Au B'izou

Au B'izou is a small café-théâtre in Anderlecht, one of the municipalities of Brussels, founded in 2008 by Jean Saeremans and Iza Loris. It occupies a building at Rue de la Promenade 13 that once housed an upholstery workshop, fully renovated before opening while keeping the character of the original space. Today it is one of those Brussels venues where French song and theatre meet in a close, almost domestic setting.

Who founded it?

Jean Saeremans and Iza Loris are the pair behind Au B'izou, united by a shared passion for French chanson. Iza Loris has written lyrics for artists such as Julie Zénatti and Hélène Ségara, which gave the venue's artistic identity a strong grounding in the chanson tradition from the very start. According to accounts, both had previously worked as firefighters in Brussels, and they came across the location by chance while looking for a new home — instead of an apartment, they turned it into a stage.

What can visitors see there?

The programme at Au B'izou centres on French text and song, but it doesn't stop there. The line-up features both established and up-and-coming French and Belgian artists, alongside jazz performances, theatre shows, and storytelling evenings. As a result, the repertoire shifts from week to week and draws audiences with varied musical and theatrical tastes.

The venue also has a well-known patron: Belgian singer Salvatore Adamo lends his support to the stage, reinforcing its ties to the French-language song scene.

Workshops and creative work

Au B'izou is more than a performance hall — it also functions as a creative workshop space. Writing and music composition workshops are held here, led by recognised names from the chanson world, including Hugues Maréchal, Claude Lemesle, Claude Semal, and Rémo Gary. This gives the venue a dual role: a stage for performances and something of an incubator for emerging songwriters and composers.

The character of the space

The building that houses B'izou was originally an upholstery workshop. During its conversion into a performance venue, the original character of the space was preserved, giving the interior a distinctive, slightly raw atmosphere rather than the polished look of a standard concert hall. The intimate scale of the place encourages close contact between performers and audience, a quality typical of the café-théâtre format.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Au B'izou located? At Rue de la Promenade 13, in Anderlecht, a municipality of Brussels.

When was it founded? In 2008, by Jean Saeremans and Iza Loris.

What kind of programme does it offer? Mostly French and Belgian song, but also jazz, theatre, and storytelling performances.

Is it only a concert venue? No — Au B'izou also runs songwriting and music composition workshops with well-known figures from the French chanson scene.

What is notable about the building itself? It is a former upholstery workshop, restored while preserving the character of the original interior.