Since its inaugural edition in 2016, Listen is Brussels’ first urban music festival dedicated to alternative electronic music. Our festival was born out of a common desire: drive local talent to the next level and support the development of a local alternative music scene.
Over the past couple of years our festival has evolved into a 5 day take-over of the city of Brussels with DJ-sets, concerts, talks, workshops, expo and more in various unique locations throughout the Belgian capital. The musical scope has also broadened quite a bit over the years. Next to the main electronic genres like House and Techno that were present from the very beginning, Listen now also incorporates a much broader alternative sound with genres like Hyperpop, Drum'n'bass, Amapiano and Hip Hop.
The link to the city of Brussels and its local music scene has been very important from the early days of Listen. As a festival we aim to create and nourish a platform, within the city of Brussels, with an international reach to showcase local talent and place them among the most exciting international acts in the industry.
Collaborative music platform
Listen is a collaborative music platform with each event being curated in collaboration with some of the most prolific Belgian artists, labels, venues & collectives. Curators over the past years have included: Flagey, Stroom, Blck Mamba, Not Your Techno,Kalahari Oyster Cult, Basic Moves, Under My Garage, La Cabane, Lefto, Frontal, Le Bureau Electronique, Slagwerk, He4rtbroken, Fuse, Crevette Records, Vice City, Crammed Discs, Rebel Up, AliA, Le Motel, Brikabrak, Gay Haze, Spek, C12, A.Brehme & many more.
Artists
Each year we welcome some of the most exciting musical acts for DJ sets, lives, concerts and more.
Some of the artists that have played at Listen:
808 State / A. Brehme / Acid Arab / Addison Groove / Alfred Anders / AliA / Altin Gün / Actress X Mount Kimbie / Andrew Weatherall / Antal / ANZ / Aponogeton / Aroh / Asa Moto / Avalon Emerson / Barbara Boeing / Beautiful Swimmers / Benji B / Ben Kamal / Bibi Seck / Bicep / Bjeor / Byron The Aquarius / Bradley Zero / Cabasa/ Call Super / Carista / Carlos Valdes / Charlie Bones / Cleveland / Croatian Amor / DC Salas / Dengue Dengue Dengue / Delfonic / DJ Athome / DJ Food / DJ Stingray / Dolkraut Band / Dr. Rubinstein / DTM Funk / Ece Özel / Elena Colombi / Emily Jeanne / Fais Le Beau / Fatima Yamaha / Floating Points / Fka.mp4 / Funkineven / Front De Cadeaux / Ge-Ology / Gigi Masin / Giuseppe Leonardi / Gurl / Gwenan / Habibi Funk / Hector Oaks / Helena Hauff / Hessle Audio Trio (Ben Ufo, Pangaea & Pearson Sound) / Hicham / Hiele & Wilan W. / Hunee / I-F / Infuso Giallo / Intergalactic Gary / Islas / Jane Fitz / Jamie Tiller / Jason Kendig / Jazzdee / Job Jobse / John Gómez / John Talabot / John T. Gast / Johnny Nash & Suzanne Kraft / Jovonn / Kai Alce / Kamaal Williams / Kamma & Masalo / Kappen / Karenn / Kong / Konduku / Lawrence Le Doux / Lefto / Le Motel / Lipelis / Luke Slater / Luca Lozano / Marco Shuttle / Maurice Fulton / Midland / Mimi / Motor City Drum Ensemble / Mr. Scruff / Nosedrip / Nu Guinea / Objekt / Omar S / Optimo / Orpheu The Wizard / Pablo’s Eye / Pablo Valentino / Palms Trax / Pender Street Steppers / Phaser Boys / Powder / Reinel Bakole / Rey Colino / Rick Shiver / Rrita Jashari / San Soda / Sapphire Slows / Sassy J / Sara Dziri / Sixsixsixties / Skee Mask / Shackleton / Sherelle / Sky H1 / soFA / Soumaya Phéline / Spekki Webu / Suso Saiz / Syracuse / Ssaliva / Stellar OM Source / Terrence Dixon / The Mystic Jungle Tribe / Varg / Victor De Roo / Vieira / Walrus / Woody92 / X/O / Zenobia
Each year we aim for a 50/50 split between Belgian and international artists with a strong focus to put our locals in headlining slots among the international guests.
Locations
Another key factor for Listen are the unique locations we occupy throughout the city of Brussels each year.
For the 2023 edition we're again heading to some amazing locations in Brussels like the Brussels Central Station, Brussels Congrès Station, C12, Fuse, La Cabane and many more.
Our Scene
Our Scene is a platform with in-depth interviews, highlights, radioshows and more. Promoting local talent is an integral part of our Festival’s DNA, both throughout the year and during the festival.
With a yearly vinyl compilation with tracks from up-and-coming Belgian artists and a magazine that bundles the best content created throughout the year, we want to explore the core of what is happening in the Belgian music scene.
Click here to go to the Our Scene platform.
Press
Crack Magazine
A key component of Brussels thriving underground scene. It was
pleasing to see local talent granted as much space as the heavy
hitters [...] It’s clear that this festival is invested in pushing that
trajectory.
Tsugi Magazine
The festival feels like a nice breath of fresh air. [...] Listen is a reflection of Brussels where music and cultural ‘diversity’ are the
key words.
Resident Advisor
Diverse and action-packed festival.
Vice Magazine
A bit of an institution for Brussels.
Trax Magazine
Result of an exemplary cooperation between the various local
actors, Listen illustrated above all the infinity of possibilities
represented today by the city of Brussels.