Tonight was a 100% French evening at the Botanique in the beautiful Orangerie. The rising pop-star Adèle Castillon came to defend in live her brand new album « Plaisir Risque Dépendance » released in October. And in a very last-minute addition, the Princess of Brussels Mia Lena has been announced as support act. Everything was in order to have another great and lovely night at the Botanique!
A few days after the news about a missed terrorist attack on the venue, we were already back at the Botanique and a little bit scared that some fans would have been to scared to come. Luckily, not at all! From 2pm, fans started to arrive and at least half of the venue was packed when doors opened. Once again, music beats terrorism. Is music stronger than everything? We all have our opinion but one thing sure: during a show, we are always transported to a different and better world. Why this « fake » world is way better than the « real » world? We’re asking ourselves this question at every show. That being said, back to business and tonight’s show.
Around 8pm, the lights went off a first time to welcome Mia Lena on stage. She was asked to play only the day before and even if her classic line-up wasn’t available, she managed to find a DJ, prepared the show and be on stage for her already 4th time at Botanique. What some might see as a weakness is one of its greatest strengths: her ability to change. We’ve seen her many times during the last 3 years with many different line-ups and in many different configurations: in a full-band just 5 days before, alone with a DJ, with a DJ and a guitarist (her usual line-up in 2023), alone playing a capella, etc. And everytime she nailed it.
Once again tonight, even if her DJ get some timing issues for the second song, everything went so smooth with a true complicity between Marie (aka Mia Lena) and Lea (aka Leaa Bastien) who also did some backing vocals. It’s not a surprise 99% of the audience didn’t know Mia Lena before her show but she succeed to deliver a great performance and win many new fans based on the live reaction, the many phones filming the show and the many people asking her for a photo after show. How long until Mia Lena headline her very own show at the Botanique?
A long change-over later, the lights went off a second time to welcome the star of the evening, Adèle Castillon. She might start her success when she was in Video Club (2018-2021), she started her solo career after the pandemic and the success is growing. Only supported by a drummer on stage and some backtracks, she had to give most of the live energy on her own: what she perfectly did!
She played almost her new album in full (14 of the 15 studio songs), one song from Video Club (« Amour Plastique ») and got some guests on stage that we sadly don’t know the name. They had some party vibes but her show was already very powerful with a great light-show. But the encore has definitely been the highlight of the evening: Adèle came down in the crowd, singing, jumping, partying.
Tonight was a lovely fresh evening with 2 very young but promising artists. It’s not the first time they both play at Botanique and fore sure not the last time. We encourage you to listen to « Plaisir Risque Dependance » from Adèle Castillon and « Ptit Ange » from Mia Lena, you won’t regret it. And please continue to support the live music world despite the threats and society issues: shows are there to make feel you more alive then ever!