First Thursday Down South

The Influence of Location on Electronic Music Experiences

In most cities around the world, electronic music venues and events are spread out across the city. This enables the unique elements of these separate locations to influence the entire experience, for instance a dance floor in a more industrial part of a city would likely have a different feel in comparison to one closer to the city centre, which in turn would likely feel different if it were closer to some form of nature.

The Pros and Cons of Cape Town's City-Centric Music Scene

In Cape Town, we are both blessed and cursed with the fact that the majority of our electronic music nightclubs and venues are located in the city centre. While this does provide some level of convenience, as moving from dance floor to dance floor is made easier, it also means that for people who live a bit further out of the city, a long commute is required. On top of this, we potentially miss out on the opportunity to experience dancing in places outside of the city centre. The recent increase of events being thrown in both Paarden Eiland and Woodstock has brought about some remedy to this, and of course Stellenbosch remains a staple in our scene, however one of the latest additions to the growth of venues and experiences within Electronic Music in Cape Town is taking place in the Southern Suburbs.

First Thursday Down South: Expanding Cape Town's Nightlife Beyond the CBD

Last weekend, we were lucky enough to have been able to jump on a call with the team behind First Thursday Down South, a project spreading First Thursday and all that comes with it, to some of Cape Town’s southern neighbourhoods (Kalk Bay and Muizenberg). First Thursday Down South is making nightlife and Electronic Music more accessible to people living in the deep south, and further enriching Cape Town’s overall nightlife scene by providing alternative options outside of the CBD. Their team, made up of members from The Cape Creative Collective (a community and platform of and for creators, encouraging and promoting artistry of all kinds) are doing their part for the growth of our scene by curating different events at various venues, enabling their audiences to engage with different electronic music genres, and a host of other art forms too. Galleries with art exhibitions, live bands, food, drinks, and of course, these different forms of electronic music are all on offer. The focus being truly on the art. A fresh experience and new take on First Thursday.

A Diverse Range of Electronic Music Genres at First Thursday Down South

Instead of focusing on one or two genres, the First Thursday Down South team try to keep their event attendees stimulated by new experiences, as they invite various event organisers and collectives to collaborate on and run different events. This enables guests to find what they like (and what they don’t) while exploring and being exposed to new sounds, broadening their horizons and showcasing all of what electronic music is. From Drum & Bass to Indie House, from UK Garage to Techno, you can find it all - what a way for people from these areas to engage in new sounds, and for people from the rest of the city to explore new dance floors, and the unique experiences these locations have on offer.

The Challenges and Success of Building a Nightlife Culture in the Southern Suburbs

Cultivating the appreciation for more of a nightlife culture in these areas has not been easy for the First Thursday Down South team, however many of the various venues that have hosted their events have reported increased business and greater exposure, and have been hugely supportive of the First Thursday Down South initiative.

Exploring a Wide Range of Genres and Experiences at First Thursday Down South

Instead of focusing on one or two genres, the First Thursday Down South team try to keep their event attendees stimulated by new experiences, as they invite various event organisers and collectives to collaborate on and run different events. This enables guests to find what they like (and what they don’t) while exploring and being exposed to new sounds, broadening their horizons and showcasing all of what electronic music is. From Drum & Bass to Indie House, from UK Garage to Techno, you can find it all - what a way for people from these areas to engage in new sounds, and for people from the rest of the city to explore new dance floors, and the unique experiences these locations have on offer.