Independence Day is nearly here and the parties start on Monday night. Here are your options for Monday and Tuesday (9-10/5/11). Some are free. On the whole, the whole city will turn into one big party on Monday night with people from all over central Israel pouring into town to celebrate.
First up, the Florentin street party will be happening this year. Go to Florentin St. and the surrounding areas if you want to be stuck in a crowd of many thousands listening to psy trance, Israeli music, rock, reggae and god knows what else. There will be soundsystems and people pissing in the street everywhere. I warn you that this is a party that’s only for the brave. If big crowd scare you – this will be your worst nightmare. Try looking around the side streets, as there may be more interesting stuff happening there, though to be honest, many people who actually live in Florentin generally hate this particular night of the year, so won’t be wheeling out their soundsystems like they do at Purim.
If you live in Florentin you will not sleep. If you’re not feeling like a monster party full of people from outside the neighbourhood then this is a good time to find a friend in another part of Tel Aviv you can crash with. The party is free and will go on all night. Booze will be very expensive, so consider packing your own, preferably not in glass bottles.
The Gilda Bar is also having a street party. Giant video art, electro, electronica, Israeli music and freestyle / eclectic stuff will follow from several DJs. Free entry. It’s on the corner of Ahad Ha’am St. and Bezalel Yafe from 20:00.
If you like swing, you actually have 2 options this year. Dance Tel Aviv are having a swing party in the studio from 22:00 till around 2:30. Good if you’re an avid swing dancer interested in showing off moves. Come dressed in blue and white if possible. There’ll be lots of swing music, including Israeli swing (yes, there is such a thing as Israeli swing). Also refreshments and booze. Tickets 35NIS.
For a swing / electro swing party in a more hedonistic atmosphere (and with less emphasis on proper swing dancing), try Swingologia at the Breakfast Club from 22:00. If you dress the part (20s-40s), you’ll get special prizes. Tickets are 30NIS on the door.
If you want trance & techno (note: people call everything techno in this country, from tech house, to cheesy commercial progressive to trance, I have no clue what this will be), head on down to the Key Club for a particularly festive Moksha in the big city party from 22:00 till morning. Omri Guetta, Wicked Wilma and Techno Bastards are on the lineup. Tickets are 30NIS if you put your name on the list. You can post on the Facebook event wall to find out who to message for that.
For a more intimate, but busy freebie, head down to the Michatronix for a somewhat hipster Independence Day. Plenty of music from 22:00 – 10:00am and those still left standing are invited to the free BBQ street party these guys are organising at Ibn Gavirol 8-12 from 12:00 – 21:00 with even more music, booze and craziness.
For more hipster fun, head down to the Prozdor Bar for their traditional Independence Day party with indie-electro music, a Middle Eastern (Arab) band and kicking duo Skillatone. 21:30-5:00, free.
Still standing on Tuesday? Then check out these:
Legotek are having a free roof party and BBQ from 12:00 – 23:00 at 33 Gordon St. Here’s a quick line up:
12:00-16:00 Noam K
16:00-18:00 Nir Ivenizki (Legotek)
18:00-21:00 Doron Eisenberg Vs. Lt.Dan (Legotek)
21:00-23:00 Yotam Laufer (Morning Mayhem)
The Chapeu Bar is having a street party outside from 14:00 – 00:00 with their awesome resident Alon Gorsky playing real techno, dub and minimal techno, the talented Rona Geffen (who has an amazing voice, sings over a techno / electro backing and is def worth checking out) and Eran Rondstein whose name I may be terribly misspelling, but he’s going to play a 4 channel set. Free.
Haprozdor will carry on celebrating with Indiefada, from 13:00 – 23:00 with a whole host of Israeli indie / electro indie / punk rock / alternative rock bands for a mere 50NIS. I recommend it as a way of checking out new and established local talent. Too many acts to mention. There’ll also be an “indie food stall”.
…and if you’re quick, you may be able to score an expensive ticket to the famous and traditional T-dance afterparty at Haoman 17. It’s a world famous, very crazy, mixed gay / straight party. The line up is:
MATTHIAS TANZMANN
Tal Cohen
Asi Konjak
Ofri Gofer
Yuval Zach
Moti S.
I personally don’t like the soundsystem at Haoman 17, but these parties are very well produced with an emphasis on set design, performances, big screen, etc. This is a very big production and one of those things Tel Aviv is famous for, though I wouldn’t quite call it underground. Starts at 11:00, goes on till 1:00. Tickets currently 120NIS, 160NIS on the door if there are any left. If you or yours speak Hebrew, you can also get one here: http://www.ticketcenter.co.il/. If you call them tomorrow morning you may still be able to get enough phone support in English to make a purchase. You can also call the organisers on: 0545-807-508 (hint – probably best not to call tomorrow night) for more info and tickets.
More parties are here.
you rock! thanks for this
My pleasure. Have fun 🙂