The Rakes To Clean Up In The Garden

The May 7th bill headed by the U.K.’s The Rakes and Shitdisco looks to be one of the highlights of this year’s Les Nuits Botanique.

It will be the 23rd time the annual event, which press officer Pascalle Bertolini once described as being "more arty than a festival in a field," has been staged in the historic gardens that were a social magnet for Brussels’ high society in the days of King Leopold II.

La Botanique is at Rue Royale, which offers a panoramic view of the city and was once one of the coolest places for Belgian society to be seen.

For emerging European talent it’s still one of the coolest places to be seen. Apart from the U.K. and Belgium, acts will be coming from Scandinavia, Germany and France.

Ramona Córdova, Turner Cody, Maria Taylor, Cold War Kids, and Shy Child make up the U.S. contingent that will be trying to establish a European foothold at what’s become a prestigious showcase for upcoming acts.

The full lineup for this year’s Les Nuits Botaniques (April 30 to May 12) was announced at a March 22 press conference held at the venue and includes top local talent such as Hooverphonic and Zita Swoon, along with Ed Harcourt, Gotan Project, Just Jack, Matt Elliott, Mouse On Mars, The Young Gods, and Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band.