AmaFullThrottle, Mooi River. December 30 to January 1: Though the Flux Festival, Durban’s favourite New Year thrash in the midlands, has gone into temporary hibernation, the organisers have banded together with other like-minded folk to revive the legendary AmaFullThrottle. The event offers a variety of dance music such as funk, hip-hop, house, electro, retro, trance and reggae to soothe the woes of the year gone by and see in the new. Breakbeat outfit Trip Hazard and trance crew Lightworkx will both have their own dancefloors. Tel: 083 890 5174.
Bean Bag Bohemia. Home to Durban’s most fabulous cocktail crowd, this venue knows how to shake it seven sides of Sunday. Thursdays: The Italian Job with DJs spinning sleek Italian tunes and the barmen mixing up spectacular cocktails and dishing out ice-cold bottles of classic Italian beer Peroni. December 31: The Bean Bag’s legendary New Year’s bash is this year entitled One Night in Cuba with the evening’s theme self-explanatory. Those dressed in most authentic Buena Vista Social Club-style stand to win great prizes. Booking is essential. Tel: 309 6019.
Bat Hall. December 30: Funky Gauteng reggae crew RMS launch their new album and nationwide tour. The album is entitled Kun Faya Kun and features the manifold talents of the trio’s members Ras Jah Ali, Mr Gunjamen and Supreme. Tel: 332 0451.
Burn. Fridays: Returning to SideBurn, the intimate neighbour of the seething alternative rock club, is the popular Indie Night in which DJs spin the finest in contemporary indie and electroclash music. December 24: The wildly popular annual Nightmare before Xmas party with prizes for the most ghoulishly dressed. December 31: Burn’s traditionally out-of-control New Year’s Eve Bash takes the form of a beach party with the club even carting in beach sand and jacuzzis, so get in them swimtrunks and get ready for some crazy nocturnal seaside shenanigans. Tel: 201 0076.
Hops and Barley. December 31: Beer-lovers of KwaZulu-Natal can see in the New Year at this sophisticated brewery-cum-bar/restaurant with live music by top Durban rock act Sitter from 8.30pm. Tel: 083 742 5145.
Krakatoa Bar. December 24: White Christmas party hosted by Red Bull and featuring plenty of exotic glamour and sexy vinyl vibrations courtesy of the resident DJs. December 26: The Day after Christmas party with even more no-holds-barrred hedonism. December 29 and 30: One of the country’s top-selling impressarios, Steve Hofmeyr. December 31: New Year’s Eve Bash with Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels. Tel: 580 5555.
Rocky Ridge Restaurant, Rams-gate. December 23: A hard-rocking triple-bill with The Finkelstiens, The Parlotones and Evolver. December 27: Durban Christian rockers Saints of Bliss. December 28: Durban rock outfit Starplayer kicks out the jams. December 29: Quality live rock from Cold Tea. Tel: 082 496 3545.
Society. Easily the most elegant place in town, this converted historic house oozes old-world charm and could easily fit into antebellum Savannah, Georgia. December 31: A swish New Year’s Eve bash entitled Cuba*Fusion. Sure to brim with understated charm and romance, patrons are advised to dress with ‘a touch of class”. Tel:312 3211.
Speakeasy, Scottburgh. December 31: The South Coast blows the lid off New Year’s Eve with a bash featuring lightning-charged rock band RedHouse whose live performance is a sight to behold as they channel the ghosts of Hendrix, The Who, Black Sabbath and T-Rex for a thundering dose of Seventies-fuelled hard-rock.
S’Khumba Crafts, Ramsgate. December 30: Maskanda maestro Madala Kunene and Syd Kitchen, the hippest hippie in town, form the duo Bafo Bafo, which has been reaping praise across the country for their unique fusion of folk, jazz, bluegrass, blues, maskanda and more that was recently captured on their excellent album What Kind!?. The show consists of a solo performance by each artist before they embark on their cross-cultural collaboration blending classic acoustic-folk and maskanda groove. January 6: Acoustic guitarists Nibs van der Spuy and Guy Buttery. Their show comprises solos and duets featuring mandolin, guitars, vocals and sitar. Tel: (039) 316 8212.
Suncoast Casino. December 31: Durban’s gambling and entertainment paradise has lined up five of South Africa’s most popular musical artists for its spectacular Coast to Coast New Year’s Eve party. Heavy-hitters of the local music scene Prime Circle, Baby Boy, Spoonfeedas, Lebo Matosa, Melanie Louw and Denim ensure all genres are represented with the evening’s MC being popular East Coast Radio DJ Trevor Williams. There will also be fireworks. Tel: 328 3000.
TransAfrica Express. This is an excellent alfresco venue with sweeping harbour views and eclectic home-grown live sounds. December 23: Features Pilsner Urquell Jazz on the Deck with a live performance by Brave, the vibrant jazz band made up of Nathi Shongwe on piano, Brendon Cloete on drums, Mbuso Sokhele on bass and Samke Manjeya on vocals. December 25: Chill out to the J&B Sunday Cocktail Sessions with DJs spinning some old-school R&B. Later in the afternoon a harbour cruise with DJs on board promises sublime sundowner action. Tel: 332 0804.