iv project space

In vitro #26

Awakening from our summer snooze with none other than Belgium’s most renowned DIY imprint and organiser, KRAAK. On September 28th, we’ll present a series of performances ranging from text-based noise to multi-channel installation, shifting sonic environments along the way.

Pat Klassen will bring one of his most ambitious projects, Barn Sour—a sonic reality not for the faint-hearted. “Borderline music, borderline funny” as Penultimate Press put it. He’ll be joined by poet and sound-maker Duncan Harrison, an active figure in the South English weird noise scene and label-runner of Adhuman, focusing on varied sound poetics. Taiwanese artist Tzu Ni will present an installation-performance based on weather variations: a wind, a breath, a single gesture—barely perceptible—unfolding through transducers and feedback loops, unpredictably altering spatial perception.

Tickets will be available at the door. No presale.

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This event is a collaboration with Needcompany, KRAAK and In vitro, with the support of Flanders State of the Art.

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Entrance: €10 - €12 - €15 (*OTD)
Doors: 20h00

MILL (Needcompany)
Rue Gabrielle Petit 4
1080 Brussels

In vitro #25

Echoes of Dissent (Vol. 7)

On Tuesday, April 29, we present our second collaboration with Stoffel Debuysere as part of the research project Echoes of Dissent, exploring the intersection of politics, aesthetics, and sound. This edition focuses on the duality of voices within the organisation of language and sound—its morphology, juxtaposition, and ephemeral relation within improvisational music practices.

Cultural theorist and poet Fred Moten will present a duo performance with renowned bassist and improviser Brandon López. Moten’s words lead—lyrically, timbrally, poetically—while the bass loosens the grammar, creating associative inflections that elevate the raw sound of each player constantly evolving, repeating, stretching, and expanding. Together with drummer Gerald Cleaver, they have released two remarkable albums and their first duo recording is set to be released in April on TAO Forms. Their performance will be preceded by an extended conversation at Pianofabriek.

Zara Joan Miller and Ute Kanngießer take a different approach—a performance that hovers between reading, concert, and mixed media. Highlighting their new live collaboration Year of the Dragon, they explore the edges of motherhood, feeding fire, dousing, and soft loving. Miller’s fragmentary spoken word pieces and sound poetry intersect with Kanngießer’s searching, textural cello. Their previous collaboration, Blue Monday—recorded live at London’s Café Oto—was released as an LP on Reading Group in 2023.

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In the context of the research project Echoes of Dissent (KASK & Conservatory / School of Arts Gent), in collaboration with In vitro.

With the support of the Flemish Government, Flanders State of the Art, KU Leuven Commission for Contemporary Art and The Royal Conservatory of Brussels (EhB).

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20h00 Performance at Les Ateliers Claus
Entrance: €12

Preceded by

14h00 Talk with Fred Moten and Brandon López at Pianofabriek
(*An extended conversation about their thought and practice, music and language, improvisation and politics, jazz and study)
Entrance: Free

In vitro #24

From April 14 to 21, we embark on our first international tour to New York, with a performance on the 17th, thanks to our partner Montez Press Radio and the support of Flanders State of the Art. This marks a continuation of our previous collaboration in September, now presenting four Belgian artists—each distinct in their own approach—representing different facets of our sound culture.

Lukas De Clerck’s practice revolves around the Aulos, an ancient Greco-Roman double-reeded double pipe that went extinct over a millennium ago. His reimagination of the instrument, focusing on microtonality, psychoacoustics, and sound texture, has given it a second life, introducing it to new musical fields. Lawrence McGuire (aka hogobogobogo) explores vocality in sound—both in its production and reception—while using the synthetic as a suggestive probing tool to investigate psycho-linguistic and acoustic phenomena. His work exists somewhere along the continuum of computer music and sound poetry.

Farida Amadou, on the other hand, lets her body do the talking, exploring the physicality of music-making through her distinctive style playing the bass guitar. Amadou has cemented herself as a key figure in contemporary improvisational music, engaging in a wide array of collaborations. Bear Bones Lay Low, is the moniker of Ernesto González, a fellow veteran of Brussels’ noise scene for over a decade. His musical compositions weave dissonant abstractions with high-energy rhythmic pieces and melodic reveries.

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This event and tour is a collaboration with Montez Press Radio, Blank Forms, and Giorno Poetry Systems, supported by Flanders State of the Art.

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Entrance: Free
Doors: 20h00

Montez Press Radio
46 Canal St, New York
NY 10002, US

In vitro #23

We’ve been invited by Pilar to open the new Liminal edition of ASAP festival on March 6th! This edition explores liminality in sound—not as a state of stagnation, but as an evolving, transformative process, where space becomes tangible in its uncertainty.

Acclaimed musicians and improvisers Seijiro Murayama & Axel Dörner can be seen as veterans in this regard. Their ongoing collaboration examines interdisciplinary relationships between music and art, with a deep attention to space, audience energy, and the perception of silence—creating a new musical language in the process. Augustė Vickunaitė draws from a background in physics to sculpt her sound, exclusively employing vintage reel-to-reel tape recorders, embracing the malfunctions in decaying technology. She specializes in tape music, noise, and sound collage, often integrating found audio tapes. Finally, we’re joined by American composer and guitarist Kieran Daly, whose practice centers on experimental monophonic music—a skeptical, first-principles approach applied across various formal contexts using iterative processes, microtuning, sliding, and pulse salience.

This date also marks the opening of Medusa’s “Are We Nearly There Yet?”, an adjoining visual art exhibition as part of the festival.

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This event is a collaboration with Pilar, supported by Flanders State of the Art.

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Entrance: €10/13, €7/10 (-26)
Doors: 19h00

Pilar
Bd de la Plaine 2
1050 Brussels

In vitro #22

On February 15th, we return to our beloved venue, les ateliers claus, with a selection of artists at the intersection of improvisational music practices and contemporary composition.

Lisa Ullén, one of Sweden’s most influential pianists, will present a solo performance derived from Heirloom, her latest recorded work navigating different ‘in-between’ states—be it in genre, method, or identity. Weston Olencki and Laura Cocks research a similar liminal space; they’ll perform ‘Music for Two Flutes’, two pieces delving into the scales and acoustic properties of their instruments.

Vasco Alves examines the materiality of sound, pushing the bagpipe’s physical limits while exploring its morphology and relation to computer-generated sound. Alves’ latest record was released on Feedback Moves, the label of Glaswegian artist Conal Blake, who’ll also join us with a performance blending electronics with percussion elements.

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This event is a collaboration with les ateliers claus and supported by Flanders State of the Art.

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Entrance: €12
Doors: 20h00

Les Ateliers Claus
Rue Crickxstraat 13
1060 Brussels

In vitro #21

After a short break, we’re glad to announce our 21st installment and first event of the new year—a Christmas present, if you will—highlighting the tour of Beijing based sound artists and frequent collaborators Zhu Wenbo, Sun Yizhou and Zhao Cong. Their artistic influence defies categorization, representing a scene on their own, somewhere between electro-acoustic composition, tape music and improvisation.

Renowned for their innovative use of everyday objects—such as household appliances, mechanical devices, toys, and office stationery—which are amplified through various microphones and often layered with feedback and static interference. Their performances are filled with contradiction, oscillating between irregularity and homogeneity, inviting listeners to navigate the room and interpret for themselves.

Zhu and Sun are also pivotal in the dissemination of their work, and that of fellow contemporaries, through labels like Zoomin’ Night and Aloe Records. The latter extending its practice through ‘Aloe-on-site’, a live performance series that hosts events in-and-around Beijing.

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This event and tour is a collaboration between Café OTO, Default, Infant Tree, Li Song and Needcompany, with the support of Flanders State of the Art.

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Entrance: €12
Doors: 20h00

MILL (Needcompany)
Rue Gabrielle Petit 4
1080 Brussels

In vitro #20

We’re thrilled to announce that we’re celebrating our 20th edition in STUK at the end of October!

New York sound artist and stutterer JJJJJerome Ellis brings their spoken-word compositions to Belgium for the first time. They’ll be joined by Mario Komarova & PPP, two artists at the edge of mechanical music-making, sculpting their compositions with organic sound objects. Local musician-photographer, Jente Waerzeggers will present the final outcome of his residency—a collection of abandoned home recordings and sampled audio, woven into patchwork compositions for voice and guitar.

More information at www.stuk.be

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This event is made possible with the support of Flanders State of the Art.

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Entrance: €14
Doors: 20h00

STUK
Naamsestraat 96
3000 Leuven

In vitro #19

Echoes of Dissent (Vol. 5)

What could it mean to practice politics by performing music? How could musical improvisation – as a process of collectively searching for sounds and for the responses that attach to them, rather than thinking them up, preparing them and producing them – reconfigure our sense of the world? How can we experience and understand music not simply as what presents itself in the context of sound-phenomena-organized-in-time-and-exchanged-for-cash within the factory of post/industrial capitalism, but also, as an aesthetic-poetic-political mode of enquiry, a mode of perception, a way of learning and sharing – in and outside of the vibrations of sound or the marks of language?

These and other questions will be explored over two days through the practice of X- Ray Hex Tet – an ongoing collaboration between:Billy Steiger – celeste and violin
Crystabel Riley – drums
Edward George – words and music
Pat Thomas – piano and electronics
Paul Abbott – drums and synthetic sounds
Seymour Wright – alto saxophone (actual and potential)

Six musicians of different backgrounds working at the margins of what is (to many) acceptable in terms of music, genre, technique, interpretation, history and ‘tradition’; a set of subjectivities, energies and philosophies who, in dialogue together, venture and probe the awkward wealth and friction of investigation, finding pleasure (and treasure) in searching for the hidden, secret, and mysterious at the edges of music and meaning.

Their debut album will be released on October 15th via Reading Group.

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In the context of the research project Echoes of Dissent (KASK & Conservatory / School of Arts Gent). In collaboration with Courtisane, Auguste Orts and In vitro, with the support of VGC (Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie) and Q-O2.

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Entrance: €12

Les Ateliers Claus
Rue Crickxstraat 15
1060 Brussels

In vitro #18

We’re delighted to announce our 18th installment and first event of the season! For this edition, we’re collaborating with New York-based Montez Press Radio, in a joint program with Etablissement d'en face, who’ll host an evening of art discourse the day before.

Graham Lambkin will present a solo derived from his work with reduced performance, exploring sound and text-based concerns, as well as an exclusive duo with Moniek Darge (!). Darge’s contribution draws inspiration from a previously unreleased triptych soundwork called ‘Egypt Soundies’, which will be performed live for the first time. Vocalist and movement artist Elaine Mitchener celebrates the transformative power of literal possibility. Surrendering to the spacing and repetition of consonants and vowels, her phonetic freedom gives rise to a sensuous experience. Jacob Eckhardt, on the other hand, will further explore the contours of turntablism by researching the material malleability of his instrument.

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This event is in collaboration with Montez Press, Etablissement d’en Face and Needcompany, with the support of Flanders State of the Art.

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Entrance: €12
Doors: *20h00

MILL (Needcompany)
Rue Gabrielle Petit 4
1080 Brussels

In vitro #16

Although we’re running late with the announcement, we couldn’t be more happy with the selection of artists set to perform at our 16th installment.

Japanese composer and improvisation artist Taku Sugimoto is returning to Belgium for the first time in a decade. He’ll present a new performance laced with the intricacies of restrained guitar and just intonation. Luciano Maggiore uses speakers and analog/digital devices to generate sound. He addresses the performativity of the musical act and the obscurity that emanates from it. Local sound artist Anouk Kellner takes a more static approach. She’ll present her Airchoir installation, a musical instrument with 8 organ pipes as voices, which she manipulates during a live performance.

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For this edition of our stationary poster, we collaborated with Andrea di Serego Alighieri as part of our mail-art project. With the musical acts of the event in mind, we tried to bridge the gap between text and sound using the written word as an aesthetic to establish a link with that which cannot be put into words.

Andrea is a writer, translator and typographer. He teaches writing and typography at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and is a PhD candidate in Medieval and Modern Languages at the University of Oxford with a project on Italian poet Amelia Rosselli (1930-1996). The visual used is a page from her 1964 book 'Variazioni belliche' (War variations).

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Entrance: €12
Doors: 20h00

↓ Due to unforeseen circumstances the location of this event has been changed ↓
Les Ateliers Claus
Rue Crickxstraat 13
1060 Brussels

In vitro #15

For our 15th installment, we’ve invited the eccentric duo of Jack Callahan (die Reihe) & Jeff Witscher (Rene Hell). They’ll present their latest work from a far-ranging oeuvre, somewhere between computer music, noise, poetry, and the modern-day pop album. Accompanying them is local producer and Slagwerk affiliate Dida, exploring the contours where samples become ambience instead of mere anecdotes. His latest music was released on Nina Protocol, a self-publishing music platform of which Jack Callahan is also a founding member

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The artwork for the stationary poster was made by Jules Janssen as part of our mail-art project. It has a strong connection to the music that will be portrayed at the event, embracing a certain naivety that only a playful drawing can conjure.

Jules is a graphic designer based in Amsterdam who specializes in visual identities, aesthetic ministrations and printed matter. He strongly believes in mistakes and likes to assume that swimming against the current while making grand gestures of subjectivity can help the community.

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Entrance: €10
Doors: 20h00

iv project space
Rue de Fiennes 85
1070 Brussels

In vitro #14

We’re very proud to announce the 14th installement of our sound series! This event doesn’t just highlight the start of the new year, but also marks the return to our new space. For this special occasion, we’ll present a new live show by yPLO (Paul Abbot & Michael Speers), who’ll present their new release ‘ob TRU’ on the Feedback Moves label. They’ll play alongside poet and media-artist Zara Joan Miller, who works with movement and sound as a way of reimagining a body’s rhythm. She is also the author of the poetry collection BLUE MONDAY and has released a duo record with cellist Ute Kanngießer on Reading Group.

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For this edition, we’ve also sent out our second stationary poster as a part of our mail-art project. Multimedia artist Shervin/e Sheikh Rezaei did an amazing job embodying the spirit of the music in a visual identity. In her work she explores the contrast between the fluidity and invasiveness of nature/humanity and the controlled and impersonal language of technology. Sheikh Rezaei often uses uncontrollable elements in her work, such as movement, organic materials and themes of memory.

During the making of this poster Shervin/e was also otherwise engaged setting up her new solo exhibit at CC Strombeek called ‘X, ME’, which will open this friday.

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Entrance: €12
Doors: 20h30

iv projects space
Rue de Fiennes 85
1070 Brussels

In vitro #13

Our 13th installement at Les Ateliers Claus is an odd one to say the least. Focussing on improvisation in live performance, we’ve invited the multi-format duo @xcrswx, consisting of make-up artist Crystabel Riley and sax-provocateur Seymour Wright. Joining them on stage is Brussels-based sound enthusiast and free jazz drummer Ferdinand Lezaire, a regular at the venue who’ll take the stage for the first time.

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All additional ticket revenue will be donated toward the aid of the Palestinian people with the guidance of Estafette4Palestine.

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Entrance: €12
Doors: 20h00

Les Ateliers Claus
Rue Crickxstraat 13
1060 Brussels

In vitro #12

We’re continuing our collaboration with Les Ateliers Claus by presenting some extraordinary performances on the 18th of November. Theodore Cale Schafer will rejoice us with his own style of musique concrete alongside the long form interventions of sound-artist Sydney Spann. Sholto Dobie is joining us again, due to popular demand, this time with his friend and collaborator Shakeeb Abu Hamdan. The duo will present their DIY approach to music making using lots of different instruments and lo-tech electronics.

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All additional ticket revenue will be donated to the Palestinian Medical Relief Society.

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Entrance: €12
Doors: 20h00

Les Ateliers Claus
Rue Crickxstraat 13
1060 Brussels

In vitro #11

We’re very proud to announce our second collaborative event together with STUK Leuven which will take place on the 13th of October!

For this edition, we’ve invited non other than legendary Japanese composer Phew who’ll return to Belgium with her punk-influenced electronics, alongside the performative music of Merche Blasco and the DIY creations of Ghent-based duo Rimov Rimov.

More information at www.stuk.be

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Entrance: €14
Doors: 20h00

STUK
Naamsestraat 96
3000 Leuven

In vitro #10

On Saturday September 30th, we’ll try out the first sound performances at our new space. For this occasion, we’ve invited Li Song and the Network music ensemble [_ _ _], who’ll share their passion for algorithmic composition and live coding alongside a new solo performance by Hogobogobogo aka Lawrence McGuire. This body of work is an adaption of a previous project which was developed with sound artist Amos Peled.

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For this edition, we also sent out our first stationary poster to musician and visual artist Floris Hoorelbeke, who has made a 3-piece of abstract drawings which according to us is a good reflection of the performances that will take place.

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Entrance: €12
Doors: 20h00

iv project space
Rue de Fiennes 85
1070 Brussels

In vitro #9

On Thursday the 8th of June we’ll host our final event of the season. Presenting solo performances by Ulla (Straus), Sunik Kim and Dominic Coles. From sample based glitchy ambient, to pure noise and computer music.

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Entrance: €12
Doors: 20h00

Les Ateliers Claus
Rue Crickxstraat 13
1060 Brussels

In vitro #8

On Friday the 12th of May, we’re delighted to present Sergeant’s album release (a project that’s very close to our heart) together with Ostend based label Stroom—“The Girl That Won't Return Your Love But Is Totally Worth It”.

Sergeant is the avant-pop band of composing cineast Benjamin Cools and search-singing actor Ferre Marnef, who’ll present their debut album in full for the first time! Afterwards some of Stroom’s finest selectors will join us for a dj-set and we’ll be selling some brand new goodies!

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Entrance: €8
Doors: 20h00

Au Kalme
Bd Baudouin 19
1000 Brussels

In vitro #7

On Tuesday the 9th of May we’re back Les Ateliers Claus with none other than the renowned guitarist-writer Alan Licht! Joining the stage will be Dutch up-and-comer Mhm, Mhm and sound-artist Lucie Nezri.

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Entrance: €12
Doors: 20h00

Les Ateliers Claus
Rue Crickxstraat 13
1060 Brussels

In vitro #6

On Thursday the 20th of April we'll host the next edition of our event series in collaboration with Les Ateliers Claus. We've invited Valerio Tricoli (PAN, Shelter Press), Nozomu Matsumoto (The Death of Rave, Longform Editions) and Felicity Mangan (Mappa, Longform Editions) .

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Entrance: €12
Doors: 20h00

Les Ateliers Claus
Rue Crickxstraat 13
1060 Brussels

In vitro #5

On Saturday the 1st of April, In vitro and STUK Leuven will organise their first collaborative event. 

For this edition, Egyptian composer-vocalist Nadah El Shazly returns to Belgium after five years with new material. She will be accompanied by the delicate downtempo compositions of Marija Rasa Kudabaitė, while local legend Megan Bruinen will curate the afterparty from behind the decks!

More information at www.stuk.be

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Entrance: €14
Doors: 20h00

STUK
Naamsestraat 96
3000 Leuven

In vitro #4

On Saturday the 11th of March we'll continue our collaboration with Les Ateliers Claus. For this occasion, we've invited Leila Bordreuil (Boomkat, Issue), Michael Speers (Takuroku, CANVAS) and visual artist Ode de Kort.

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Entrance: €12
Doors: 20h00

Les Ateliers Claus
Rue Crickxstraat 13
1060 Brussels

In vitro #3

On the 18th of February we'll continue our series with a new event at Les Ateliers Claus. For this occasion, we've invited the prolific percussionist/composer Valentina Magaletti. Her versatile technique, which can incorporate anything from vibes and marimba to contact microphones and found objects, results in a style that is forever evolving. Feeling just as comfortable performing behind a delicate ceramic kit as she does hammering out motorik rhythms, her creative take on percussion has resulted in a diverse discography and many interesting collaborations.

She will be joined by Sholto Dobie, a musician that uses loose structures and an array of sound-sources including home-made organs and hurdy gurdy. His performances are personal and intuitive, often coming across as delicate, evocative, and absurd.

One of Brussels' finest selectors Mandy Pixel will also be playing some records during the evening!

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Entrance: €12
Doors: 20h00

Les Ateliers Claus
Rue Crickxstraat 13
1060 Brussels

In vitro #2

Picking up where we left off; On Thursday the 12th of January, we’re organizing our second get-together Le Lac, an arts and music venue located in the center of Brussels.

We’ve invited LA Timpa (Halcyon Veil, O___o?), 7038634357 (@Genome 6.66 Mbp, waiting-all-my.life) and Yyed (@Blorpus Editions, @Abyss CDR) to join us for a performance.

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Screening: Ineffable Constructs (2018)

Before, during and after the concerts there will be a screening of Daniel Hewson’s film ‘Ineffable Constructs’. This documentary can be seen as a joint project between subject and maker. The film starts out in a more classic way, but quickly evolves into something different entirely; an audiovisual idiom. Lambkin explores themes such as environment, ecology and decay through sounds and text pieces with a poetic nuance. Eventually the filmmaker becomes a pawn in the art piece, rather than taking on the role of the observer.

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Entrance: €10 ATD
Food and drinks—cash only

Le Lac
Rue de Witte de Haelen 36
1000 Brussels

In vitro #1

On the 11th of February we’re organizing our first performance event at Les Ateliers Claus, somewhere between art and sound.

We’ve invited Still House Plants (AD 93, Blank Forms) and Roxane Métayer (morctapes, Vlek) to rejoice us with their music.

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Entrance: €10
Doors: 20h00

Les Ateliers Claus
Rue Crickxstraat 13
1060 Brussels