Culture beat – June 26

The Brussels leg of the Festival of Wallonia, Musiq’3, takes over Flagey and Marni from June 26 to 29. Entitled Move - The Danube Experience, it explores the music of the Bohemian cities lying along the mythical river. With more than 60 concerts on five stages, lively outdoor activities and workshops for the kids, this is a musical treat for classical music lovers. The programme is particularly diverse, ranging from Balkan tzigane (Ensemble Roby Lakatos, pictured), to gypsy and jazz as the latter enjoys a special tribute in honour of the Year of the Sax (200th anniversary of birth of Adolphe Sax). The festival’s opening concert tonight features guest of honour, Belgian saxophonist Fabrizio Cassol.

Every year the non-profit urban arts project Recyclart transforms into a fun and instructive summer camp. Recyclart Holidays 2014 runs every Thursday and Friday evening until August 1 with an eclectic mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Located in the abandoned Brussels-Chapelle train station, the venue’s outside space ‘La Plage’ benefits from a sunny disposition; enjoy outside seating in the sunshine until 21.30. In addition to having a 450-space concert hall and a bar, Recyclart hosts the wood and metal construction training centre Fabrika. This summer’s activities offer photo exhibitions, concerts, screenings and workshops, including pain publik, a weekly bread-making session using a large outdoor oven.

Tickets are still available for each day of Couleur Café at Tour & Taxis, from tomorrow (Friday) until Sunday. The summer music festival kick-off provides a journey around the music of the world, not to mention its cuisine. As well as an R’n’B, hip-hop, soul, afro, reggae, raga and pop line-up, there are music and dance classes, workshops and other activities. Check the programme for the complete line-up.

Catch up on films you may have missed earlier in the season, in free outdoor screenings in the city. Une toile sous les étoiles starts on Saturday with Belle et Sebastien at Parvis Saint-Pierre in Uccle and continues every Wednesday at Wolubilis, at 22.00 (Place Temps Libre, until August 27). Its first show is sci-fi thriller Gravity on July 2; Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine follows on July 9. The programme features both English- and French-language films.

Outside Brussels

Marking its 30th anniversary on Saturday is Namur’s free rock gig Verdur Rock. Blasting out from the idyllic and panoramic setting of the Citadel will be Soldout, BB Brunes, Saule and Skip & Die. The afternoon is devoted to the finals of rock group competition Tremplin, while off stage activities include Verdur Kids.

With Mons 2015 fast approaching, the Hainaut capital is warming up for its year in the spotlight as European Capital of Culture from next January. The annual Festival au Carré, June 29 to July 11, promises an enticing teaser. Agnès Jaoui Lorent Watson, Wim Vandekeybus, David Murgia and Antoine Chance are among the highlights of the performance festival. There are also open rehearsals (free) for Marco Martinelli’s Rumore de acque, from June 26 to July 2 at Parc du Beffroi. The outdoor pop-rock choral tragedy premieres next summer during Mons 2015 and is a homage to the immigrants who came to work in Wallonia’s coal mines. Festival hub is the newly renovated Le Manege.