Live Music entertainment in Africa
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Musicians Club 1989
Kampala musicians get together every Monday at the National Theatre for informal jam sessions and live performances. This is a must if you are in the city, as the place fills up with Ugandans letting off steam after a Monday back at work and the drinks flow. On the second and last Monday of the month, the whole event shifts outside the theatre and becomes a mini-festival, complete with beer tents and a serious sound system. A great night out.
reviewed
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Club Thiossane
World music fans should head for this hot and crowded club in La Médina, north of Marché Sandaga. It's owned by the legendary Youssou N'Dour, and when he's not touring the man himself performs here most Friday and Saturday nights. Club Thiossane can be very hard to find, and seeing as you probably won't be heading there until late it's best to take a taxi - it's pronounced Cho-sahn and all the drivers know it.
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Le Marocain
The rear bar of this decidedly louche nightspot is where the city’s working girls tout for trade; their male colleagues are usually found preening in the front bar. The band and resident chanteuse aren’t likely to be appearing in a concert hall near you in the near future, but they’re fun to listen to before you take to the dance floor. Well-priced drinks (beers Dh15) come with tapas-like snacks.
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Simmers
Simmers is the place to come to rediscover a bit of true African rhythm. This lively alfresco pub-restaurant cooks up a variety of traditional African dishes alongside some greasy Western offerings. The atmosphere here is always jumping, with live bands playing anything from Congolese rumba to Kenyan benga while you chow.
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Kimwa Grand
Kisumu's nightlife has a reputation for being even livelier than Nairobi's, but thanks to many of the best parties and live Congolese bands cropping up at various venues such as the Kimwa Grand along the roads out of town, it's harder to find. Check flyers and ask locals who are plugged into the scene.
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Le Racym’s
The kitchen managed to spoil even the most basic French dishes, but perhaps its claims to serve authentic Vietnamese food are more convincing. Instead, come late for the music, especially on nights when there is a live act, when the place gets packed and the audience begins to move.
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Sabrina's Pub
Little more than a local bar from the front, peek through the double doors at the back and it transforms into a huge gig venue. Live bands perform on the large stage out the back most weekends, including the famous Stone Band on Friday, whipping the crowd into a dancing frenzy.
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Assembly
In an old furniture assembly factory, this live music and DJ performance space has made its mark with an exciting, eclectic line-up of both local and international artists. Pick up a flyer from the boutique Astore where you can also buy tickets for gigs.
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Hotel Les Merinides
This large hotel overlooking the medina sports the best terrace view and is good for a pre-prandial drink. The terrace has comfortable seating and is served by waiters from the bar. There's live music in the evening. Local beer is around DH20; a gin and tonic Dh40.
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Wakili Guinée
Recently opened by local musicians, Wakili plans to feature drum, balafon (xylophone) and kora (a harp-like instrument) players on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. They also intend to open some budget-priced guestrooms with air-conditioning.
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Bar-Restaurant Les Bambou
Definitely the most enjoyable of the outdoor bars in central Bobo, Les Bambou is a terrific outdoor venue with a lovely garden area and traditional live music (especially traditional djembé music) from around 20:00 from Wednesday to Saturday.
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Abraxas
On Fridays and Saturdays, the Centre D'Echanges Culturels Franco-Rwandais plays host to leading local bands. The music is an eclectic mix of Rwandan, reggae and international covers, and after a few beers everyone finds their rhythm. Very popular.
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Acoustic Music Café
At South Africa's only totally vegetarian pub, drumming workshops are hosted every Monday at 19:00 (around R30 lesson, around R20 drum hire), and there's an open-mike night on Tuesday. The rest of week there's usually a live rock band playing.
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Mama Africa
Live marimba and other swinging African sounds fuel the atmosphere at this eternally popular tourist venue, where you can dine on a range of game dishes (mains R90). Bookings are essential at weekends, otherwise squeeze into a spot by the bar.
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National Hotel
Hallelujah! Live music Thursday to Sunday from around 21:30 to 02:00 or 03:00. The music is a mixture of Ethiopian/Middle Eastern pop, with some traditional tunes thrown in. When not playing, there's soccer on big-screen TV - much less exotic.
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Bar Imperfecto
Although it doesn't get busy until hot-chocolate time, the atmosphere is worth the wait. Alternative music and rock and roll is the music scene, played against a dark, wood-panelled backdrop with black-and-white pics from the silver screen.
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Riadh el-Feth
Algiers has several live music venues, two of the most popular being the Théatre de Verdure and the Salle Ibn Zeydoun, at Riadh el-Feth. Listings are published in papers such as the daily El-Watan.
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Mercury Live & Lounge
Cape Town’s premier rock venue plays host to top South African bands and overseas visitors. The sound quality is good and if you don’t like the band, there’s always the DJ bar Mercury Lounge, below, and the Shack bar, next door.
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Polo Grill
Overlooking the polo field, where you can catch a live match around 11:30 at weekends between May and August. They also occasionally get big local acts like Exile. If there's a band, admission is around ZK250.
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Marco’s African Place
Marco Radebe’s African restaurant traverses the same tourist territory of Mama Africa. Different African singers and bands play each night and the food (mains R65 to R115) is up to scratch.
reviewed
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Club Obbligato
A top local joint for Ugandan music, the popular Afrigo Band plays here every weekend and is well worth catching. Warm up here to some live music before hitting one of the nearby nightclubs.
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El Genaina Theatre
The park’s 300-seat open-air theatre hosts touring Western artists, stars from the Middle East and locals; shows are often free (though you must pay the park entrance fee).
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Rock Island Bar
Over the last 17 years, Mandy and musician husband Gary have made this bar one of the most popular in town. There is acoustic music nightly, played to a predominantly expat crowd.
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Obz Café
As if the human theatre of Lower Main Rd wasn’t enough, inside this spacious café-bar is a separate performance space where you can catch all manner of music shows.
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Chatters Bar
This classy bar is located in the Cresta Lodge, and features smooth, easy-listening live music most nights of the week. The bar is well stocked, though it's a bit pricey.
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