Template:South Africa 2009
From Psychedelic-Traveller
[2009] Towards 2010 FIFA World Cup in SOUTH AFRRICA
- written by Mad Hatter
With the buildup to next year's soccer extravaganza, South Africa is constructing enormous stadiums, later to become available for music festivals - our outdoor Psytrance scene has grown so much that we look forward to having them. During the event, visiting trancers can expect extra parties in Cape Town, “Africa's Psytrance capital”, especially for their enjoyment.
In the last year, we were blessed to have Absolum, Anestetic, Highko (and the Noisy Radicals crew twice!), Kinzadza, Logic Bomb, Mr Peculiar, Phatmatix, Psyfly, Rastaliens and many, many more playing here. Our destination has become an international favourite: visitors have an awesome time and the exchange rate is exceptionally good (entrance to parties from under 2 Euros!). With a unique, youthful dance-floor energy and perfect weather for 8 months of summer (Sept – April), we've become a trancer's paradise, growing and evolving every year, having earned our new status of “World Trance Centre”.
South African Psytrance talent continues to be in high demand all over the globe and includes Artifakt, Brethren, Broken Toy, Damage, Frozen Ghost, Headroom, Lost & Found, Protoculture, Regan, Shift, Slug, The Jester and Zion Linguist. Local record labels include Amoeba, Nano (who hold the annual Earthdance and Origin festivals), Nexus Media, One Foot Groove and Timecode. Other labels staging outdoor parties include Alien Safari, Beartrap, Groovy Troopers (now 10 years old), MMD, The Village and Vortex (SA's 1st in 1994), all based in Cape Town; also Lightworx in Durban and Redeye/Technotribe/Fucha in Johannesburg.
The recently released “Under the African Sky” DVD examines the first 10 years of Psytrance in South Africa and includes precious party footage and interviews with those involved since the early days, available for just 12 Euros from Call-A-Pizza (see below).
Outdoor parties are held almost every weekend during summer, with few overlaps, and offer an amazing vibe, always complimented by our visitors. During the week, especially in winter, many indoor clubs host Psytrance evenings, including Psystorm @ Babbaloo's and Psychoduidelik @ Rhino Room on Wednesdays, and Psynopticz @ BangBang on Thursdays. Underground outdoor “squat” parties are held regularly by MINDMELT. Any time of the year you visit, there will be something psy happening!
Call-A-Pizza in Sea Point, owned by partners Yolanda and the writer Ricky (aka DJ Mad Hatter), sells more local Psytrance CDs and DVDs than any other outlet (all at cost price) and stocks the world's biggest range (over 100 titles). Party tickets, transport, flyers, directions and other info is available (as well as the best pizzas), and the latest party videos are shown. If you visit, mention this article for a free drink with us!
