Another sunny day in Brussels? What’s happening?! Ok, now it is turning to a too warm weather to be honest. This time, the concert didn’t take place at the now infamous marquee, but at the already infamous for a long time Orangerie. I didn’t spend much time outside, but I still got some time to eat some delicious samousas. A bit more salt and that would be perfect.

Our night at #Nuits17 started a bit later than usual (8pm) but in such an amazing way. I have to be honest, I had so much work that I didn’t have the time to check the opening act before going to the concert, so I went there with no preconceptions, like a virgin. Brussels-based indie pop artist Clare Louise started singing and immediately my whole body was captured by her universe. The singer/producer declares, laughing, during the concert “This is a song from the 70s.. for those who have been following my career since Woodstock” and indeed her music is full of references from that era. In a way, she gets inspired by peaceful messages, most of them written in French. Putting a lot of poetry into the lyrics, she tries to inspire the listener with a sober yet romantic setting. Her music is full of imagery, where the imagination is fully on demand and you can find your own story in her music. When she sang a song inspired by “all of the insomniacs out there”, I couldn’t help but relate to her as I never sleep, and when a back singer started playing the xylophone, I saw myself on stage as I’m closeted xylophone player myself.

I invited my friend Jeff to the concert of Chantal Acda as we saw her together for the first time in Antwerp almost two years ago. We had the chance to meet her, and she was one of the sweetest artists I have ever met. The first time we saw her, Jeff cried and I was impressed on how emotional he got while listening to her as I almost never cry in concerts (except for Björk). This time, she played most of her last album “Bounce Back” out last April and her happiness on being on stage with her band was contagious. The room was almost packed and you couln’t see anyone bored during the concert as it was hard to not notice her impeccable vocals. Never disappointed by Chantal.

How inspiring is to see women owning their artistry as most of the time, they are not being taken seriously? Thank you, #Nuits17!

Une publication partagée par Highclouds (@highcloudsmag) le 17 Mai 2017 à 6h14 PDT

The last concert was Shannon Wright who really blew me away. I wasn’t very familiar with her work, but she truly made me regret it. In a place between the genius of Janis Joplin, Portishead and Prince, she embraced that stage like no other, and I couldn’t help but tell to Jeff “What the fuck is going on? Am I dead and is this heaven?”. Mastering the piano, guitars, with perfect vocals and a real presence on stage, Shannon left the entire room speechless. Usually, people scream, jump or whatever. This time, we were all mesmerized by her intelligence. How inspiring is to see women owning their artistry as most of the time, they are not being taken seriously? I left the Botanique full of happiness, and the only thing I can say is: thank you.

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Our journey at #Nuits17 continues tonight with the concert of Angel Olsen.

As a blog based in Brussels, we pay special attention to the acts coming from our country, as you can see it in our column “Belgitunes“. In our last playlist, “20 songs from artists based in Belgium, you can already find songs from Warhaus that will be playing at Cirque Royal on the 20th, Wuman that will be opening for Fishbach on the 14th and Robbing Millions that will be playing with BRNS at Cirque Royal on the 17th.

Brussels-based trio Pale Grey will be celebrating the release of their EP on the 15th and our favorite duo Rive will play their debut EP “Vermillon” on the 18th. Electronic acts Monolithe Noir and Le Motel will be playing on the 13th and the 15th, and Lubiana and Hydrogen Sea on the 19th at the Grand Salon De Concert. And to end our Belgian selection, the hip hop collaborators Caballero and JeanJass will be playing on the 19th at the Orangerie.

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Our French neighbors are also very represented on this edition with the concert of the French Björk called Camille that will be presentating, on the 12th, her new album “Ouï” set to be released in June. One of our favorite newcomers and selected in our promising list for this year, Agar Agar, will be opening for Magnus, on the 15th and Jacques, one of our favorite gigs of 2016, will be back on the 17th at the Cirque Royal.

French songstress Juliette Armanet will be presenting her perfect combination of piano and beautiful texts on the 18th and Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains their combination of indie with catchy pop on the 20th. One explosive night is preparing itself on the 20th with three of the most exciting pop acts that France has to offer: Bagarre, L’Impératrice and Her.

This year, the Nuits Bota 2017 will definitely not disappoint you with their innovative selection of the best artists.

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As party goers and people who like to dance, we couldn’t let the electronic genre on the side. With acts as Romare (13th), FKJ (13th), Hercules & Love Affair (14th) and Youngr (14th), we are ready to party! It’s not a big surprise that we are huge fans of Kelly Lee Owens, specially after the release of her debut self-titled album. With her pure techno release, she will for sure make travel into the unknown. The Nuits Bota are also preparing for you an afterparty on the 22th where artists such as Babyfather and Zebra Katz will be ready to burn down the house.

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As is it important for us to promote female acts, as you can see in our Homocore section, we also are going to pay a lot of attention to all of the rock and folk singers represented during the Nuits Bota. Artists such as Chantal Acda and Angel Olsen have been liked by many of our writers as they know how to show emotions thoughout their music.

Quartet The Big Moon will be opening for the incredible Jesca Hoop, on the 12th, being one of most expected nights of the entire festival. And last but not least, we couldn’t miss to mention the trio, that is comprised of two women, Cherry Glazerr that will be playing on the 17th.

As boys are not forgotten, we made a little selection of a few of them. Thomas Azier will be playing on the 18th with our friends of Rive, Ulrika Spacek will be playing on the 16th as an opening act for Communions and Asgeir on the same day at the Cirque Royal. And we finish our (very extensive) selection with Alex Cameron that will be playing on the 19th and Kele Okereke that will be playing on the last days of the Nuits on the 21th.

You can go check the entire program for the Nuits Bota by clicking here, check the playlist of our selection and the official trailer below.

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The track is taken from “The Sparkle In Our Flaws”, out now via Glitterhouse Records.

By the way, “The Sparkle In Our Flaws” is featured in our Top 100 Tracks of 2015 and is still ranked in the HighClouds30, the music charts of our hottest tracks of the week!

A big thanks to Kriss Munsya, who directed and edited the video.