X-rated Bob wrote: From The Bioscope's web site

After the extremely popular Real Music Wednesdays in Cape Town, Brewers & Union, PUMA and Rolling Stone Magazine have teamed up once again to bring the popular REAL MUSIC WEDNESDAY to The Bioscope.

This Wednesday (25th) it's Black Cat Bones at The Bioscope, free, gratis and for nothing.

Eish, I reluctantly went into town for work the other day, unless a whole gang of people went together in convoy I would not consider it. I felt safer working in Soweto.

"Town" is a big area. I can't speak for all of it, but Maboneng is fine. I've been there several times - day & night. For gigs or to eat. The area around Arts on Main is all refurbished and secure. Check it out. It shows what the city center could be, maybe is going to be.

Just a PS. Obviously no venue and no area is guaranteed 100% safe (who knows when somebody's going to smuggle a rifle into a movie house and start shooting), but personally I wouldn't post a notice of a gig in an area I had qualms about, or I would mention that you need to take extra precautions.

But this part of town is quite OK - I go down there from time to time. I like the relaxed buzz, there's some good restaurants, and I've been to a couple of good gigs there (Shannon Hope, Joshua Grierson).

Also note that this series of gigs is sponsored. Sponsors include Rolling Stone and Levis Puma. They're not going to sponsor gigs in a place where mayhem is likely to erupt - that's a kind of publicity they don't want.

I spent a very large part of my late teens early twenties lurking around that area, Marshall street Doors, Alcatraz, Icon, le Club, SubZero, played gigs there and got drunk there, slept in the park outside Icon once. I for one would love to see a revival. The venue is not a problem, friends who have been there have only said good things. Getting there? Last time I went to Wings in Braamfontein before they closed, someone unsuccessfully tried to steal my car, but then took the spare and vandalised it instead. This happened with a car guard in attendance.

Averatu wrote: The venue is not a problem, friends who have been there have only said good things. Getting there? Last time I went to Wings in Braamfontein before they closed, someone unsuccessfully tried to steal my car, but then took the spare and vandalised it instead. This happened with a car guard in attendance.

This is THE biggest reason I'm skeptical about venues in that general area. I would also love to see a revival. I wanted to go to a gig in Newtown recently but the car guards demanded R100 and said if I didn't pay up-front they'd let the car get nicked. They were very pushy. Friends at the same gig got a lot of aggression from the guards too. It's put me off big-time.

I have also heard good things about the area around the Bioscope however, and it would be good to hear from others who've been there recently - at night. Any more good stories? :rolleyes:

X-rated Bob wrote: "Town" is a big area. I can't speak for all of it, but Maboneng is fine. I've been there several times - day & night. For gigs or to eat. The area around Arts on Main is all refurbished and secure. Check it out. It shows what the city center could be, maybe is going to be.

So good to hear ?

What has your experience of the parking set-up been like?

Psean wrote: I have also heard good things about the area around the Bioscope however, and it would be good to hear from others who've been there recently - at night. Any more good stories? :rolleyes:

Ilse and I have also been there a couple of times, and get this, at night! ? No problems, no car jackings, no extortion.

Sean wrote: Ilse and I have also been there a couple of times, and get this, at night! ? No problems, no car jackings, no extortion.

Cool. Good to hear 8)

Sean wrote:

and get this, at night! ?

Hehe. I've never had any problem during the day; I actually enjoy walking in town at times. It jusy seems that some of the areas around the clubs are targeted at night when there are a lot of people and cars around.

Averatu wrote: I spent a very large part of my late teens early twenties lurking around that area, Marshall street Doors, Alcatraz, Icon, le Club, SubZero, played gigs there and got drunk there, slept in the park outside Icon once. I for one would love to see a revival. The venue is not a problem, friends who have been there have only said good things. Getting there? Last time I went to Wings in Braamfontein before they closed, someone unsuccessfully tried to steal my car, but then took the spare and vandalised it instead. This happened with a car guard in attendance.

That's like saying don't go to Sandton because my friend's car got ripped off in Rosebank. Maboneng is some miles away from Braamfontein.

When did Wings close?

Psean wrote:

X-rated Bob wrote: "Town" is a big area. I can't speak for all of it, but Maboneng is fine. I've been there several times - day & night. For gigs or to eat. The area around Arts on Main is all refurbished and secure. Check it out. It shows what the city center could be, maybe is going to be.

So good to hear ?

What has your experience of the parking set-up been like?

OK... I'm referring to the Maboneng Precint here, not "town" in general.

I've had no problems parking at Maboneng. I usually park around the back of the big hall where they have the food market because that seems a bit underused most of the time (Sunday afternoons when the market is going it gets busier). There's always a guard there and I greet him and he points out where he thinks I should park and I park there and it's all cool. Other times I've tried to park as close as possible to The Bioscope, and that's busier, but there's always some guy in a uniform who rushes up and tells me where to park and I say "are you sure the cops won't tow me away" and he says "just park there, it's fine" and that's been OK too.

Great stuff. Thanks.
Keen to check something out at the Bioscope some time.

Psean wrote: Great stuff. Thanks.
Keen to check something out at the Bioscope some time.

There's a nice little bar right next door. Decent selection of beers and I think they sell light meals too (I usually eat at the Canteen when I'm in that part of the world, so I don't order anything but drinks when I get to the Bioscope, but I've seen people eating at the tables there).

X-rated Bob wrote: There's a nice little bar right next door. Decent selection of beers

Sold :goodtimes:

X-rated Bob wrote:

Averatu wrote: I spent a very large part of my late teens early twenties lurking around that area, Marshall street Doors, Alcatraz, Icon, le Club, SubZero, played gigs there and got drunk there, slept in the park outside Icon once. I for one would love to see a revival. The venue is not a problem, friends who have been there have only said good things. Getting there? Last time I went to Wings in Braamfontein before they closed, someone unsuccessfully tried to steal my car, but then took the spare and vandalised it instead. This happened with a car guard in attendance.

That's like saying don't go to Sandton because my friend's car got ripped off in Rosebank. Maboneng is some miles away from Braamfontein.

When did Wings close?

The car indecent was the straw that broke the camels back, but could also have been a indication of my illogical personality.
At one point in the mid 90's I worked at the Civic theatre, I would walk to Marshall street, and walk back to my car in the theatre parking. Not that far really. Looking at the map, if you came from the M2 and take Joe Slovo, you'd cut out a lot of town driving. If the area is cool, then yes. The owners where obviously aware of the city centre stigma before opening, they'd have to work hard to overcome it.
The decay of town is not something I welcomed, it sucked!! Everyone used to go to town from all over, from 4ways to Roodepoort to Alberton, the punks would take the train from the Vuil Driehoek in the evening, crash all night at Alcatraz and take a train back in the morning. But subsequently everything has become fragmented and de-centralised.

Wings closed jonks ago.

Averatu wrote:
The decay of town is not something I welcomed, it sucked!! Everyone used to go to town from all over, from 4ways to Roodepoort to Alberton, the punks would take the train from the Vuil Driehoek in the evening, crash all night at Alcatraz and take a train back in the morning. But subsequently everything has become fragmented and de-centralised.

Urban decay is never pretty, but this is maybe why you should go down to Maboneng some time. That project makes the point that decaying areas can be rejuvenated.

Wings closed jonks ago.

OK... so maybe things change with time. And sometimes they can change for the better.

OK... more gigs in this series have been announced.

Aug 1st - Yo Grapes
Aug 8th - Joshua Grierson
Aug 15th - Lookout Kid
Aug 22nd - Gil Hockman
Aug 29th - The Howlin' Shibanski

I note that this week Maboneng held a "Moonlit Market", a new little gedoente that will happen every full moon. Relevant bit is that they ran a shuttle service from Rosebank, which makes parking and getting there a little easier (and which helps people who can get the Gautrain). I'll keep an eye on this, because if they're going to run the shuttle on an ongoing basis then that sorts a couple of things out. But go! It's a nice little piece of Jo'burg.

Latest info I have about these is that they are EIGHT thirty shows the EVENT starts at 19:00 and the music starts at 20:00. There is a shuttle bus service - 'Mabogo' - from the Rosebank Gautrain station to Arts on Main leaving the station at 19:30. There's a return bus after the show. R30 (I don't know if that's both ways or one way, I have asked for clarification). I think there are also Mabogo busses from Park Station and from Braamfontein, but you should contact Maboneng for details. The service is new and still being rolled out.

I hope to be there tomorrow night. IMO Josh Grierson is well worth seeing.

Josh Grierson was good stuff! One of the best performers I have seen, be it local or international!

Parked about 100 metres from the venue, lots of security around.

Interesting how they are revamping this part of town, lots of art galleries, restaurants and even residential premises.

Definitely worth a visit if you haven't been.