The sound a toaster would make when popped into a blender is how some would describe the dubstep music genre – but students, locals and visitors alike are gearing up every night to head down to the Monastery nightclub in New Street for some fresh music and a heavy set.
The sound a toaster would make when popped into a blender is how some would describe the dubstep music genre – but students, locals and visitors alike are gearing up every night to head down to the Monastery nightclub in New Street for some fresh music and a heavy set.
Dubstep is the pairing of instrumental remixes of existing recordings (dub) with a style of electronic dance music (2-step). The genre is rapidly growing into a large market for the music industries and has recently taken over Grahamstown nightlife.
The dubstep set usually starts around midnight and can go on well into the early hours – sometimes as late (or early) as 6am. A good time out means listening to a DJ play a set while feeling the floorboards vibrate underneath your feet, as you dance the night away.
Monastery, which opened last June, has so far been one of the few Grahamstown venues catering for this trend, but it's starting to see some competition from the new kid on the block, Prime.
The club opened in February and kicked off with the traditional dance-club scene, but is swiftly broadening its clientèle with a range of new events. And with acts such as Napalma – a band comprising musicians from Brazil, Mozambique and South Africa, having scheduled shows at both The Monastery and Prime, it could rouse a bit of friendly rivalry.
“We’ve been friends for a long time, though,” says Prime manager Allan Nyakotyo, referring to the Monastery crew. Prime also recently partnered with Monastery owner Daniel Hoover Long to play a set on their stage: he was opening for one of SA’s top DJs, Haezer.
Such collaborations promise more exciting new events as the venues try to pull customers one way or another. For Grahamstown dubstep lovers, the next few months are going to be exhilarating, as things pick up for both venues.
As the venues grow, so do the numbers of people appreciating this music genre. Expect a slow revolution in Grahamstown nightlife – one filled with a lot of bass and lots of DJs using their turntables to enchant their crowds.
