music
Riaan Wolmarans Aquadome,Emerald SafariResort and Casino. The Dance Till Dawn party on New Year’s Eve from 9pm has DJs Lea, Morgan, Lalicia,Chris and others. Tickets are R100 (R85 for students), including some free drinks, at Computicket or the Aquadome. More info:Tel:(016) 982 8000. Bassline, 7 Seventh Street, Melville. 340ml from Mozambique perform on Thursday December 20 and Tsepo Tshola is the jazz artist to see on Friday December 21. There is more jazz on SaturdayDecember 22 with Ernie Smith, after which the venue will be closed until January 3. January 3 to 6:NewOrleans Jazz Connection; January 8:Pops Mohamed; January 9 and 10:Wess-Lee. Cover varies from R30 to R50.Shows start from 9.30pm. Website:www.basslinejazzclub.co.za. Tel: 482 6915. The Blues Room, Village Walk,Sandton. On Thursday December 20 catch Absolute Zero’s jazz fusion sound. FridayDecember 21: George Sax and Funk 4 play funky jazz; SaturdayDecember 22:To be confirmed. The Blues Room is closed from December 25 to 29, but opens with a bang for the New Year’s Eve party with Mississippi Muthas playing their Texas-style blues, accompanied by DJRockstar call for details and reservations. Cover is usually R40. Website:www.bluesroom.co.za. Tel: 784 5527. Bugsy’s Beat Bar, corner of Republic Road and Rabie Street, Randburg. Rock and pop bands play on weekend nights. Jazz takes over on Sundays for the Bird’n Cage jazz evenings from 7.30pm (R20cover). Tel: 791 4019. C3, corner of Fox and Betty streets, Jeppestown. On FridayDecember 21 get to Psi Phi Funk, with DJs Glynn, Funkus, Lo Phat, Kid Fonque, Lili, Mike, Pat (United Kingdom) and Gutsy-B (UK). The upstairs floor will feature downtempo tunes, nu-jazz and hip-hop.Downstairs you’ll find deep and tech house and breaks.
Caf C, 36 Gleneagles Road, Greenside. Thursday evenings have O&R and Cuddlefish mixing smooth tunes from 6pm. The venue is open for lunch in December. OnSunday December 23 Jenny and Philippa perform their last gig for the year from 6pm. Thursday January 3 from 5pm to 8pm:A New Year’s reception with free champagne and snacks; Wednesday January 9:Friendly owner Dirck’s birthday party from 7pm. Website:www.oandrsessions.homestead.com/cafe.html. Bookings/info:Tel:486 2588. Carnival City Casino. DrVictor and the RastaRebels will provide the funky tunes at the New Year’s Eve party taking place from 8pm in the Big Top Arena. Book at Ticketweb. The Chill Lounge, 154 Market Street. Open from 4am to 1pm on a Sunday, this is the place to go to chill between a Saturday-night party and, say, ESP. DJs Emjay, Killer B and Vern play house, techno and trance. Cover is R20. Tel: 072 147 3702. Christ Church, 820 Pretorius Street (opposite Rose Garden), Pretoria. From 5.30pm onDecember 24 attend a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols for the whole family, with a musical midnight mass from 11pm. Civic Theatre, Braamfontein. The theatre presents a blockbuster 11-hour, black-tie gala on NewYear’sEve. Mango Groove will be playing at the event their first performance inJohannesburg in more than two years and lead singer Claire Johnston promises all the band’s hits. A ticket ensures entrance to the ballet The Nutcracker, which starts at 6pm, Johan Strauss Jnr’s operetta Die Fledermaus from 9.30pm and the Mango Groove concert a dance floor will be operating after the concert. It also includes a buffet dinner, a continental breakfast, wine and soft drinks. Tickets are R685 each at Ticketweb. More info:Tel:403 3408. Club Arena, behind Boulders shopping centre (old Bump), Midrand. The Sprite New Year’s Eve Mega Bash will offer two dance floors to see in 2002 in a most funky way. Playing on the house floor will be DJs Fresh, Oscar, Pepsi, Monde and Khabzela, with MC Chaba. The hip-hop floor will rock to the stylings of Waxi, Dre, Bad Boy T, Bionic and Admiral. Tickets are R80 at Computicket or R90 at the door. Dress code is smart and the doors open at 9pm. More info:Tel:728 3448. Colosseo, Montecasino, Fourways. FridayDecember 21: Andrew Lester; Saturday December 22:Shake the Room; MondayDecember 24:Christmas dinner buffet (R65); December 25:Christmas lunch (R65); FridayDecember 28:AndrewLester; SaturdayDecember 29:Shake the Room; Monday December 31:New Year’sEve party and buffet dinner from 7pm (R300 a person). The Tuckshop Girls are in drag onWednesday nights. Bookings: Tel:511 0239. Demolition, 96 Conrad Drive, Randburg. There’s mid-week mayhem on Wednesdays with DJDave churning out modern rock, nu-breed and alternative classics (R15). Fridays have drink specials (R20 cover). Saturdays are usually hip-hop.
Eden, corner of Beyers Naud Drive and Juice Street, Honeydew. Wednesday December 26 (Boxing Day) brings Eden, a fun daytime party from 8am to 8pm. On the DJline-up are Zak, Ricardo,Derek the Bandit, Paul Almeida, Mario Vegas, Dizzy and Jason.Swimwear is essential expect”a carnage of foam”, warns the flyer. The afterparty takes place at Club Gobi at the same address. Tickets are R80 (VIPR120) at Ticketweb or Computicket or R90 (VIPR130) at the door. Info:Tel: 082 365 4472. El De-Vine, 384 Pretorius Street, Pretoria. Expect uplifting house and progressive trance onFridays by DJs such as Surge, Dizzy, Zak and Mike. Cover charge isusually R40. ESP, 96 End Street. It’s always fun in the sun on Sundays from 10am with ESP’s brand of uplifting, dance-till-you-drop house. DJs include Surge, Zak, Clint and Shaun. Cover is R40. ESP’s also a hot place to be onNew Year’sDay to dance well into 2002. Website:www.esp.co.za. Eternity, 236 DFMalanDrive, Northcliff. JustIce plays old-school and house classics everySaturday. Gallagher Estate, Richards Drive, Midrand. It’s New Year, so it must be Dreamscape and this year’s dance event is shaping up to be one of the biggest to date, presented byAEProductions, Redd’s and Play energy dink. DJ, producer and remixer Junior Sanchez headlines with his funky tech house on the main floor, dubbed the Pacha floor because the evening will feature a live crossing to Ibiza superclub Pacha. Other DJs on this floor are Lea and Morgan, Nelson, Speedy, Stuart Hillary,Dizzy and Dario. On the second disco funk floor, expect to see Pepsi, Rakhim, Jason, Deepgroove, Simon and Manuel on the decks. The chill room will have an Ibiza beach theme with sand, five splash pools and volleyball and beach cricket, and the VIP room will have snacks, champagne and water features. Tickets are R140 (VIPR180) at the usual outlets and Computicket or R150 at the door. Website:www.jhblive.co.za. More info:Tel:728 3448. Genetix, El Corro shopping centre, 14th Avenue, Northcliff. Friday nights feature DJs Pierre, Rob Taylor and Charles spinning the music”in the spirit of GlobalUnderground”. More info:Tel: 082 650 7487. Horror Caf, opposite Electric Workshop, NewtownCultural Precinct. FestivFunk! is the 12-hour New Year’s Eve party at this wonderful venue. DJs Static P, Charlie, Dr Louder, Fabio, Shane, Troy and guests provide the party tunes and there will be free punch and champagne for the new year, as well as fireworks. More info:Tel:264 0009 or www.outa-afrika.co.za/5thworld.html. Tel: 838 6735. Julian’s, 286 Acacia Road, Blackheath. ThursdayDecember 20:Blues with Three Foot Thang; Friday December 21: Mississippi Muthas; December 22: The Legend of Jimi Hendrix; Sundays:Braai and music from 1pm and That’s Where It’s Hat playing fusion blues-rock from 7pm; December 26:That’s Where It’sHat; December 27 and 29:ThreeFoot Thang; December 28:Mississippi Muthas; The NewYear’s Eve party at this blues rock and jazz joint kicks off at 8pm and features the music of Burglar’s Dog as well as Three Foot Thang and guests. A cold buffet will be served. Book on the website or at the number below. Website:www.julianlaxton.com. Tel: 678 2880. Kippies Jazz International, Market Theatre complex, Newtown. December 21 and 22:Bambata. The Christmas Eve party features Harari followed by Bambata. Enter 2002 with the smooth jazz sounds of Tsepo Tshola on New Year’s Eve from 9.30am (R50 cover). Website:www.kippies.co.za. Tel:833 3316. La Habana, corner of DFMalan Drive andPendoring Road, Blackheath. 2Kinky on Thursdays features DJSpiro and guests on the decks. Tel: 678 1694. Lucit Candle Garden, 42 Belrene Street, Rietondale, Pretoria. ThursdayDecember 20: Saxophone trio Enchanted Woods play Christmas songs;FridayDecember 21:Quatuor Yimbila from The Congo are a vocal quartet who will perform French-African and English quartets as well as music from their new CD; SaturdayDecember 22:String Quartet the Renaissance Ensemble perform arrangements of Christmas melodies;Sunday December 23: A specialChristmas programme with many candles and soup and bread (R20 entry). Pianist Elmarie Prinsloo will play. Shows start at 7.30pm. Website:www.lucit.co.za. Bookings: Tel:(012) 329 4180. Marc Anthony’s, Caesars Gauteng, 64 Jones Road, Kempton Park. This tobacconist and cigar lounge’s New Year’s Eve party features Legacy playing live from 9pm until the next morning. Entrance is R100. More info:Tel:884 6408.
Masquerade, corner of North Rand and Rietfontein roads, Boksburg (opposite EastRandMall). FridayDecember 21:Snow and laser party; Tuesday December 25: Christmas afterparty from 8pm; FridayDecember 28:Summer dance festival with Handsome Steve Smith and a freestyle dance competition. The NewYear’s Eve party from 7pm has DJs, lasers, snow, foam and free drinks all night (R50 for women, R60 for men and R80 for VIP tickets). Website:www.masquerade.co.za.
Monsoon Lagoon, Caesars Gauteng, 64 Jones Road, Kempton Park. This trendy and well-decorated venue presents a New Year’s Eve Pyramid of Light party with Alex Jay and Barry Hilton. The ticket price includes breakfast at Caf Roma between 3am and 8am. Tickets are R150 (VIPR250) at Ticketweb. Tel:928 1282.
Montecasino, WilliamNicol Drive, Fourways. Montecasino and 94.7 Highveld Stereo’s New Year’s Eve bash will have an Italian street-party feel, with performance areas throughout the complex featuring music and more. Highveld DJs will play in the Keystone fountain piazza. On stage will be Mean Mr Mustard, Scandal and Vinnie and the Viscounts, and jugglers, fire eaters, dancers, unicyclists and other performers will be in action at a medieval fair. Other musical attractions include a jazz quartet, a mini opera, a drumming circle and a Broadway-type variety show. Also expect fireworks at midnight. Doors open 4pm and tickets are R85 at the complex doors from that time no pre-sold tickets available. Morgan’s Cat, Shop 137, Randburg Waterfront. Friday December 21:DJNic and friends and Libido live; Saturdays:Party night with DJ Paul Angel; Sundays:Karaoke; Mondays:Party night with DJPaul Angel (December 24 is a lively White Christmas Eve party); Tuesdays:Underground DJsessions for the nationalDJchampionships; Wednesdays:Students’ night with DJPaul Angel and Libido; Thursdays:Pigs’ night. On NewYear’s Eve there will be a wild bash with drinks specials and four DJs supplying the music on two dance floors. Tel:886 4408. Nexus, 84 Oxford Street, Ferndale, Randburg. Slippery’n Wet comes along to usher in 2002 on New Year’sEve in a wild way with the usual Slippery DJs ensuring a great night of funky and uplifting house. Odin, Johan Street (off DFMalan Drive), Laserdowns. Get Gothic onFriday nights.R20 for members, R30 for non-members. Peg’s Cosy Corner, corner of Nourse and Pretoria streets, Troyeville. Hear great recorded jazz from 6.30pm, Thursday to Sunday. The Sunday-afternoon sessions from 4.30pm pay tribute to famous jazz musicians. Peg’s will be closed fromDecember 22 to January 17. Bookings:Tel:072 216 6615. Pier Caf and Cocktail Bar, Centurion. DarkDog and Skyy Vodka sponsor the New Year’sEve bash at this bar venue. More info:Tel:(012)663 5902. The Pyramid, Eloff StreetExtension, Village Deep, Johannesburg. TheEnigma NewYear’sEve party happening at this venue promises to be a stylish and exclusive dance event with tickets limited to 1 000 people. Playing on the trance-house floor will be D-Frost, GregKelly, Dizzy, Craig Shacid and Dylan. The music in the ambient lounge will be provided by O&RSessions, Donovan, Cuddlefish and Shakti also expect an interesting collaboration between jazz man JonathanCrossley and O&RSessions.Performance artists will strut their stuff during the night and free, limited-edition CDs and other giveaways will help make the party memorable. Tickets are R100 at Enigma ([email protected] or Tel: 235 4253),R130 at selected outlets and R150 at the door. Radium Beer Hall, corner of Louis Botha Avenue and NinthStreet, Orange Grove. Good food plus good jazz and blues at this relaxed venue, which has lively jazz on New Year’s Eve from 9pm. Website:www.theradium.co.za. Tel: 728 3866. Randburg Waterfront, Republic Avenue, Randburg. The complex hosts a pyro-musical on NewYear’sEve with a huge 10- to 12-minute fireworks display following the countdown to midnight. More information:Tel:789 5052. Retro, 349 Rivonia Boulevard, Rivonia. Every Friday night at this smart venue is ladies’ night with free drinks between 8pm and 10pm. Women get in free during the same period. Dress is smart casual. No under-23s. Tel:803 3555.
Die Ring, on the way to Hartebeespoort dam from Pretoria/ Johannesburg. The venue has a New Year’s Eve party lined up with dancing until dawn. Cost isR40 a person. For bookings, directions and more information callTel:(012) 259 1506. Roxy Rhythm Bar, 20MainRoad, Melville. Wonderboom rock the joint on FridayDecember 21. SaturdayDecember 22:Christmas snow party; December 25 and 26:Closed; December 28 and 29:Mini rock concerts with live bands (line-up to be announced). The New Year’s Eve party will cost R25 and feature DJs and fireworks and free champagne at midnight. Mondays: Students’ night; Wednesdays:Party night (sometimes with live music); Thursdays:Ouetehuis with DJs Fokkolnonsens and Somerfaan. Website:www.roxys.co.za. Tel: 726 6019. Rustlers Valley, Free State. TheRustlers Christmas Festival started on December 15 and runs until Thursday December 27. Entrance and camping is free and it is a participatory festival, with those attending creating the diversity and atmosphere with spontaneous jams, drumming circles, children’s activities, sweat-hut gatherings, sound journeys, shamanic trance journeys and more. The New Year’sfestival takes place from December 28 to January 1.Friday and Saturday are pre-party nights and on the Sunday the participants in the West African drumming workshop (see below) will show off their new-found skills. OnNew Year’s Eve the party has music by the Feather Doctors, Shakta,Dogstar, Levannah and many more. Tickets for the New Year’s festival are R200 at Computicket. A West African drumming workshop runs fromDecember 27 to 30, led by Nicholas Djanie fromGhana and Lena Slachmuijlder from Burundi. Beginners, intermediate and advanced drummers can take part. It’s limited to 30 people book at [email protected]. Website:www.rustlers.co.za. Tel:(051) 933 3939. Seven, upstairs at 10 Henri Street, Braamfontein. This new addition to the gayHeartland is open every Sunday from 7pm and features funky, sexy house and progressive trance house byTherapy and Venom DJs. Free entry before 8pm, R20 thereafter. The Showcase, Banbury Cross shopping centre, North Riding. FromDecember 27 to 30 you can party with Isidingo stars BrandonAuret, Lesego Motsepe, Emmanuel Castis, Ilse Klink and Zane Meas, who will show off their musical talents. The evening kicks off with the jazz cabaret Jazz Mail, created by and starring Meas and Klink.Dinner is served from 6.30pm and the show starts at 8.30pm. Tickets are R130 and includes a three-course buffet. Tickets for the show only are R50. Book at Ticketweb or Tel:794 4382. The New Year’s Eve party will kick off with cocktails and will feature a performance by Mauritz Lotz and friends. DJWesley will provide the dance tunes. Breakfast will be served from 2am and a buddy driver will be provided for the inebriated. Book for the event at Tel:794 4382 at R150 a person, which includes cocktails, a three-course dinner, champagne and breakfast. Website: www.theshowcase.co.za.
Stardust, President Arcade, Pretorius Street, Pretoria. This gay club features mostly flavour-of-the-month commercial dance tunes over weekends, but there is a rave floor for the puritans, too. Friday December 21:Party night with DJPaulo; SaturdayDecember 22:Pre-Christmas party; Sunday December 23:Christmas show by ThePussycats at 10pm; Monday December 24:Christmas Eve party; TuesdayDecember 25:White Christmas party;WednesdayDecember 26:Boxing Day party; December 28 and 29:Party nights. The New Year’sEve party will cost youR100, which buys you free drinks all night as well as a mini bottle of champagne. More info:Tel:(012) 321 9316. Sublime, 11th Avenue, Benmore. FridayDecember 21 and SaturdayDecember 22 bring festive Christmas parties. On FridayDecember 28 get to a New Year’s warm-up party with Geoff Kemp from the United Kingdom, African Beat,Brian Banshee and Guy on the decks. The New Year’s Eve bash again features Kemp along with secret guests. Website:www.sublime.org.za. Tel: 884 1649. Sun City Superbowl. Top South African rock band Saron Gas is relocating to New York after signing a great record deal with United States labelWind Up Entertainment. Their last South African performance takes place in the Superbowl onNew Year’sEve from 8.30pm get there and say goodbye to these talented boys. Book at Computicket. The band has a final meet and greet for fans at Johannesburg international airport on January 7 from 9.30pm. Tandoor, 26 Rockey Street, Yeoville. An evergreen and very lively venue, with excellent ragga, reggae, hip-hop, fusion, dancehall and more on weekend nights and sometimes during the week. Tel:614 6737. Therapy, 39AJuta Street, Braamfontein. Open every Saturday night as well as Thursdays (free entry), this evergreen gay club boasts cutting-edge music by DJs like Stuart Hillary. The Christmas party on December 25 from 10pm will have the club covered in snow.DJs Nelson, Stuart Hillary, Alan Inferno, Lalicia,Delon Palm and others will spread the Christmas cheer. The New Year’sEve party from 9pm has plenty of treats, including drag showgroup The Sluts performing just before midnight, fireworks and more.DJs include StuartHillary, Alan Inferno, Russel, Delon Palm, Sista Cand Thelma Klensch. Website:therapyclubbing.com. More info: Tel:339 7791. THO, 39AJuta Street, Braamfontein. Fridays are The Harder Option with a line-up of experienced resident DJs playing excellent techno, trance and more.Doors open 10pm. Tel:339 7791. Tramps, 154 Anabella Street, Bartlett, Boksburg. A commercial dance club with 5fm DJs on most nights. The New Year’s Eve bash has international DJ and producerSteve Haswell on the line-up. He is a Trade resident and has become famous for moving smoothly between pumping house tunes and funky beats. Also playing will be Manuel, MarioVegas, Nelson, Ricardo and many more. Tickets are R50 (VIPR80) at Ticketweb or R70 (VIPR100) at the door. Website:www.tramps.co.za. Tel:823 5435. Truth, Old Pretoria Road, Midrand. A great dance venue located in the old snake park. There are funky dance sounds on Saturday nights (R30 before 11pm, R40 thereafter) with DJs such as Lea, Simon, Justin V, Manuel, Speedy and Skye. TheNew Year’s Eve party starts at 9.30pm and will cost you R50. DJs include Shaun,Warwick, Deepgroove, Justin V, Manuel and Brian Banshee. There will be four bars, four dance floors, a midnight fireworks display and free champagne. New Year’sDay brings an all-day outdoor party that is also the officialDreamscape afterparty. Cost isR50 (R10 discount with Dreamscape ticket). Tel: 315 9295. Twilo, 6 Oscar Road, Hughes extension, Boksburg. This well-decorated weekend dance venue has DJs Speedy,Zak,D-Frost and others playing funky and progressive house and uplifting trance.Cover is R20. Up the Creek, corner of Prospect and Hilda streets, Hatfield, Pretoria. Closed until January 8. Website:www.upthecreek.co.za. Tel:(012)362 3712. Voyage, 154 Market Street, Johannesburg. This hip-hop club in the old Metropolis venue is open on Saturdays from noon to 6pm. There are also workshops onSaturday mornings from 10am until noon. Resident DJs are RedWood and the UrbanKlutch Krew. Entry is R12. Who Zoo,MerrowDownshopping centre, Merrow Road (off Witkoppen Road), Fourways. Jam to vibeyR&B and hip-hop onFridayDecember 21 courtesy of deck masters Bionic, Glen Lewis and Rampage. Zeplins, corner of Church and Bosman streets, Pretoria. Masters of Goth The Awakening have released a new album, titled The Fountain. Catch Ashton Nyte and company performing music off the album on FridayDecember 28. Tel:(012)323 4308.