" in the subject line, by noon on 30 April. Winners will be notified the same day!