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Nightlife

Brussels' location at the heart of Europe encourages top artists and budding stars to tour here. The main venues are the Forest National, Avenue du Globe 36, and AB (Ancienne Belgique) on Boulevard Anspach for the largest gigs. Botanique, Rue Royale 236, and Cirque Royal, Rue de l'Enseignement 81, both cater for smaller acts.

The city, however, has a thriving homegrown scene of its own. Jazz has been strong since the 1920s and there is year-round live jazz in a cluster of venues, climaxing in the annual Brussels Jazz Festival. The club scene is relatively new, drawing the crowds after much lingering in the city's many bars and Irish pubs overflowing with expatriates. Aside from the tacky discos for tourists, there is big-name-DJ-drawing Fuse. The best send out their sounds into the night, around Place de St-GÉry, Manneken-Pis and in the Marolles district. Clubs open at 2300, heat up at midnight, and survive until about 0600. Being foreign and dressed in tune with the club helps admission; it is customary to tip the bouncer about BFr30. Entrance is sometimes free but will more likely cost about BFr400.

The Fnac in the City 2 complex on Rue Neuve is the best place for tickets, although the Tourist Office on Grand-Place may also be of help.

Bars: Central beer havens include La BÉcasse, Rue de Tabora 11, A La Mort Subite, Rue Montagne aux Herbes Potagères, and La Rose Blanche, Grande-Place 11. A number of bars transform into clubs as the night wears on. Among the most happening are Acrobat, Rue Borgval 14, which pulsates to dance and funk tunes at weekends, while DJs and strong vodka get the crowd dancing to rap and jungle at Le Sud, Rue de l'Ecuyer 43-5 (Thursday to Saturday). A quieter evening is on offer at the ThÉâtre de Toone VII, Impasse Schuddeveld 6, off Petite Rue de Bouchers, where puppets form a backdrop to drinking.

Clubs: Top international DJs play techno, house and jungle at The Fuse, Rue Blaes 208. Mirano Contintal, chemin de Louvain 38, is tacky with a yuppie crowd, while Le Bal, Boulevard du Triomphe, is just tacky. Tourists may meet tourists at Espace de Nuit, Rue MarchÉ aux Fromages, near Grand-Place. Most of the hipper clubs have a gay (and sometimes a lesbian) night. Tels Quels magazine (in French) has the most comprehensive gay listings.

Live music: Jazz dominates the live music scene; there is jazz Saturday (and most Sundays) at L'Archiduc, Rue Antoine Dansaert 6. Frequent concerts at Fool Moon, Quai de Mariemont 26, featuring anything from jazz-funk to drum'n'bass and Latin music. Although VK is a trek away at Rue de l'Ecole 76, this is where alternative sounds - hip hop, rock and indie music - are given a hearing. Magasin 4, Rue du Magasin 4, offers a more central venue for indie and hip hop. Folk fans should try Thunderbird CafÉ, Quai du Commerce 48, where there are usually twice-weekly gigs on offer and good food.



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