Unique in Europe, the multicultural Brussels Summer Festival takes place in the heart of the capital over ten days. And the music is varied, too, with pop, hip-hop, jazz and rock gracing the three stages around the Place des Palais and the Mont des Arts. Running alongside the BSF is Classissimo, a series of concerts for classical music lovers, offering up romantic, baroque and chamber music.
It’s not just about the music – with the BSF bracelet firmly wrapped around your wrist you can get into BOZAR, the Magritte Museum or even visit the Atomium for the democratic sum of €1. In the streets surrounding there are all manner of stands selling food and drink or providing information about the city.
The music continues in other partner venues throughout the city, including the Delirium Village, Madame Moustache and Cafe Belgica.
The bands are mainly from Belgium but troubadours from further afield were also in evidence, such as Amy Macdonald on Saturday, and on Sunday night Madness had the revellers swinging to their ska classics. As those Camden Town boys might say :“Welcome to the house of fun…”