Ntombenhle Mbuso
E-mail: mbuson@durban.gov.za
Tel: 031 322 4205
Jazz and blues
The Rainbow Restaurant (083 463 8044 or 031 702 9161 www.therainbow.co.za ) 23 Stanfield Lane, Pinetown, first opened its doors in 1981. Sunday 7 April - Bongani Nkwanyana with special guest Xoliswa Dlamini. NOTE: date change for this event which has been moved a week later from 31 March. We cannot do gigs on Easter Weekend - that is family time.
Sunday 28 April - Mbuso Khoza
Sunday 25 May - Feya Faku
The Corner Cafe (031 201 0219) 197 Brand Road, Glenwood , hosts Jazz from 6pm-8pm on 12 April you can enjoy NJE. Nje meaning 'Just' in IsiZulu are, Gregan Aherin (The La Els) and Portia Malunga Rowling (The Wilderness Act).
The Harbour Jazz Café at the BAT Centre (031 332 0451) 45 Maritime Place, Small Craft Harbour, hosts Jazz Sundowners every Friday 18:00-20:00 and Jazz on the Deck every Sunday 15:00-17:00. 3 April Live Poetry Session set your soul free at the Live Poetry Sessions for all you philosophers, dreamers, romantics, story-tellers, comics and revolutionaries out there. Let Nowadays reading sessions inspire life unto the unpublished and passionate scribe. All Welcome to experience the galaxy of words.
The Centre for Jazz & Popular Music (031 260 3385) at the University of KZN hosts concerts every Wednesday during the semester from 18:00.
Other venues hosting live jazz and blues include Zack’s in Windermere Road (031 312 0755) with Live Jazz every Sunday at 15:30 and Zack’s at Wilson’s Wharf (031 305 1677) with the Blues Train on Tuesdays. There are also Jazz Sundowners every Sunday from 12:00-17:00 at the Upper Deck, uShaka Marine World (031 328 8000).
Parties, clubs and dancing
Durban’s hottest nightclubs, cafés and bars include the Suncoast Casino’s Café Vacca Matta (031 368 6535); The Origin at 9 Clark Road (072 947 1320); Live at 166 Matthews Meyiwa (Stamford Hill) Road; De La Sol cocktail bar at 258 Florida Road (031 312 9436); Cuba Lounge at Moses Mabhida Stadium (031 303 6364); Afro Fashion Lounge at 135 Stamfordhill Road (031 309 6046); Scallaz at 14 Brickhill Road (031 332 5060); Boulevard Nightclub at 153 Florida Road (031 303 7631); Casa Nostra at 170 Florida Road (031 312 6434); Sasha Nightclub at 17 Harvey Road (031 312 9255); Czar at 178 Florida Road (031 312 8001); Bru Café at 507 Lilian Ngoyi Road); and Joe Cool's at 137 Lower Marine Parade (031 332 9697).
Operating at the former Bean Bag Bohemia site in Lilian Ngoyi (Windermere) Road, Hai.bo (072 674 4609) incorporates fine dining, a bistro and tapas bar as well as a sports bar and outdoor café, and is open from 11:00 till late.
Krakatoa Action Bar at Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom (031 580 5170) hosts a Bhangra Evening with the Durban Desi Krew every Friday from 22:00, and a Club Night featuring DJ Chunky Charles every Saturday from 22:00.
For a change in pace, there are also a number of dinner dances taking place around Durban: every Saturday Dinner Dance to the sounds of The Simon Kerdachi Trio at the Oysterbox Hotel; every Friday Dinner & Dance with live bands at Musketeers, the German Club, Westville (Charmaine 031 266 0836).