Women to the front: a radical open stage reclaims La Tricoterie

In Saint-Gilles, La Tricoterie hands over its stage to anyone identifying as a woman – with non-binary folks warmly welcome – for a no-boys-on-mic open stage that mixes music, slam, poetry, theatre and more, followed by a late-night jam.

In a city buzzing with open mics, this one sets a very clear tone: La Tricoterie in Saint-Gilles is opening its doors exclusively to people who identify as women, with non-binary people explicitly invited to take up space too. Between 8 pm and 10.30 pm, the venue’s cosy “Salon” turns into a lab for experiments, shaky first times and powerful comebacks, where the only rule is to play live – no backing tracks, just you, your instrument, your text or your body on stage.

The format is intentionally loose and generous: you can show up with a French chanson, a funk groove, some classical, rap, noisy garage rock, a piece of theatre, a poem, a performance or even a magic trick, as long as you’re ready to share it with an audience that’s there to listen rather than judge. The running order works on a first-come, first-served basis, with a sign-up sheet sliced into 15-minute slots that only opens onsite from 7 pm – no email, no phone bookings, you have to physically claim your place and then stick around, drink in hand, to support the others before you jump on stage yourself.

After 10.30 pm, the energy shifts into full jam mode, and the open stage morphs into a collaborative playground where singers and musicians identifying as women are invited to improvise together. The focus is on listening and mutual care, so that the magic can actually happen: that moment when a shy first chord turns into a shared groove, or when a poem suddenly finds a chorus.

Running across several nights throughout the season, this recurring event is more than a simple “girls’ night”: it’s a regular, free-entry space where women and non-binary artists can test new material, meet future collaborators, and reclaim the stage away from the usual dude-heavy lineups. For Brussels’ queer and feminist communities, it’s a chance to bring your band, your words, your questions – or just your presence – into a room that’s actively trying to re-balance who gets to hold the mic.

Practical info & useful links

Price: free entry.​

Concept & dates on visit.brussels: “Scène Ouverte exclusivement réservée aux personnes s’identifiant comme femmes".​

Locatie: La Tricoterie – Fabrique de Liens – Salon, Rue Théodore Verhaegen 158, 1060 Saint-Gilles.

Time: 8 pm–10.30 pm (sign-ups from 7 pm on the day, onsite only).​

Format: 15-minute live slots, followed by a jam session for women and non-binary musicians and singers.

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