Mercury Closing Down

mercury This week one of the icons of the Cape Town Music scene shut it’s doors for the last time. The offer from Witchdoctor productions to buy Mercury has fallen through, and there simply just isn’t the funding to keep the doors open anymore. The Mercury Live has been a staple venue in Cape Town attracting big bands like Fokofpolisiekar and Taxi Violence as well new bands trying to make it on the scene. The Mercury Monday Madness gave every band a chance to play.

I remember the first time I went to the Mercury; I was 19 and I was going to go watch “Play to Play”, a Nirvana tribute band. I ran into friends I hadn’t seen since high school, there were great drinks specials, Jason Guile smashed a guitar on stage and the mosh pit was intense. The bar was set pretty high, and I thought that no event would ever measure up to that night. And yet, every time I went back I left with great memories. Seeing Guthrie Govan live, the Bluestown sessions and some of the hottest local bands. The loss of Mercury will be a noticeable loss to the Cape Town music scene.

So to Kevin Winder and Sean Wienand thank you for the years of good music, cheap drinks and great times. It’s sad to see you okes close the doors. Best of luck with the future.

Read the full story and some words from Kevin {here}