A B R FESTIVAL

A review by Steven Mackay of Arroz Estúdios, a TY-CO partner, first published in The Ransom Note on 12 May 2025

As part of TY-CO (Typologies of Community), we share writing by our partners on how cultural organisations survive, grow and stay useful to their communities. This piece is by Steven Mackay of Arroz Estúdios, our partner in Portugal.

Steven visited Horst at Asiat Park in Vilvoorde, on the edge of Brussels. Instead of the usual pop-up festival that is built and thrown away, Horst is growing a permanent site that stays open to the public all year. His review asks whether it is a model for new independent festivals. Read the full review on The Ransom Note.

A sensory experience

The Ring stage, a children's playground by day, hosted a bass-heavy line-up including Mala, Darwin, DJ Stingray, Helena Hauff, CC Disco and Josey Rebelle. DVS1 tested a vertical sound system layout, alongside abstract sound art sets and installations.

Steven describes a young, energetic team, a friendly atmosphere and strong production and sound, with programming from the organisers, local crews and international artists.

Part of the city

Horst is also trying to become part of Vilvoorde, the city on the edge of Brussels where it now lives. Plans include a skate park, hosting events by other organisations, and inviting local communities to help build art installations.

Brussels DJ AliA told Steven that playing Horst helped open up bigger and international bookings.

Room for improvement

Steven found the food area in need of better ventilation, and the 2am close too early for installations that seem made for the night.

Getting back to Brussels is hard, with few buses and taxi fares of up to €120. Some installations could be more immersive, but the sound was consistently powerful.

The verdict

Horst and Asiat Park are a promising, sustainable project with real community work behind them, and a high standard of line-up, crowd, sound and production. Steven highly recommends it, and suggests coming back each year to watch it grow.

How Horst got here, from its founders to the funding behind its permanent site, is the subject of his follow-up for the Reset! network: From Pop-Up to Permanent: What Horst Can Teach Other Festivals.

Read the full review on The Ransom Note →

Photo credits (via The Ransom Note)
Eline Willaert
Willem Mevis
Karl Magee

TY-CO (communities in conversation) · ABR – Alternative Brains Rule · Co-funded by the European Union

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.