There’s been a lot of talk recently about a lack of live venues in the country, and the negative effect it’s having on the local music scene. Well, with the opening of Sowaar Bar Oos Rand, the Sowaar Bar Pretoria crew and the Ruff Majik boys are trying to remedy this issue.
Three weeks might seem like a crazy amount of time to put a bar together, but the guys did it and they did it well, with excellent lighting and sound facilities. An expansion of the Pretoria venue, this spacious spot offers bands a brand new place to perform in Gauteng. It’s also a revival of the live circuit in the East Rand, breathing new life into an otherwise tired scene.
A visibly excited Johni Holiday says, “The idea to open a bar has always been at the back of my mind, but the opportunity didn’t present itself until Thomas (Hill) from Sowaar Bar was looking for a new location, and I knew about this space.”
Something extra special about Sowaar Bar Oos Rand is that bands will be allowed to keep all proceeds from door and ticket sales, promoting an ethos of sustainable live performance.
“We’re going to make money from the bar, and we won’t be charging for venue hire or sound,” says Holiday.
Looking to help grow the scene, the venue opened its doors with a stellar roundup of local talent. From Crash and The Void’s gloomy, soundtrack-driven rock to Lefokolodi’s anti-establishment punk, the lineup was stacked.
The Tazers also put on an electrifying performance, illustrating why they’re one of the country’s best bands, followed by Ruff Majik, who lowkey stole the show with a surprise guest appearance by Evert Snyman for “Swine Tooth Grin.”
Finally, Twenty One Children closed out the night with a powerful demonstration of their trademark, unadulterated punk mayhem.
For local promoters, the venue means more opportunities for bands to get exposure. Planet Karavan’s Mia Van Der Heever explains, “Venues like this are great because they take the pressure off bands having to perform at festivals, without missing out on access to a big stage.”
Emalyth Events’ Lana Britz echoes these sentiments, saying, “I’m a born-and-bred East Rander, and there hasn’t been a music venue with this kind of vibe in the East for at least ten years. Sowaar Oos makes me hella happy. The pure electricity running through that place was amazing. I look forward to seeing all the rad shows held here in the future. This scene is far from dying.”
Corne Nezar, an enthusiastic attendee on the opening night, said, “It reminds me of the old-school Arcade Empire in some ways. The lineup and vibes were fantastic. I look forward to more shows here!”
The venue’s opening marks a significant new era for Joburg’s live scene, which has seen a major boost in recent years as both promoters and artists find exciting ways to engage with the city’s huge music-loving population.
The Dub Collective crew, led by Geof Stewart, showed their support at the launch—Stewart’s platform is dedicated to hosting multi-genre events that celebrate Joburg’s diverse music scene. “We aim to give bands a fresh and varied stage,” he explains.
With Sowaar Bar Oos Rand now joining the ranks of major spots like Sognage, Democracy Bar and Baileys, “more venues opening is a massive win for the live music industry in South Africa,” as Crash and the Void’s Marius Schutte puts it.
If you want to know what’s happening around the city, here’s a list of upcoming events:
- Black Cat Bones at Sowaar Bar OS on the 14th of March
- Koos Kombuis at Sowaar Bar OS on the 15th of March
- Tidal Waves at Democracy Bar on the 21st of March
- Black Cat Bones at Democracy Bar on the 28th of March
Get outside and support the local music scene kids! You’ll be so happy you did!
All photos courtesy of Dick Smith.
