Patience Bambalele

Patience Bambalele

The Horror Cafe in Newtown, home of poets and musicians, is shutting down.

After nine years , Horror Cafe, which is part of South African Breweries (SAB) Centenary building, will close its doors for the last time on October 31.

As a meeting place, it has kept the dreams of aspiring musicians, deejays and poets alive while giving them an opportunity to shine.

Louis Polykalpou, who is in charge of the place, is very upset. "SAB told me they were closing down the place and they want to open a restaurant.

"I am very upset because the place has given a lot of young artists a platform to launch their careers. It has established a lot of poets and artists."

The Horror Cafe has staged tgreat parties, deejaying and music events, including the popular Thursday reggae sessions featuring Jahseed and Admiral.

Polykalpou said he was still negotiating to open shop somewhere.

Frank Johnson, the general manager of SAB, said they were not closing down Horror Cafe but had not renewed the lease.

"They had a five year contract and it has came to an end. They have to accept it. Since that place belongs to us we have new plans for it."

Flo Mokale, one of the poets who have been using the venue said, "Obviously, its bad for the place to be closed. I feel their aim is to kick artists out of Newtown since Shivava and Workers Library are also closing shop. Horror Cafe gave many artists who are stars today a platform."

Several fund raising events have been scheduled for October 23 to 26.

Performers on the line-up include Khethi, Flo Quaz, Vallentine, Mak, Thabiso, Thabo, TOT, Admiral, Jah Seed, Afrodisiac, Uju, Kwani Experience, Zubz, Skin2Skin, Hymphatic Thabs, TNT, Baleloko, Young Zulu, Mathematics and Last Days Family.