It has been a while since El Gordo has been a regular around the Cape Town night life but since he is back in town he has already played at The Fez, Trinity, Sapphire and up the coast at Cobs Cove (St. Francis Bay). Wednesday the 1st of February played host to El Gordo headlining See You Next Wednesday at The Assembly with Phaze, Dynamo, Blitzkrieg, Headphase and resident DJ’s, indie-electro genuis’ Stone-Age Citizens. Judging from the massive queue outside and the hum of anticipation inside, it is safe to say that people are frothing for El Gordo’s new wave techno-electro rave style.

He throws his sets up and down by dropping crazy minimal beats then mixing in that evil, dark speaker-bursting bass lines from his favourite electronic tracks of all genres. He is currently studying music production in London and is feasting his ears on all the british techno-rave music he can. We know he will produce killer sounds when he starts making his own music and we can’t wait to hear what backbreaking, fistpumping, faceslamming tunes are in his head! His set is so unique that his fans are able to recognise a certain song, rythmn, bass line, melody and immediately drop their beers and head for the stage chanting Gordo! Gordo!

The world is ready for El Gordo, all too soon some big record label is going to take him away from us and make him into the superstar he deserves to be.

Always a favourite at Don’t Party, El Gordo is on our list of Capetonians to watch out for. Keep it pumping man, you break our necks and have us bleeding from the ears but we always want more!

More El Gordo? :: Find him on Facebook | Soundcloud

All photos taken by Tash Montlake

No, i’m not fucking with you, we’re talking high 30′s degrees here. Yet the guys behind Origin, with their impeccable organisation, ensured that all was taken care of. From a beautiful venue, with dams and rivers all around, to an incredible set up  with a mind-blowing DJ booth/tunnel ; we knew we were in for a good one.

When you are willing to drive over a 100km to spend your day in scorching heat, there better be a damn good reason to do so. Luckily, the Origin Festival is often one of those reasons, boosting a musically attractive line up and known as a gathering place for all reunions. Nostalgia kicks in as you park you car and take your first steps through the enchanted forest of a camp site, immersing yourself in this oasis amidst the dry Cape lands, preparing yourself to take on the dancefloor and all that it has to offer for the next dozen hours of your casual Sunday.

I fondly recall walking through a lane of sorts, accompanied by tall flags on both sides, reminding me of a childhood Mortal Kombat scene (if you know not what I speak of, go to your parents draws, find the good ol’ VHS and educate yourself with the masterpiece). Goosebumps of both fear and excitement engulfed my being as the faint sounds of Will Never End filled the air. Originally produced by Headroom, I knew that it was Broken Toy releasing these sound waves, now not meters away from my standing, and thus I wasted no time and made my excuse of a rush to the dancefloor.

Ah, the familiar of faces of those that I now consider my distant family ; ‘Welcome Home’ we said to one another, for this is better than any other possible Sunday gathering. It took literally seconds to get into the swing of things, as Broken Toy dropped his brilliant remix of Skrillex’s ‘Scary Monster and Nice Sprites’, effecitively controlling the masses like a puppeteering boss.

Acts that followed, that of internationals Tristan and his further duo known as Killerwatts, didn’t quite seem to meet the high bar set by Broken Toy. Whilst their sets were not bad, as a manner of speaking, they just didn’t hit the spot for me. Maybe it was due to too much prior hype, maybe its because Broken Toy is a demi-god ; there was simply a monotonous element to it that lost its value after some time. Commercial Hippies and Headroom filled previously mentioned gaps with their varieties of excellence, yet between the DJs that followed and those that were aforementioned, Broken Toy took the set of the day for me.

Yet, the party as whole was one like no other. Friendly faces, all in a constant groove, battled the dire heat with dedication and determination seldom seen in today’s society. The rivers and dams in and around the venue provided an essential source of cooling down, coupled with slight drizzles on the shaded dancefloor. Moreover, an immense appreciation needs to go out to the medics, for having to deal with a substantial amount of irresponsible cases of those that seem to have forgotten basic rules of survival – hydration & shade. No matter what you were on, the sun always wins, so at least prepare yourself for such otherwise you may just be ‘That Guy’.

Big ups to the organisers yet again, you’ve done us proud here at Don’t Party!

Photos by Scott Rennie
Words by Adam Lifshitz

There has been quite a bit of speculation regarding the sale of Trinity, based in Cape Town. A photo of the ad placed in the paper has done the rounds on social networks and has sparked quite a bit of debate regarding the future of the relatively new nightclub.

We reached out to Trinity for answers and it would appear the building is in fact for sale but this in no way affects the future of the club which holds a ten year lease for the premises. Check out the statement from Trinity below

“The building that Trinity is in is for sale- the Trinity business still has a 10 year lease regardless and thus this does not mess with the running of the business. This will just will simply mean new land lords.”

“for the record that this is by no means an issue that Trinity is closing down! We had one of the most successful few months in the history of the venue and this year is looking quite peachy with a number of international acts confirmed right up till the end of June.”

So it would appear Trinity is here to stay, what do you think of the situation? Post your comments below.

Hot damn this looks like a party!

Don’t Party have happily associated ourselves with one of the finest events and music boundary pushers in Durban, Uber Cool Events, and this coming weekend we are ready to rock your socks off! Not only are the Uber Cool locals going to be spreading the bass, but this time Sibot and Liver are coming to finger-bang you into the next millenia!

If we dont see you on Friday Durbs, then frankly, you suck!

WHAT

Uber Cool X Dont Party presents

Reconcile This!

WHEN

Friday

16 December

WHERE

Origin

Durban

LINE-UP

• Sibot [CT]
• Liver [JHB]
• Veranda Panda
• DJ Night Vision
• Icarus
• Mad Love

DAMAGE

R60 < 10pm < R80

Click HERE for the Facebook event!

WIN A DOUBLE TICKET SET!!

We are giving away 2 double ticket sets to this event to come rinse it out with us on the night! To win all you have to do is complete the sentence: On Friday, I’m going to go ______ to [add DJ name here]…

Simple, no?

[Show some extra love and tweet us and we might show you some love back: @dontparty #reconcilethis]

(Winners selected Friday 16 December and emailed. No under 18s allowed)

Pretoria, you were amazing! Thanks for coming out in such force!

DirtyLoud and F.O.O.L love the show!

Big thanks go out to Olmeca, KWV and Monster Energy!

Check out the pics:

Shot by Stefan Jordan-Rozwadowski

PICTURES

The Don’t Party.Tv crew set off early Friday morning. The cars loaded to the brim with camera equipment, camping essentails and a few apprehensive passengers. We set up our campsite with the efficiency of beavers crafting a damn during felling season. To our right, the rolling fields were already filled with 100’s of tents and the wind was sweeping gusts of excited conversations and laughter our way. The venue was set up a little better than last year but I couldn’t help but feel sorry for all the thousands of people who were forced to carry their knick knacks about a kilometer through the entire venue and then some. No one seemed to mind too much as the sights and sounds as you walked through the main area would’ve distracted even myself, had I had to play camel for a day.

FRIDAY

Friday started early and I was shocked to see how many people were flopping around the Red Bull Studio Live floor at 11am all waiting in anticipation for the music to kick off. SAINTFEARLESS, FOX COMET and HOLIDAY MURRY all played upbeat, appeasing sets that got the early starters in the mood. The sun was bright, the beers were cold and the main stage was a hub of noise as fans stood to cheer on their favourite bands. A bubble maker supplied by Holiday Murray, added to the ambiance and everyone was all smiles. Satisfied with the shots I got, I wandered back up to the Red Bull Studio Live floor in time for Tommy Gun’s set.

I hung around the Red Bull Studio Live floor for the rest of the evening. I was on the bill to film DAS KAPITAL and JAM JARR. The kids didn’t know what hit them when Das took the stage. He spun some wicked, groovy electro that attracted the attention of thousands who would’ve otherwise been forced to listen to the same-old tired out ‘rock’ bands who’ve been on the line up since fuck-knows-when. Jam Jarr surprised me the most on Friday night. I had no idea of the following they had and was so excited to see, when looking back at my footage that almost the whole crowd was rapping every word to almost every song.

MIX N BLEND, HYPHEN, NISKERONE, COUNTERSTRIKE and SFR did not disappoint and kept the crowd on their toes the entire evening. Also dealing having to deal with a lot of technical difficulties, Graham did a really great job stage managing and it allowed for great filming opportunities. I was standing at the back of the floor with Hyphen’s girlfriend as we heard him MC’ing from the stage, giving Niskerone a moment to sort out something with the sound guys.

I called it a day at about 5 am. Curled up in my car, I slept like a baby until about 9 when I woke up to a beating sun and a member of BTEAM discussing life’s problems with Liam Lynch. We all took a wander down to main stage to find some coffee. None of us had found the elusive ‘shuttle’ that was apparently making regular trips up and down from vip so we decided to walk. It then proceeded to drive past us four to five times before we even made it to the bottom.

SATURDAY

Camera in hand, I headed to the main stage where I spent the morning with 7th Son. When I am not filming, I am their official photographer and wanted to spend some time with them before they got on stage. They found the black label quick enough and before I knew it, I was having my 3rd beer of the day and started to feel a little smashed. 7th Son’s set was unbelievably tight and the crowd really responded well by slowing drifting closer and closer to the stage. Even saw some water babies make their way from the river, following the sound (and smells!) that encompass a reggae band.

I really enjoyed Richard The Third’s set. He always plays very kwaito, dubby beats and I don’t think a lot of people in this town understand it, but they do appreciate it. The dancefloor was an eclectic mix of young, old and Matt Caldecott and as the night progressed and the acts started to play more and more heavier beats, the crowd responded amazingly. AUDIOPHILE 021 got up and moved the rythmn of the evening towards a more dirtier sound. LIVER really blew my mind and was one of my favourite acts of the weekend. I was upset that I had to run to to the main stage to cover the HOGS but I made it back in time for some more Liver goodness. The Hogs, just by the way, still draw a massive crowd and the punks creep from the woodwork just to break their shoulders and cause bodily harm on fellow festival goers for one or two days a year. I am surprised they even braved the sun! I rushed back to find my amazing boss Bruce Willis?? kicking it on the decks to a drunk, intoxicatingly happy throng of people. He only warmed the decks up for Mr. Grampa Kennedy who never disappoints and always plays what the audience want to hear. He is so good at feeling a crowd and was able to move this one with great, great ease.

My friends nearly lost their minds during F.O.O.L and when BTEAM made it onto the stage in awesome dinosaur costumes, the back of the dancefloor filled up as people were intruiged by who these mad men were. Cape Town better watch out, minimal is soon to be the new dubstep. Bteam play the kind of beats that are so old school, the younger audience dont quite know what to do with it and the older audience goes ‘..but but, we have lived through rave! Didn’t they get the memo?”. They keep their audience alive and partying as heaven knows what they will throw down.

A mate of mine walked into the flat last night and said because of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club unbelievable set he can now ‘die happy’. Another friend said she never wanted them to ever get off the stage. We were upset that they did not let us film them but even so, it was just an honour to meet Peter Hayes and the Don’t Party Tv editor, Ewald and I proberly would’ve been arrested if they had let us anywhere near him when he was playing. Ewald has a man crush, you see. DirtyLoud played an uplifting, rough, battering electronic set but when they moved the beats to dubstep, I felt that they lost the flow slightly and I couldn’t really find anyone to film as everyone dancing looked like they were having mini strokes in various parts of their bodies, simultaneously.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening would have to be when I jumped on the front speakers and NISKERONE shouted for the crowd to put their hands up. Through my camera I saw the whole Red Bull Studio Live floor raise their hands at once and I could actually feel the electricity coming from the crowd. The speakers were so loud that when I jumped down, I lost my footing and the heavy drum ‘n bass forced me about a meter forward. Ask me to show you my bruise, its award-winning.

SUNDAY

Sunday should be officially renamed Funday. I have never had such a wonderful time at a festival. I woke up early and filmed my flatmates band JUKE ROYAL who have recently changed their reggae vibe to something a little more commercial. It is working for them and by the end of their set, they gained quite a few more fans I rate. The LITTLE KINGS always impress me with their beautifully crafted vocal sections and their music always makes me sway, even if I don’t want to. I left the main stage with a huge smile on my face and walked into what can only be described as a trance party but without any psy-trance music. What was left of the crowd, all trying to suck up the last life that the party had left for them. Everyone was sharing drinks, shots, stories and I think Callan and I even indulged in a couple of oysters. The Cold Turkey DJ’s lined up some awesome beats and I danced till I fell asleep on the dancefloor. Blochy and Rebel Clef, you guys know what you are doing and it is refreshing to hear such different upbeat tunes.

It is quite different attending a festival to work rather than to play, I think I might even enjoy it more. Seeing a festival with the eye of a photographer comes quite challenging as you are constantly on the look out for those ‘one-of-a-kind’ moments. The atmosphere kept me busy all weekend. I wish I could’ve filmed it all! A big thank you must go to Marieke and your team. You outdid yourselves and I hope the hugs from our crew helped every now and then. A big thank you must also go to everyone that kept us safe, well fed and drunk the whole weekend. I would still be looking for my car keys if it wasn’t for you. Paul Ward, thank you for following us around, keeping us on our toes. Cant wait to see the photos!

All in all I would go back and do it all over again. But for now, I have the video to remind me of all that I did and all that I saw.

Keep an eye out for the video! Coming soon on Dontparty.TV

GALLERY

Following on from the gleeful, hurricane stages at Oppikoppi and Rocking the Daisies, the Red Bull Studio Live returns for the third time this year at the mammoth Synergy Live music festival, once again providing the electronica and dance music fodder for the frothing, festival revellers. SA’s pedigree Drum n Bass, Electro, Glitch-Hop, Dubstep and Downbeat producers such as Niskerone, Double Adaptor, PHfat, Mix n Blend, Mr. Sakitumi and many more will be joined by the likes of expert, international Grinding Electro dons, Dirty Loud and F.O.O.L., up and coming prolific, wunderkind, Das Kapital and a Sunday line-up featuring some of the best DJs from CT’s freshest new party, Cold Turkey. In the words of the festival organisers themselves, “If the main stage is the heart of Synergy, the Red Bull Studio Live stage is definitely its feet…”

Check out the lineup:

Friday 25

17:00 – 18:00 Funafuji
18:00 – 19:00 Spekta
19:00 – 20:00 Tommy Gun
20:00 – 21:00 Das Kapital
21:00 – 22:00 Jam Jarr
22:00 – 23:00 George Daniel
23:00 – 00:00 Mix n Blend
00:00 – 01:00 Hyphen
01:00 – 02:00 Niskerone
02:00 – 03:00 Counterstrike
03:00 – 04:00 SFR

Saturday 26

12:00 – 13:30 B_TYPE
13:30 – 14:30 Nastie Ed
14:30 – 15:30 Mr Sakitumi
15:30 – 16:30 Richard The Third
16:30 – 17:30 Audiophile 021
17:30 – 19:00 Liver
19:00 – 20:00 Bruce Willis??
20:00 – 21:00 PHFAT
21:00 – 22:00 Kennedy
22:00 – 23:30 F.O.O.L (SWEDEN)
23:30 – 00:30 Double-Adapter
00:30 – 01:30 Bteam
01:30 – 03:00 DirtyLoud (BRA)
03:00 – 04:00 Killer Robot

Sunday 27

10:50 – 11:40 Big Space
11:40 – 12:30 Ruffest
12:30 – 13:20 Blotchy
13:20 – 14:10 Rebel Clef
14:10 – 15:00 Ish

Sibot, the South African DJ/producer legend shows us why he’s one of the best in the game with this insane perforemance from his set at The Assembly’s Discotheque on November 18th 2011 in Cape Town.

I’m blown away! Check it out!

No Bucks put up a brilliant post answering the fools that have posted Tweets to Deadmau5 dissing South Africa [CLICK HERE TO VIEW]

The Mau5 himself replied:

“First off, allow me to apologize on behalf of some (not all) of my ignorant “fans” for their idiotic remarks. Pretty much all of the “fans” making negative remarks about South Africa haven’t even left their mommys basement, let alone be privileged enough to visit South Africa. Having said that, they should be pissed off… theyre going to miss out on the party of a decade.”

I dont share their narrow minded views in the very least, in fact, the extreme opposite.

“I cannot fucking wait to get down there and see the sights, meet the people, and rock the venues!”

This has been the most anticipated tour i have ever had the pleasure of seeing… ever since i’ve posted the tour announcement, i have NEVER in my 5 years of touring have EVER seen so much excitement for just 3 events. That alone is enough to put a HUGE smile on my face. I cannot fucking wait to get down there and see the sights, meet the people, and rock the venues!

Don’t mind the negativity… when i leave to SA, those other idiots are staying home. “