Riaan Wolmarans 115 AndersonStreet. This new venue provides great funky and deep house over weekends, so go check it out. Abelarde Sanction, corner of Ripley and Fulham streets, Brixton. A nicely laid-back venue with bands playing over weekends a great place to relax after a hectic week. Website:www.hixnet.co.za/home/abelarde. Tel: 837 5832. Amazon, Banbury Cross shopping centre, corner of Hans Strijdom Drive and Olievenhout Avenue, North Riding. If you’re 23 or older, get to this classy venue onFridays and Saturdays for funky, jazzy and tribal house. R20 cover for women, R30 for men. Website:www.amazonlounge.com. Bassline, 7 Seventh Street, Melville. The Bassline kicks off 2002 in a funky, jazzy style with Dondo performing on Friday January 11 and SaturdayJanuary 12, comprising VusiKhumalo (drums), Fana Zulu (bass), Velencia Ferlito(keyboard), Laurence Mchiza (guitar) and Khaya Mahlangu or Sydney Mnisi on sax. Pop act Henry Ate visits on Sunday January 13 from 8pm. On Tuesday January 15 don’t miss the powerful combination of Pops Mohamed and Bruce Cassidy. Afrikaans rocker Karen Zoid performs her inventive music on Wednesday January 16 and Thursday January 17. 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. Unique Transitions provide some smooth R&Bsounds onFriday January 11 and SaturdayJanuary 12. On Tuesday January 15 Sounds Like Thunder crank out the rock’n’roll. WednesdayJanuary 16’s comedy evening features Mel Miller as well as DJ Rock Star. Absolute Zero play their acclaimed fusion jazz on Thursday January 17. Cover is usually R40. Website:www.bluesroom.co.za. Tel: 784 5527. Bugsy’s Beat Bar, corner of Republic Road and Rabie Street, Randburg. This rock venue and restaurant has changed hands again and is open every night with plenty of drinks specials. On FridayJanuary 11 groove to Utac (formerly known as Mike Hunt) and ConcussionGirl. Cover is R20, doors open at 7pm and the bands start at 9.30pm. There’s a wild punk fest on Saturday January 12 from 3pm. On the line-up are Yugoslav, Fatigue, Mislead, Gross Mis Conduct, Ceasefire, The Vendettas, Ignorance Is Typical, Humphrey the Teacup and The Phoebes. DJs will keep the rock coming after the bands. Cover is only R30. Tel: 791 4019. C3, corner of Fox and Betty streets, Jeppestown. On Fridays and Saturdays get to this new dance venue that is quickly becoming known for dance events that are off the beaten track. Caf C, 36 Gleneagles Road, Greenside. A relaxed caf with good food and stylish music. Thursday evenings have O&R and Cuddlefish mixing smooth tunes from 6pm. Website:www.oandrsessions.homestead.com/cafe.html. Bookings/info:Tel:486 2588. Caff Tre Scalini, Grant Avenue, Norwood. Every Friday night is Platinum, with sexy hip-hop and R&B sounds fromDJs Dynamic, Fingaz, Rudy and others. Doors open at 9.30pm and the first 25 women get in free. More info:Tel:073 164 2536. 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. Colosseo, Montecasino, Fourways. Frontline play party music onFridayJanuary 11 and Fairground perform on Saturday January 12. Sunday January 13 and Thursday January 17:Food revue; MondayJanuary 14:To be confirmed. On Tuesdays enjoy Balke Toe, a “theatrical satire” from 9pm. The Tuckshop Girls are in drag onWednesday nights from 9pm. Also happening on Sunday January 13 is the crowning of Miss January, part of the Miss Gay Colosseo 2002 competition. 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.
The Doors, 19 Van Riebeeck Avenue,Edenvale. The stalwart of the Jo’burg alternative-rock scene is still going strong with rock and metal classics and favourites along with the latest hits. Tel:453 7673. 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 11am to 11pm with ESP’s brand of uplifting, dance-till-you-drop house. DJs include Surge, Zak, Clint and Shaun. After 11pm the party shifts to Nexus, which opens at 9pm. Website:www.esp.co.za. Tel: 791 6232. Eternity, 236 DFMalanDrive, Northcliff. JustIce plays old-school and house classics everySaturday. Gencor Gallery, Rand Afrikaans University. The Monday-afternoon sundowner classical concerts kick off for 2002 on January 21 with HelenVosloo (flute), Gaylen Sales (harp) and PaulRodgers (bassoon) providing an interesting combination of instruments. Entrance is free. Tel:489 3058. 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. Julian’s, 286 Acacia Road, Blackheath. The Mississippi Muthas play blues on Friday January 11. Saturday January 12:The Legend of Jimi Hendrix; Sundays from 1pm in the garden:Beer and music with Colin Shamley and friends; Wednesday January 16:Burglar’s Dog; Thursday January 17:Contemporary blues with Three Foot Thang. Website:www.julianlaxton.com. Tel: 678 2880. 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. On FridayJanuary 11 the SwingTones Big Band open the year’s soires. They are a 15-piece big band who focus on folk and swing. OnSaturday January 12 tenor Adrian Galliard and pianist Anthony Nel team up to present an evening of light theatre music. Galliard has performed inAnnie and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. FridayJanuary 18:Helen Vosloo (flute), PaulRodgers (bassoon) and GaylenSayles (harp) play Romantic works and more. Shows start at 7.30pm. Website:www.lucit.co.za. Bookings: Tel:(012) 329 4180.
Masquerade, corner of North Rand and Rietfontein roads, Boksburg (opposite EastRandMall). Friday nights are Smoove with dance tunes and Saturday nights bring theme parties and drinks specials. Website:www.masquerade.co.za. Mr T’s 26th Avenue Cigar Lounge, 46 Selati Street (below Caraffa restaurant), Alphen Park, Pretoria. This venue is open Monday to Saturday. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays DJs play jazz, R&B, kwaito, club classics and more. Cover is R10.More info: Tel:082 876 7450. Monsoon Lagoon, Caesars Gauteng, 64 Jones Road, Kempton Park. This trendy and well-decorated venue has a new ladies’ night on Wednesdays, called Feline Groovy. Tel:928 1282. Morgan’s Cat, Shop 137, Randburg Waterfront. Friday January 11:Party night with DJsNic and friends and Libido performing live; Saturdays:DJPaul Angel kicks off the party at 8pm; Sundays:Test your skills at the karaoke evening; Mondays:DJPaulAngel and friends; Tuesdays:Underground sessions for the nationalDJchampionships; Wednesdays:Students’ night with Libido; Thursdays:Pigs’ night with free drinks from 7pm and DJPaulAngel. Tel:886 4408.
Nexus, 84 Oxford Street, Ferndale, Randburg. Ravers flock here after ESPonSundays to dance right into the week to the tunes of the usual ESPand Nexus DJcrew. Doors open 9pm. Nile Crocodile, 60 Glenwood Road, Lynnwood Glen, Pretoria. Fun and energetic punk-rockers Leek and the Bouncing Uptones are touring the country and perform here on FridayJanuary 18, their last local gig before travelling to the United Kingdom to tour there as well. Tel:(012)361 2025. 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 reopens on Thursday January 17. Bookings:Tel:072 216 6615. Picasso, 169 Oxford Street, Rosebank. Conference onTuesday nights comprise drum’n’bass, hip-hop, nu-skool breaks and nu-jazz with experienced residents such as Xero, Kid Fonque, Sibot, Troye, Bigga and Bionic playing alongside talented guests on two floors. R20 cover. Thursday nights also feature funky tunes.
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.
Roxy Rhythm Bar, 20MainRoad, Melville. There are usually talented local rock bands playing over weekends as well as DJs. 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. Seven, upstairs at 10 Henri Street, Braamfontein. The latest 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. Skylite Lounge, Northcliff Corner shopping centre, corner of Beyers Naud Drive and Lawley Road. This Saturday-night dance venue features a funky-house floor, a commercial dance floor, and a cigar lounge. No under-23s.
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. Tel:(012) 321 9316. Sublime, 11th Avenue, Benmore. This is a small but, well, sublime venue that features quality dance tunes over weekends of the funky and deep variety. Boiling Point is back on Fridays from January 18. Website:www.sublime.org.za. Tel: 884 1649. 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. Tempo’s Euro Bar, Kya Sands (out on Hans Strijdom Drive). This venue features dance music on two dance floors every Friday (R20). From January 19 get to the Glo-Tech chill-out sessions onSaturday afternoons from 2pm with free wine and beer and other drinks specials. Website: www.partyweb.co.za. 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 and a weird and wonderful crowd. 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. Tings an’ Times, Hatfield Galleries, Burnett Street, Hatfield, Pretoria. Get irie at this popular Hatfield eatery, which has a divine menu and musicians playing regularly. Tel:(012) 362 5537. Tramps, 154 Anabella Street, Bartlett, Boksburg. A commercial dance club with 5fm DJs appearing often. Thursdays:Commercial house and funky tunes with DJs Mario Vegas, Zak, Jason, Ricardo and others;Fridays:United Teen commercial house. 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. The next big event at this club is famous United Kingdom DJJudge Jules, who appears here on Friday January 18. Tel: 315 9295. Twilo, 6 Oscar Road, Hughes extension, Boksburg. A well-decorated weekend dance venue that 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. This live-music venue has reopened after its holiday break. There are only a few tickets left for the Savanna Up the Creek 2002 music festival, which takes place from February 8 to 10 on the banks of the Breede river outside Swellendam. Book at upthecreek.mweb.co.za,Computicket or Tel:(021) 671 4360. Website:www.upthecreek.co.za. Tel:(012)362 3712. Venom, Henri Street, Braamfontein. A gay dance basement that has up-and-coming DJs as well as resident DJs, including Ice, on Fridays and Saturdays. It gets quite full and energetic with the crowd loving the uplifting and trance house. Voyage, 154 Market Street, Johannesburg. This hip-hop club in the old Metropolis venue is open on Saturdays from noon to 6pm withDJs Dollar, C-Live and Therapy, and open-mic sessions from 5pm to 6pm. There are also workshops onSaturday mornings from 10am until noon. Entry is R12, but women get in free during January. Who Zoo,MerrowDownshopping centre, Merrow Road (off Witkoppen Road), Fourways. Jam to vibeyR&B and hip-hop onFridays courtesy of deck masters Bionic, Glen Lewis and Rampage. Zeplins, corner of Church and Bosman streets, Pretoria. A lively venue that has rock, Gothic and metal bands on its line-up over weekends. Tel:(012)323 4308.