Hi Mr Hellohehehe,
Yes, I have been known to pop in for many of the decent bands that play there, plenty of UK bands play there as you know, I drag the Mrs along for a dirty weekend at the Van der Valk hotel Verviers on occasion , she is Dutch so we take in a lot of Euro shows.
Verviers is a nice place but as you say is in the process of regeneration but as you know the place is only 20k from Spa, the best F1 circuit in the world, also done many a track day there, and one of my favourite places as the countryside is stunning, I love the Malmedy, Stavelot and Spa triangle which made up the old F1 circuit which you can still travel/race on for quite a bit of it until it reaches/joins the current circuit.
By the way I live the BEERS