The LuWow
If you’re searching for a venue that’ll encapsulate all of the great things the Johnston Street Fiesta has to offer, there’s no looking past the tropical cocktail surrounds of The LuWow, who’ve pulled together a party of epic proportions for this year’s celebrations. On Saturday November 21, step into the disco fuelled world of DJ Congo’s Tropical Latin Disco, and prepare yourself for sets from the dynamite nine-piece Latin-jazz orchestra, La Influencia or get involved in some island jamming from Trio Caribo. Or, if you’re more inclined to dance your weekend away, best prepare yourself for the South American Caribbean Latin American fusion, Los Funkalleros. Meanwhile, on Sunday November 22, get you can get involved in some free Latin dance classes, or spectacle at the Super Samba Dance Show, before throwing your inhibitions out the window when DJ Eneida Fever takes over the decks. There’ll be a mountain of cocktail specials on demand, so get yourself down to The LuWow for a damn good time during this fiesta.
The Old Bar
A highlight of The Old Bar’s weekly gig programming is Beer Soaked Sundays. It’s a chance to see some of the city’s finest talent in one of the city’s finest bandrooms on the finest day of the week to get boozy. As part of the Johnston Street Fiesta, Beer Soaked Sundays presents The Scouts. The local foursome trade in high-octane rock’n’roll that incorporates elements of soul, surf, country and pop. I’m starting to feel that unquenchable Sunday thirst just thinking about it. But enough about Sunday, on Saturday evening The Old Bar are also throwing a Johnston Street Fiesta bash. Mighty local garage rockabilly act Midnight Woolf will headline, and Perth’s fuzziest blues punks The Floors will join them. It kicks off at 8.30pm, so bowing out early simply isn’t an option.
Los Amates
Los Amates is well known for its preeminent authentic Mexican food offerings – that and the all too moreish margaritas, plus a wild selection of tequila and mezcal. So they’re perfectly positioned to contribute to the convivial spirit of the Fiesta. Over the course of the weekend, they’re offering a whole range of music to accompany your shots of mezcal, including DJs Victor Gil and Sonidero Esperanza, purveyor of Cuban music Rodolfo Echevarria, and Mexicano party starters, the Sin Frontera Band. They’re going to be thrashing out some sweet food specials over the weekend too, including traditional Mexican BBQ and Mexican breakfast – which begins at 9am and it’s a sure-fire hangover cure, allowing you to get straight back into the festivities.
Laundry Bar
When you hear the name Laundry Bar, chances are you immediately think of the venue’s unrivalled hip hop dance parties. These events won’t cease during the Johnston Street Fiesta, however Laundry are also offering some damn fine Latin-inspired sounds. Over the course of the weekend you’ll get to hear the South American soul and roots sounds of Amaru Tribe, De La Calle’s signature cumbia punk reggae, the Latin rock and funk of Sydney’s Nativo Soul, plus a performance from the enormously uplifting Afro-Colombian percussion troupe Chirimeros. To maintain the Latin sounds between acts, there’ll be DJ sets from Sir Bolivar, Tropicante Sound Sistema and DJ Chamo. But just in case Laundry doesn’t make sense to you without the sound of hip hop blaring from the speakers, from 9pm on Saturday November 21, the Big Dancing hip hop party will indeed be taking place.
