Belgium becomes a mecca for festival-goers during the spring and summer months, but things die down during the colder months. But now one of the key players on the Brussels music scene is looking to keep the party going later in the year.
As the days get longer and the temperatures are rising (very slowly but surely), people across Belgium are already counting down to their first summer festival. One of the first big events on the agenda is the 'Nuits Botanique'.
This year, an extended 31st edition of the festival will run for 12 days from 24 April to 5 May. The programme features an eclectic lineup of 150 artists, both international and local, on five different stages. This will include the Halles de Schaerbeek for the first time.
Similar to a festival there will be multiple acts each day. But unlike festivals on a single location, participants buy a ticket for one venue and only see the artists playing there. Venues are arranged loosely by genre.
Highlights of the festival are Bota by Night on 27 April (when the party will go on until early the next morning) and the Garden Party on 1 May. On 4 May, visitors can attend all the concerts in the three halls and the Chapiteau – a total of 25 bands – with a single ticket.
The Botanique concert hall. Credit: Belga/ Noe Zimmer
In addition to the event this spring, the iconic venue will run an additional festival, organisers confirmed to The Brussels Times. Les Nuits Weekender is a new festival that will take place on 1, 2 and 3 November.
As with the longer programme in April and May, it will encourage musical discovery with stages at the Orangerie, Museum and the Witloof Bar hosting a range of musical talent.
The concept was conceived after a series of concerts that Botanique staged in November 2023, during which organisers weren't able to have all the artists they would have liked, RTBF reports. This festival allows the venue to bring in 18 artists or groups per evening for a total of 54 concerts. A single ticket, expected to cost around €45, will give access to all the evening's concerts.
