Festivals, concerts and music events in December

Loyal to its vibrant cultural offer, Brussels has a wide range of music events all over the city and beyond. We assembled a nice selection of interesting concerts, festivals, parties and music events happening in December so that all aficionados and concert goers can find something that suits their music taste.  

Concerts: 

UB40 (Lotto Arena, Antwerp, 01 December). The legendary reggae band celebrates 40 years of career with a special tour. Tickets. 

Elyanna (La Madeleine, Brussels, 02 December). The Palestinian-Chilean sensation presents her debut album ‘WOLEDTO’ live, pushing boundaries by combining Arabic music with Latin rhythms. Tickets.

Alfie Templeman (Le Botanique, Brussels, 04 December). True to the sunny, laid-back vibe of his debut album, ‘Mellow Moon’, which earned him critical acclaim from The Guardian, NME and more, Alfie Templeman’s sophomore album, ‘Radiosoul’, once again showcases his expertise as a multi-instrumentalist, producer and performer. Tickets.

Isaac Roux (Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, 07 December). He is a rising star in the Belgian indie scene. He won Studio Brussel’s De Nieuwe Lichting with his warm mix of indie-folk and alternative rock. Tickets.

YellowStraps (Le Botanique, Brussels, 07 December). Electric guitar loop, voice and piano floating in the echo, percussion mixing UKG, 2step, and neo-soul: it is through this assembly of genres that YellowStraps offers us his art. Tickets.

Vonda Sheppard (Eldorado, Humbeek, 08 December). The music star of the hit TV show Ally McBeal comes to Belgium to perform tracks from the series, along with her own greatest hits. Tickets.

Lubiana (Le Botanique, Brussels, 13 December). Guardian of a musical temple without borders, performer, kora musician and Belgian-Cameroonian composer, Lubiana takes us into a universe that fascinates with the richness of its sounds from Africa, Europe and North America. Tickets.

Sylvie Kreusch (Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, 18-19 December). The Belgian indie popstar presents her new album ‘Comic Trip’ released last month. Tickets. 

FESTIVALS: 

If you like electronic music and social causes, Maatwerk By Night is the party you are looking for. After a successful open-air event in June in Vauxhall, Maatwerk is back on 7 December with another party to celebrate end of the festival year. DJs, local beer, a solidarity action donating part of the profit to Brussel Helpt, collaborating with community centres. Read more. 

The new edition of the biennial Ars Musica festival, titled Urban Nature, runs from 13 November to 3 December. The festival explores the evolution of music and what it represents today, with a focus on the concept of the city as a space for musical development and nature as a source of inspiration. More info

Espace Lumen hosts the 4^th edition of the Belgian Italian Jazz Festival, on 13 and 14 December with artists from Belgium, Italy and the US. Free entry with reservation here.  

The Positive Night – Against HIV (La Madeleine, Brussels, 15 December). It’s a charity festival with performances by some of the top Belgian singers of the moment: Mustii, Doowy, Gustaph, Colt and more. Tickets.

Other music events: 

• Every Saturday at 17h00, L’Archiduc pub invites you to live music concerts under the title of Jazz After Shopping, where you can enjoy jazz sessions by multiple artists and from different generations while sipping your favourite drink. More info.
  
• Support local queer artists and their creations in a unique Christmas Market in a location in Place Sainte Catherine on December 7. There will be a tombola and a DJ set by Delphine von Kaatz. More info.
  
• Blackout Session: Listen to 1998’s ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’s album in the dark and focus on the perfection of this hip hop/soul masterpiece in silence. On 11 December at Atelier 210. More info.
  
• Halles That Swing! The 9^th edition of the swing festival in Saint Géry. Right in the centre of Brussels, this free event on 22 December is organised by Café Des Halles with the support of Swing it Brussels. More info.

This list is compiled by our music contributor David Vidal Sans. For more inspirations, you can check Brussels Music Agenda on Instagram or Facebook.