By chance, I came across this mini-festival in Brussels called Les Nuits Botanique. I'd been to the Botanique venue before to see Brakes play, and this was a week long festival of gigs, with three rooms full of music.

This is something the rest of Europe does well and is normal to them, putting on events and making a special effort to put on a varied line-up (Vitalic, My Latest Novel and Motorpsycho). And stalls that serve nice food and not just chips.

On the Friday night me and my girlfriend enjoyed Great Lake Swimmers who I hadn't heard before. Their soft folky songs had an eery quality, and they're over here for dates this week it turns out.

Howe Gelb, he of Giant Sand fame, played with a gospel choir on Sunday night, which was fun to begin with, but lost some of its magic towards the end.

I bought my first ever furry ten inch on the weekend too.

That'll be on tonights show, and a brand new session from Darren Hayman! More unsigneds cuts well worth hearing, Props to the Shops, and music you won't hear anywhere else.

Later!