The grooviest music venues in SA that haven't closed down yet.

November 25, 2020

The grooviest music venues in SA that haven't closed down yet.

Hello dear reader!

My name is Damon and I will be breaking down a short list of South African venues based on my own experience which I think you may fancy checkin' out sometime. Having played shows with my band ‘Mouse’ across the country I will be picking from the ones that truly left a mark inside & out.

Photography by © Soné Briel Photography

Pablo Honey

Pablo Honey is an enigmatic treasure for the Durban homies who know of the place, having opened just over a year ago deep within the Hillcrest cove, Pablo Honey always offers up a highly atmospheric and truly aesthetic experience.

Having played and witnessed a number of shows there over the last year, in which time I've seen the likes of Taekwondo Sleepover ‘almost’ break everything in a highly precarious moshpit scenario to the harmonious Yndian Mynah's melodic ‘Strawberry’ tones elevate the vibrant sweetness that coats the space. There is no doubt in my mind that Pablo has become a rather serendipitous venue for its formless approach to performance capable of accommodating many forms of art.

The open yet cozy atmosphere and radiant energy brought to you by Liam & Sam, the owners of Pablo Honey, marks itself as one of the best intimate venues in South Africa, so if you can pop on down for a gig, do so, or maybe you'd just like a coffee, tattoo or to browse the thrift & art pieces, whatever you like.

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The Winston Pub

The Winston is old, but you knew that already, the walls and grimy floors drip with the legacy of the many artists and performers that have shed their feathers and flown far from home in the decades since its inception, a training ground of sorts for much of South Africa's greatest talents.

My own personal experiences over the years have at least taught me as much, Mouse's first show was a fairly brutal experience albeit this was when we would cover the likes of Smells Like Teen Spirit - yikes!

The rich history (I promise you everyone from Durban has a Winston story to tell) truly cements it as one the greatest South African venues also having played host to a number of international bands over the years. Winston don't ever leave us, we love you.

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Evol

Evol is such a nifty kid, like so much of the Cape Town scape, its vintage and rather run down nature gives this spot copious amounts of character. From the checkered floors to the wild'n'out toilets, you feel something special in the air, usually at 2am.

The shows put on by Ruan & the Glitch Culture team (Words on them later) are really something to behold, again, usually at 2am. If you're in Cape Town you need to go, just know it's gonna be a late one.

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Surfa Rosa

I have only been to Surfa Rosa once for a daytime gig but oh boy was I happy to have been. This tight little spot radiates from its psychedelic setting and classy interior. The stage is a little small but it adds to the character that makes up the space.

One of the dopest venues in Cape Town, run by the sweetest souls, hosting the dopest shows with the raddest people around, bumping the best music for your ears while munching on some very tasty food, sound good?

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Railways Cafe

Wow, I love Railways. Everytime I head to the Pretorian lands I know I will find myself at the festive wonderland that is the ever so cozy Railways Cafe, mostly because I always get myself booked a show there. From the bathtub walls to the tropical bar this diverse & abstract space never disappoints.

Speaking of bathtubs, Mouses' very first show there saw myself trip off the stage into one of them, yes that one left a mark, before being helped by the homies who are genuinely the secret sauce to Railways authentic magic, the homies, the gees my friends. That is where I discovered the word gees afterall. The music, the life, the old pianos and arcade stuff, if you haven't been then you are missing out.

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Smoking Kills

Smoking Kills or Choking Kills sits in the heart of Melville and awaits your wild vigor with bated breath as this grungy, punk homestead is a real kicker for a good time.

I've heard they just opened up a new stage afterall the venue itself is kinda small and getting a bit tight but you should definitely go check it out, you know, when it's safe all.