They say music is a universal language and in a cultural melting pot like Brussels, getting involved in the local music scene can be a great way to connect with new people.
Alongside a busy schedule of gigs taking place across the city each month, there are plenty of opportunities to link up with fellow musicians and get a chance to perform.
Whether you’re looking for a laid back acoustic round table, a chance to take the spotlight at an open mic night, or a jazz jam, this list has something that will strike a chord with every kind of music lover.
Lava Café
Having supported the songwriting community in Brussels for more than a decade, this bar and café offers cosy jam and open mic sessions every Sunday – there’s even a house piano and acoustic guitar available if you can’t bring your own.
Credit: Lava Cafe
An electric plugged-in session runs from 20:00 to 22:00, followed by an acoustic round table from 22:00 to midnight.
Rue Saint Christophe 20, 1000 Bruxelles. Find more information here.
La Tricoterie
A cultural hub located in a former factory, La Tricoterie opens its stage to performers every Monday night – not just for musicians and singers but for poets, magicians, or anything in between.
Sign ups open at 19:00 on the night and slots at the open mic begin at 20:00, followed by a group jam session for musicians and singers from 22:30.
The Monday night open mic sessions are running from now until 10 June.
Credit: La Tricoterie
Rue Théodore Verhaegen 158, 1060 Saint-Gilles. Find more information here.
Joran – Cidrothéque
As well as an impressive selection of ciders, this bar also hosts an open jam for traditional Irish music every two weeks, on the first and third Sunday of each month from 16:00 to 19:00.
Credit: Joran - Cidrothèque
Rue Jacques Jansen 3, 1030 Schaerbeek. Find more information here.
Café Bizon
This atmospheric city centre blues bar hosts a jam session every Monday night from 20:30 – all blues musicians are welcome, just bring your own instrument.
Credit: Cafe Bizon
Rue du Pont de la Carpe 7, 1000 Bruxelles. Find more information here.
L’Ascenseur
You can find this community café and bar at the foot of the elevator to the Brussels Courthouse, and it is home to the Brussels branch of Euradio radio station as well as host to a variety of events.
Credit: L'Ascenseur
Stop by every Thursday and Friday to see performing bands followed by jam sessions.
Rue de l'Epée 1, 1000 Bruxelles. Find more information here.
Jazz Station
There’s no shortage of jazz focused jam sessions across the city, including this one held every week in this concert hall and jazz club in a restored train station.
Every Sunday from 18:00 musicians follow one another on stage, improvising on jazz standards.
Credit: Jazz Station
Chaussée de Louvain 193A-195, 1210 Bruxelles. Find more information here.
The Music Village
This jazz club is in the historic heart of the city next to Grand Place and attracts jazz lovers as well as a wider popular audience to hear live music six days a week.
Entry is free every Tuesday evening from 20:30 when musicians can join in the weekly jazz jam session, as well as usually catch a gig beforehand.
Credit: The Music Village
Rue des Pierres 50 Steenstraat, 1000 Bruxelles. Find more information here.
Sounds Jazz Club
A fixture of the Brussels jazz scene since 1986, this club in Ixelles hosts jam sessions three times a week.
A free jazz jam session kicks off at 21:00 every Wednesday, while gigs every Friday are followed by a gipsy acoustic jam session, and after Saturday gigs you can hang around for the late after-hours jam session.
Credit: Sounds Jazz Club
Sounds is due to close at the end of June but alternative jams will be organised in partner venues from September 2024.
Rue de la Tulipe 28, 1050 Ixelles. Find more information here.
