Entertainment

Our guide to enjoying yourself in Madrid

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concerts

GIG OF THE MONTH: Florence + The Machine
Mon 15 Mar
Sala Heineken, C/Princesa, 1 (Metro: Plaza de España). Tel: 91 547 57 11. www.salaheineken.com
€20 from www.ticketmaster.es
Forget the guys, live music in Madrid this month is all about the girls. And who better to kick off a group of talented ladies than the divine Florence Welch and her unstoppable Machine? The London-born lass enjoyed a rather bohemian upbringing that she channels in both her soul/indie/rock music and seemingly endless collection of Victorian- and gothic-inspired fashion choices. Already enjoying critical acclaim in her native UK, Florence is continuing to make a name for herself throughout Europe with her staggeringly good live performances—think fantasy-inspired get-ups, a head of wild red hair, and charisma by the bucket loads.

Marlango
Fri 26 Mar
Circo Teatro Price, C/Ronda de Atocha, 35 (Metro: Embajadores). Tel: 91 528 81 22. www.teatrocircoprice.es
€25 from www.ticketmaster.es
The only Spanish act in this month’s pick of musical talent, the Madrid-residing Marlango are not to be missed. Fronted by the impossibly gorgeous half-Spanish, half-English Leonor Watling, who is perhaps better known for her successful acting work rather than her music, Marlango’s smokey jazz sound is a real treat. It may not be ground-breakingly original but the strong influences of Tom Waits, Norah Jones and just a dash of Björk make this tightly knit threesome a real listening pleasure.

La Roux
Fri 12 Mar
La Riviera, Pº Bajo de la Virgen, s/n (Metro: Príncipe Pío, Puerta del Ángel).
Tel: 91 365 24 15. www.salariviera.com
€20 from www.ticketmaster.es
Another of the UK’s newest and most exciting additions to the popular music scene is 21-year-old Elly Jackson, better known as one half of electro-pop duo La Roux. Hitting La Riviera on the 12th, La Roux undoubtedly provided one of the biggest soundtracks to the summer of 2009 with the brilliant In for the Kill. Their debut album of the same name is a glorious collection of hyper-synthesized 80s pop, and fans of the decade will be able to detect influences from everyone from Depeche Mode to Vince Clark, Prince and the Eurythmics in their slick production and icy smooth vocals. So, smear on that blue eyeshadow, slick back that hair, forget it’s a cold and miserable March and party like it’s 1989.

The Cranberries
Fri 12 Mar
Palacio Vistalegre, C/Utebo, 1 (Metro: Vistalegre). Tel: 91 563 94 93. www.palaciovistalegre.com
€45 from www.ticketmaster.es
Irish alternative rock veterans The Cranberries have been going strong for more than two decades, offering an irresistible mix of modern rock with more traditional Irish folk. After breaking a six-year hiatus by playing dates across the United States in late 2009, the group is now in the middle of the European leg of their comeback tour, which sees them performing a mixture of solo work and classic Cranberries hits.

booking ahead

Anni B Sweet Fri 26 Mar, Sala Clamores, C/Alburqueque, 14 (Metro: Bilbao). Tel: 91 445 79 38. €12 from Sala Clamores box office
Sepultura Tues 6 Apr, Sala Heineken, C/Princesa, 1 (Metro: Plaza de España). Tel: 91 547 57 11. €17 from www.salaheineken.com
Nada Surf Thur 29 Apr, Joy Eslava, C/Arenal, 11 (Metro: Sol). Tel: 91 366 54 39. Tickets from www.nvivo.es
Gogol Bordello Fri 21 May, La Riviera, Pº Bajo de la Virgen, s/n (Metro: Príncipe Pío, Puerta de Ángel). Tel: 91 365 24 15. €23 from www.ticketmaster.es
Jamie Cullum Wed 26 May, La Riviera, Pº Bajo de la Virgen, s/n (Metro: Príncipe Pío, Puerta de Ángel). Tel: 91 365 24 15. €40 from www.ticketmaster.es
Crowded House Fri 25 Jun, Sala Heineken, C/Princesa, 1 (Metro: Plaza de España). Tel: 91 547 57 11. €30 from www.ticketmaster.es
Mark Knopfler Thur 29 Jul, Plaza de Toros de las Ventas, C/Alcalá, 237 (Metro: Ventas). Tel: 91 356 22 00. €36-€70 from www.ticketmaster.es
A-Ha Thur 14 Oct, Palacio Vistalegre, C/Utebo, 1 (Metro: Vistalegre). Tel: 91 563 94 93. €38 from www.ticketmaster.es

live music listings

Rock/pop

BOITE C/Tetuan, 27 (Metro: Sol). Tel: 91 522 96 20. www.boitemadrid.com
4 Mar: The Noises + The Parrots + Correos
5 Mar: Guillermo Rayo
10 Mar: Entre Coche y Anden
11 Mar: Martin Buscaglia
12 Mar: Everlyn + Astrobahn
17 Mar: El Paramo + Jardín de la Croix + The Rare Sound Machine
18 Mar: Zombie Valentines + The Right Nows
19 Mar: EON
24 Mar: Paco Cifuentes
25 Mar: Negura Bunget + Aathma + The Way of Purity
26 Mar: Chris Casello Trio

SALA CARACOL C/Sebastián Elcano, 18 (Metro: Embajadores). Tel: 91 527 35 94. www.salacaracol.com
1 Mar: Mandragora Scream
5 Mar: Havalina
6 Mar: Obits
19 Mar: Theatre of Tragedy
25 Mar: Hayseed Dixie
26 Mar: IAMX
28 Mar: El-Loren

SALA CLAMORES C/Alburquerque 14, Tel: 91 445 79 38 (Metro: Bilbao). www.salaclamores.com
1 Mar: OC Times
3 Mar: Umayya
4 Mar: Alberto de Paz
5 Mar: Karamba
6 Mar: La Bossa Mayor
7 Mar: Las Lavanderas
8 Mar: Showcase Algoenblanco Records
9 Mar: Marta Carlim & Bob Sands Big Band
10 Mar: Normal Hogue
11 Mar: Keru + Sala
12 Mar: Natalia Dicenta & Vicente Borland Quintet
13 Mar: Natalia Dicenta & Vicente Borland Quintet
14 Mar: Oumou & Adiouza
15 Mar: Vocalizaafrica
17 Mar: Baby Dee
18 Mar: Antonio Bartrina-Ariel Hernandez
19 Mar. Unomasuna
20 Mar: Mente en Blano
21 Mar: Caravana Cultural Femenina
22 Mar: Jimmy Barnatan
24 Mar: Ashela
25 Mar: Mari Boine
26 Mar: Anni B Sweet
27 Mar: Un Pingüino en mi Ascensor
28 Mar: VossaNau
29 Mar: Santiago Feliú
31 Mar: Lou Marini & Red House

COSTELLO CLUB C/Caballero de Gracia, 10 (Metro: Gran Vía). Tel: 91 522 18 15. www.costelloclub.com
5 Mar: Exit
6 Mar: Swann + Nutopía
9 Mar: Ellas Crean 10 + Alondra Bentley
12 Mar: The Beautiful Taste + Cosmen Adelaida
16 Mar: Mota
17 Mar: Lacara
19 Mar: Arvol
20 Mar: Meeting Point
25 Mar: Jaime Anglada
26 Mar: The X
27 Mar: Miss X

GRUTA 77 C/Cuclilo, 6 (Metro: Oporto). Tel: 91 471 23 70.
www.gruta77.com
2 Mar: Hotel Crash + Obsolet Rockers
3 Mar: The Burning Bullets + Sane Haller
4 Mar: Iratxo + Eureka
5 Mar: Las Madres + Mi Animal + Yakuzas
6 Mar: Los Chicos
7 Mar: La Cooperativa Remolachera + May Day
9 Mar: Doctor Romeo + Grazecrab
10 Mar: Memphis Train + Carbono 14
11 Mar: Susan Cadogan & The Ratazanas
12 Mar: The Dragsters
13 Mar: Too Many Crocks + Sally Brown + The Bite
14 Mar: Carlos Galan Electric Band + H + Hoja de Ruta
15 Mar: Zach Williams and the Reformation
16 Mar: The Street Pickers + Grass Natural Union Penosa
17 Mar: Funkolate
19 Mar: Bastards on Parade + Brutus Daughters + Bladers
20 Mar: Potato + Ministers
21 Mar: Akratos + Señor de la Noche
23 Mar: Ultreia
24 Mar: Las Culebras
25 Mar: Goar Cicatriz
26 Mar: Widow Makers + 7 Doctores
27 Mar: Andrede + 5 Duros Sueltos
28 Mar: Ornamento y Delito + Regiones Devestadas
30 Mar: End of Party + Doxa
31 Mar: Las Cavernas + Los Empollones

JOY ESLAVA C/Arenal, 8 (Metro: Sol). Tel: 91 366 54 39. www.joy-eslava.com
4 Mar: Josh Rouse
13 Mar: The Answer
29 Mar: Kitty, Daisy & Lewis

MOBY DICK Avda del Brasil, 5 (Metro: Santiago Bernabéu). Tel: 91 556 17 44. www.mobydickclub.com
2 Mar: Cornershop
4 Mar: SuperSubmarina
5 Mar: Ane Brun
8 Mar: David Thomas Broughton
10 Mar: Brendan Benson
17 Mar: Yeasayer
18 Mar: Lucknow
24 Mar: Heavy Trash
28 Mar: The Hidden Cameras

CAFÉ LA PALMA C/Palma, 62 (Metro: Noviciado). Tel: 91 522 50 31. www.cafelapalma.com
4 Mar: Perversions + Kool
5 Mar: Munduko Beat
6 Mar: Igor Spencer
11 Mar: Extraña Mezcla
12 Mar: Lolo Herrero
13 Mar: El Lunático
14 Mar: Cabaret Mágico
18 Mar: Cincuenta Mil Unidades
19 Mar: The Adepts
20 Mar: Niño Pájaro
25 Mar: Tasty Grooves
26 Mar: Sophie Maras
27 Mar: Tricoma + Laboca
28 Mar: Cabaret Mágico
31 Mar: La Loba

SALA GALILEO GALILEI C/Galileo, 100 (Metro: Islas Filipinos). Tel: 91 534 75 58. www.salagalileogalilei.com
1 Mar: Laura Granados
2 Mar: Al-Trantran
3 Mar: Najwa Nimri
4 Mar: The Garbo
5 Mar: Agnes Jaoui
7 Mar: Maria Faidi
8 Mar: Raquel Tavares
10 Mar: Sweet Wasabi
11 Mar: Greenwich Village
12 Mar: Rebeca Jiménez
13 Mar. Fulanos y La Mengana Band
14 Mar: Orient Express
16 Mar: Javier de Torres
17 Mar: Revólver
18 Mar: Revólver
19 Mar: Festival Mueve Tu Culo Bonito
20 Mar: Linda Guilala + Guatatán + Papá Topo
21 Mar: Fiesta Año Nuevo Persa con Danza
23 Mar: Materia Prima
26 Mar: Gran Wyoming y Los Insolventes
27 Mar: Go Kart Mozart + Phil King
28 Mar: Alessandra d´Ambra
30 Mar: Luis Ramiro
31 Mar: Javier Krahe

SALA HEINEKEN C/Princesa, 1 (Metro: Plaza de España). Tel: 91 547 57 11. www.salaheineken.com
2 Mar: Christina Rosenvinge
4 Mar: Steve Aoki
5 Mar: El Último Ke Zierre
11 Mar: La Bien Querida
15 Mar: Florence + The Machine
16 Mar: Brendan Perry
19 Mar: Burning
20 Mar: Entombed
26 Mar: The New Raemon
27 Mar: Epica

LA RIVIERA Pº Bajo de la Virgen, s/n (Metro: Puerta del Ángel/Príncipe Pió). Tel: 91 365 24 15. www.salariviera.com
5 Mar: Los Suaves La Riviera
6 Mar: Barricada La Riviera
12 Mar: La Roux
13 Mar: Yo La Tengo

SALA SIROCO C/ San Dimas, 3 (Metro: Noveciado). Tel: 91 593 30 70. www.siroco.es
4 Mar: Raza Guaya + Lord Sobornez + Jah Williams
5 Mar: Elhombreviento + Bano + Subsuelo
6 Mar: Sacramento + Swamps + Prisma en Llamas + Grosgoroth +Curro Jimenez
11 Mar: Emerterians + Chema Ama + Gudlak
12 Mar: Los Tikinautas + DJ JanRa
13 Mar: Russian Circles
18 Mar: The Mad Sensi Band + Mista T + Jah Williams
19 Mar: The Flying Dutchman
20 Mar: Furguson
24 Mar: Raza Guaya + El Circulo de Willis + L.E. Flaco + Vikxie + Garaje Jack + Parpadeo + La Kinky Beat + Laimposible + Zumbalé + Mama Funko
25 Mar: La Kinky Beat + Lengua Armada Session + Gudlak
26 Mar: Basonautas
27 Mar: La Mongoose Band + Mozambique

SALA EL SOL C/Jardines, 3 (Metro: Gran Vía). Tel: 91 532 64 90. www.elsolmad.com
3 Mar: Niño Y Pistola
12 Mar: Dinero

SALA TABOÓ C/ San Vincente Ferrer, 23 (Metro: Tribunal). Tel: 91 524 11 89. www.taboo-madrid.com
5 Mar: Alpargata + La Rumbé
6 Mar: No One Cares + Crave + Inlogic
11 Mar: Ellas crean
12 Mar: La Taberna de Moe + Delito y Medio
18 Mar: El Sombrero del Abuelo + Jaleo Real
19 Mar: Dinamo + The Upsttemians
20 Mar: Niño Burbuja + artista invitado
25 Mar: Voynich
26 Mar: Avenues & Silhouettes + The Band Apart + Adrift

Flamenco

LAS TABLAS Plaza de España, 9 (Metro: Plaza de España). Tel: 91 542 05 20. www.lastablasmadrid.com
6 Mar: Bassotangos
13 Mar: Mr Dixie
20 Mar: Fernando de la Rúa
27 Mar: Mister Persona Trio

CARDAMOMO C/Echegaray, 15 (Metro: Sol). Tel: 91 369 07 57. www.cardamomo.es

CASA PATAS C/Cañizares, 10 (Metro: Antón Martín). Tel: 91 369 04 96. www.casapatas.com

Celtic/folk

Molly Malone’s tel: 91 594 16 35
Dubliner’s tel: 91 522 75 09
O’Neill’s tel: 91 521 20 30
Triskel Tavern tel: 91 523 27 83
The Irish Rover tel: 91 597 48 11
Taberna Elisa tel: 91 369 74 26
Finbar’s tel: 91 548 37 93

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clubs

€: Cheap
€€: A bit more pricey
€€€: Damn! That’s expensive!

spotlight
Klubbers Day @ Madrid Arena
Welcome to the ultimate party: Klubbers’ Day is back for the fifth year running, presenting a three-night festival of spectacular rave. Prepare to dance, dance and dance to over 30 of the best-on-the-scene DJs, set to wow the 40,000-strong crowd with an explosive mix of electronica, house and techno, plus hits of drum ‘n’ bass and hip-hop. See top names Markus Schulz, Brian Cross, Wally López, Armin Van Buuren and Faithless Sound System blowing up the decks, followed by live sets from Daniel Bell, Luke Slater and Paul Rich. An early taster of Spain’s incredible festival season. Klubbers’ Day @ Madrid Arena, Recinto Ferial de la Casa de Campo, C/Aves, s/n (Alto de Extremadura). www.klubbersday.es. Thur 18-Sat 20 Mar. One-day ticket: €40; three-day ticket: €75; three-day VIP pass: €600.

dance & mixed

CLUB COLORS, Laydown, Plaza de los Mostenses, 9 (Plaza de España). First & third Fri of the month, 12.30am-3am. www.myspace.com/clubcolors Dance, sit, or even lie down while listening to the beats inspired by different electronic and dance genres at this new “sexy groove session”.
COPOLACLUB, c/San Hermenegildo, 7 (San Bernardo/Noviciado). Wed-Sun 11pm-3.30am. www.copolaclub.com Funky disco-bar with jazz, soul, pop and chilled house upstairs and electronica and techno downstairs. Test out your DJ skills on weeknights. €
Forocio.com Fiesta de Intercambio, Sala Torero, c/de la Cruz, 26 (Sevilla). Wed. www.forocio.com.
Meet people from all over the world at this awesome international party. €
JOY ESLAVA, c/Arenal, 11 (Sol). Daily 11.30pm-6am. www.joy-eslava.com. Hosting lots of guest bands and DJs, Joy attracts a very mixed crowd who get all dolled up to dance to an eclectic mix of music. €€
KAPITAL, c/Atocha, 125 (Atocha). Thur-Sat midnight-6am. Over-the-top seven-floor macro-club playing everything from house to hip hop to Spanish pop. €€€
NEU!CLUB, Sala Galileo Galilei, c/Galileo, 100 (Islas Filipinas). Sat 9.30pm-5.30am. myspace.com/neuclub. Electronica, bluegrass, Motown, 60s, rock and pop during the musical, cultural and audiovisual nights, plus live music and DJ sessions. €€
OCHO Y MEDIO, c/Mesonero Romanos, 13, corner of Gran Vía, 34 (Callao). Fri 1-6am. myspace.com/ochoymedio. Popular night featuring electro-disco, bastard-pop, punk-rock, new wave and post-punk. €€
OUI MADRID, c/Jorge Juan, 99 (Goya). Thur-Sat midnight-3am. www.ouimad.com. Start the night off right at this chic restaurant which turns into a nightclub around midnight. Take the elevator to the top floor and dive into the crush of people. Don’t forget to dress to the nines! €€€
PACHA, c/Barcelo, 11 (Tribunal). Thur-Sat midnight-6am. www.pacha-madrid.com. Ultra-classy Pacha, a major force in Madrid since the 80s, now plays house, hip hop and commercial music on three floors. Worth a try, but leave those Converse at home! €€€
REINA BRUJA, c/Jacometrezo, 6 (Callao/Santo Domingo). Fri-Sat 11pm-5.30am. www.reinabruja.com. Well-mixed, popular hip hop and R&B for the fashionable youth of Madrid. €€
YA’STA, c/Valverde, 10 (Gran Vía). Thur-Sat midnight-6am. www.yastaclub.net. Thursdays are jazz, funk and soul, Fridays are dirty rock and electro, and Saturdays are techno and psychedelic trance. Talk about a complete weekend! €€

indie pop & rock

ELÁSTICO FLÉXICLUB, Sala Moon, c/Aduana, 21 (entrance by Montera street) (Gran Vía). Sat 1-6am. myspace.com/elasticoflexiclub. From the creators of the epic Ocho y Medio comes Elastico Flexiclub. Every week DJs, plus residents Scream, Luiliminili and Smart, play upbeat indie pop tunes with an electronic twist. €€
ESPIRAL POP, c/San Andrés, 23 (Tribunal/Bilbao). Wed-Sun 11pm-3am. myspace.com/espiralpop. Pop and electro pop at this funky café with featured DJs. €
INDEPENDANCE CLUB, c/Santa Engracia, 26 (Alonso Martínez). Thu-Fri-Sat midnight-6am. www.independanceclub.com. New venue playing popular, danceable indie-pop and rock. Email info@independanceclub.com with your full name, number of people and day attending for free entry! €
SALA TABOO, c/San Vicente Ferrer, 23 (Tribunal). Thur-Sat 11pm-5.30am. www.taboo-madrid.com.
Hosting both concerts and DJs, this Malasaña venue has it all, from funky electronica to punk-rock to trip-hop by upcoming artists. Watch out for its indie night, Dots Club, on Thursdays. €€
TRANSMISSION CLUB, Sala Star Studio 54, Plaza del Carmen, 3, lower floor (Sol). Fri 11pm-3am. myspace.com/ transmission_club. Here’s a bar with a heavy musical focus, even mixing up the styles—post-punk, gothic, 80s and more—depending on the night. €
TUPPERWARE, c/Corredera Alto de San Pablo, 26 (Tribunal). Wed-Sun 10pm-3am. myspace.com/tupperwarebar. Super-kitsch design and an indie-pop vibe that gets everyone dancing. €
WILD THING BAR, c/Martín Machio, 2 (corner Padre Claret) (Alfonso XIII). Sun-Thur 9pm-close, Fri-Sat 10pm-close. www.wildthing.es. DJs rock this artsy bar every night of the week with 90s and indie greats. Make sure you take advantage of its happy hour on Thursdays from 9pm to 1am, when beers are only €2! €

electro, house, techno & drum’n’bass

AUDIUM, c/Ventura Rodríguez, 7 (Ventura Rodríguez). Sat 1-7am. myspace.com/audiumclub. Non-stop techno and deep house music from RedSonja,Miguel Mendoza, Xpansul and more. €€
CAPOTE, c/Santa Teresa, 3 (Alonso Martínez). Tues-Sat 10pm-5am. This little gem of a bar puts on a good show with resident DJs Timo and Roberto Jean. Enjoy some tasty house music to whet your appetite. €€
CASSETTE CLUB, Sala Boite, c/Tetuan, 27 (Sol). Sun midnight-6am. myspace.com/clubcassette. Electro to help ease you into the working week with a smile on your face. A cool night for a cool crowd. €€
DARK HOLE, Sala Flamingo, c/Mesonero Romanos, 13 (Callao/Gran Vía). Sat 1-6am. myspace.com/darkholegothicclub. Madrid’s unofficial gothic headquarters. Listen to dark ambient, electro and goth music until dawn. €€
DOMINION CLUB, Sala Ya’sta, C/Valverde, 10 (Gran Vía). Sat 9pm-1am.
www.myspace.com/dominionclubmadrid
Before heading over to Dark Hole, begin the night early at Dominion Club and make the most out of the mixes provided by resident DJs Fran Raven and David Akelarre. It offers affordable prices, plus the option to get in free before 10.30pm with a flyer. €€
DU:OM, Sala Heineken, c/Princesa, 1 (Plaza de España). Fri-Sat midnight-6am. www.duomclub.com. Dress to impress and dance the night away to house and progressive house provided by some truly talented DJs: Hugo Serra, Iván Pica and Pombo. €€€
ELIXIR, Changó, c/Luchana (corner of Covarrubias) (Iglesia/Bilbao). Sat midnight-6am. A classy venue with good-looking people, hot go-gos, decadent design and dance music till dawn. €€€
LOW CLUB, Sala Pirandello 1, c/Princesa, 3 (Plaza de España). Fri-Sat midnight-6am. www.intromusica.com. Spend your weekends dancing away to resident and international DJs spinning the latest electro and techno beats. €€€
MOMA 56, c/José Abascal, 56 (Gregorio Marañon). Wed-Sat midnight-6am. www.moma56.com. Dance to resident DJ Koke’s tunes at this recently reopened
disco bar. €€
MONDO, Sala Stella, c/Arlabán, 7 (Sevilla). Thur-Sat 0.30-6am. www.web-mondo.com. Funk and electronica feature in this fantastic venue located smack dab in the centre of town. Fridays lean more towards house, techno and electro under the night’s pseudonym, The Room. This is a place you night-owls won’t want to miss! €€
OHM, Plaza Callao, 4 (Callao). Fri-Sat midnight-6am. myspace.com/ohmclub. Great house DJs, great people and a great vibe. And don’t miss Weekend on Sundays, which features funky house. €€
SUPERKLUB, Sala COOL, Isabel la Católica, 6 (Santo Domingo). Sun midnight-6am. Sunday evenings just got better than ever, with Superklub spilling non-stop house music into your Monday morning as if the weekend was never going to end. €€€
TWIST CLUB, Sala Wind, c/Montera, 25 (entrance in Plaza del Carmen) (Gran Vía). Thur midnight-6am. myspace.com/ twistmadrid. By far the best drum ‘n’ bass night around. Head over and get hooked on music from Xol and you’re sure to have your Thursday nights booked. €€

reggae, funk, jazz & world music

Berlín Cabaret, C/Costanilla de San Pedro, 11. Mon, Tue, Wed: shows 1.30am; Thur: shows 1.30am & 3.30am; Fri, Sat: shows 1.30am, 2.30am & 3.30am. www.berlincabaret.com Located in La Latina, Berlín Cabaret attracts a diverse audience spilling out from the many bars in the area. It offers a lively, funky atmosphere with eclectic music ranging from the Jackson 5 to “La Lambada” and live cabaret shows, such as Psicosis Gonsales and In Drag. €€
LA BOCA DEL LOBO, c/Echegaray, 11 (Sevilla). Wed-Sat 10.30pm-3.30am. www.labocadellobo.com Rock, funk, electronic jazz and rare groove served up four nights a week, plus live music. €€
COSTELLO, c/Caballero de Gracia, 10 (Gran Vía). Daily 6pm-3am. www.costelloclub.com. Everything from funk and electronic jazz to pop, rare groove and rock music. €€
EL JUGLAR, c/Lavapiés, 37 (Lavapiés). Daily midnight-3am. www.salajuglar.com. Get your daily dose of funk, house, reggae and breaks at this neighbourhood hotspot. €
EL JUNCO, Plaza Santa Bárbara, 10 (Alonso Martínez). Daily 11pm-6am. www.eljunco.com. Late-night funk and electronic jazz. €€
MARULA CAFÉ, c/Caños Viejos, 3 (La Latina). Daily 10.30pm-6am. www.marulacafe.com. Come and get your funk on at the palace of funk, also known as Marula Café. €
SWEET FUNK CLUB, c/Doctor Cortezo, 1 (Sol/Tirso de Molina). Thur-Sat midnight-6am. sweetfunkclub.com. Feel free to get a little dirty at this hip-hop club near Sol. €

SPECIAL NIGHTS

Twist Club 5th Anniversary @ Sala Wind, C/Montera, 25 (entrance in Plaza del Carmen) (Gran Vía). Thurs throughout Mar, midnight-5.30am. Madrid’s longest-running weekly drum ‘n’ bass night celebrates its fifth anniversary in style with a string of special events spread throughout the month. On Thursday 11th, flying dutchmen Noisia are back to shake the venue’s foundations with their world-class blend of nasty beats, while on the 18th Twist looks overseas and invites Venezuela’s dnb guru Zardonic alongside Seattle breaks wizard Joanna Syze for their much-awaited Spanish debuts. On the 25th it’s an Andalusia special with the crème of the southern scene, while the festivities will culminate on Thursday 1 April with a massive, all-international secret line-up. FREE till 1am with flyer or guestlist, €10 incl drink after.
Independance Club @ c/Santa Engracia, 26 (Alonso Martínez). Thur-Fri-Sat, midnight-6am. The tastiest indie pop and rock on the Madrid scene, featuring international DJs and the finest tunes from today, yesterday and tomorrow. March sees special themed nights, including flower power, sticker night and generation mixes, so put on your dancing shoes and head on over! Email info@independanceclub.com with your full name, number of people and date of attendance to enjoy free entry. FREE with guest list or €10 incl drink.
Amor Brujo, C/Principe de Vergara, 225 (Concha Espina). Sun-Thur 10pm-3.30am, Fri-Sat 10pm-5.30am. With an excellent atmosphere and quality music assured, Amor Brujo offers soul, rock and Spanish pop as well as live performances, including cabaret tango from La Muñeca Brava on Thursday 20 March. Recommended for over 25s. Car park attendant available.
Sal 1 Jueves al Mes @ Sala Heineken, C/Princesa, 1 (Plaza de España). Thur 4 Mar, from midnight. www.salunjuevesalmes.com
Start your weekend early with Sala Heineken’s beloved free first-Thursday-of-the-month club night. This time round, get lost in sensational electro mixes by top DJs Steve Aoki, Sonidero Desmadre Gang and Low Club resident DJ Homeboy. Get your free invitation from www.salunjuevesalmes.com to skip the queue, but make sure you do it sharpish! FREE
Vertigo @ Fabrik, Avda de la Industria, 82, Fuenlabrada, Humanes de Madrid. Sat 6 Mar, 11pm-8am. www.verti-go.es Vertigo will spin you out again this month with a blend of hard-techno, house and electronica, brought to you once more by international artists of the highest level. Highlights include sets from Tokyo’s Ken Ishii, energetic tracks from Misstress Bárbara and the experimental, subtle beats of James Holden. The night will also feature the live premiere of Discover, the new album from Germany’s latest techno prodigy, Felix Kröcher. €25 incl drink.
Payback @ Barnon, C/Santa Engracia, 17 (Alonso Martínez). Thur 11 Mar, from midnight. www.myspace.com/paybackmadrid Featuring hip hop, old school, dubstep, African beats and Spanish rap, Payback proposes a Thursday night with a difference. This month DJ Kanzer demonstrates his flare on the decks. FREE till 2am with flyer, €10 incl two drinks after.
Sala Siroco 20th Anniversary @ Sala Heineken, C/Princesa, 1 (Plaza de España). Wed 24 Mar, from 8.30pm. Sala Siroco, one of the few Madrid venues to host top-notch gigs every weekend of the year, celebrates its 20th anniversary this month with a funky fiesta in Sala Heineken. Check out www.siroco.es for a free pass to this energy-fuelled party, with includes live sets from Garaje Jack, Mama Funko, Zumbalé and much more. FREE

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movies
Jessica Cogan tackles the tough job of previewing all the movies in the States before they reach us across the pond.

Daybreakers
If you hated Twilight, you may be way into Daybreakers, the new vampire flick featuring bloodsuckers you’d definitely not want to make out with. Daybreakers imagines a future where vampires are as common as Mormons in Utah and humans—and their tasty blood supply—are mighty scarce. Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke) is a haematologist who is working to create fake blood to sustain his people when the humans run out. Charles Bromley (Sam Neill) sees dollar signs in the scarcity of blood and isn’t too interested in finding other options. When Edward meets a pack of humans including Audrey (Claudia Karvan) and Elvis (Willem Dafoe), he agrees to help them—even before he discovers that Elvis, himself once a vampire and now human, has discovered a cure for vampirism. Now the blood shortage might not be an issue—unless there are vampires unwilling to submit to the cure. The premise of Daybreakers is really smart. But the execution is just so-so. Let’s be honest, Ethan Hawke is no great actor, and he struggles in this role. Willem Defoe is a treat, but weaknesses in the storyline, limp performances and rather uninspired action make the end result like a vampire in daylight—pretty weak. Out now

The Men Who Stare at Goats (Los Hombres que Miraban Fíja-mente a las Cabras)
It’s always nice to be reminded that George Clooney is more than just a devilishly handsome, salt-n-pepper, broad back and shouldered, charming, smokey… oh where was I? Oh yes. He’s funny too. Clooney has got his comic timing just right as Lyn Cassady, a superstar in the CIA’s top secret New Earth Army. This platoon trains to fight with their minds—via psychic powers—rather than with traditional weaponry. When reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) meets him, Lyn’s finer days have passed, but he’s happy enough to share his military secrets—and his ride—as he heads off on a new secret mission. The Men Who Stare at Goats is a lot of fun—at least for the first half or so. The flashbacks of missions led by Bill Django (Jeff Bridges channelling The Big Lebowski’s “The Dude”) are amusing, but a little over halfway through the film suddenly thinks it needs to find a serious plot. And so it starts to feel a narrative drag. Too bad. Still, it’s worth a watch and a few good laughs. 5 Mar

Extraordinary Measures (Medidas Extraordinarias)
It must have taken extraordinary measures by producers to get this feel-good flick on the big screen, because with the exception of a fine performance by Brendan Fraser, it’s pure made-for-TV action. The film follows the Crowleys—John (Brendan Fraser) and wife Aileen (Kerri Russell)—who have two children with a rare and fatal genetic disorder. John decides to quit his job and partner with a researcher who thinks he’s close to a cure. The only thing Dr Stonehill (Harrison Ford) needs is moola. So the two go after funding and learn they’ve got to make some sacrifices. And, with time tick-tick-ticking away for the kids, they might also need to break some rules. The plot is pretty predictable and Ford is cringe-worthy at times. But the story is still pretty engaging. Most of all, it’s nice to see Fraser back in action. Here’s hoping we’ll see more of him. 12 Mar

Brothers (Hermanos)
Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal, three of Gen Y’s finest, square off in this taut, romantic war-thriller. The film tells the story of Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire), a model brother, son, husband and father who is about to re-deploy to Afghanistan with the Marines. He leaves behind his pretty wife Grace (Natalie Portman) and their two cute, chirpy daughters. At the same time, Sam’s brother Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal), family failure, gets out of jail. Then comes the news: Sam’s been killed. Tommy steps in to support, help with the kids and… keep the bed warm? Then comes the other news: Sam’s not dead. But he has been captured, tortured and when he comes home, he’s a different man altogether—a shell of who he was. A scary, explosive shell at that. While all three starring performances are strong, Tobey Maguire’s is chilling. He plays a real good creepy. And without being preachy, the film makes an impactful statement about the effects of war on human beings. 18 Mar

Also Out

A Prophet (Un profeta)
French director Jacques Audiard’s gripping 2005 crime drama The Beat That My Heart Skipped juxtaposed gritty violence and high art with a maturity to which few recent films aspire. A Prophet tries for that same balance, and does it even better—the film swept up awards at Cannes and the Baftas, and is in the running for a best foreign language film Oscar. It marks the acting debut of Tahar Rahim as Malik, a 19-year-old North African who lands in a French prison for a crime he denies committing. Inside, César (Niels Arestrup), the feared kingpin of a Corsican gang operating with the complicity of prison guards, picks Malik to kill another prisoner. If he doesn’t do it, he’ll be killed instead. Richly layered, Audiard once again manages to avoid cinematic clichés in a worn genre. Out now

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (Millennium 3: La Reina en el Palacio de las Corrientes de Aire)
In this third instalment of the Millennium series, Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) is back and she’s in quite a bind. After the violent climax of The Girl Who Played With Fire, she’s in intensive care, awaiting trial for three murders as she recovers. True to form, Salander plots her revenge with the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) at Millennium Magazine. They must prove her innocence and bring the corrupt politicians who have abused her and others to justice. Part of the publishing phenomena authored by the late Stieg Larsson, this adaptation by Daniel Alfredson will reveal all the secrets left open in the first two parts of the Swedish trilogy. 5 Mar

Green Zone (Green Zone: Distrito Protegido)
Another government-cover-up-action-adventure-mystery from Paul Greengrass, the director of the last two instalments of the Bourne trilogy, Green Zone has caused a lot of chatter before its release. Matt Damon stars in this war thriller, not as Jason Bourne, but as Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller. However, the differences end there. Dispatched to Baghdad in 2003, Miller and his team of US Army inspectors are supposed to discover weapons of mass destruction in the Iraqi desert. But soon Miller uncovers a complex web of covert and faulty intelligence that calls the motives for war into question. 12 Mar

Las Viudas de los Jueves
The follow-up to the 2005 film El Método by Argentinian director Marcelo Piñeyro, this film tackles similar themes: the dark side of success, ruthless competition and the contrast between reality and appearances. Set in an exclusive country club in the outskirts of a Buenos Aires that looks more like the neighbourhood from The Stepford Wives than South America, the idyllic façade is shattered one morning when the bodies of three women appear floating in a swimming pool. 26 Mar

kids

InMadrid and kidsinmadrid.com bring you a selection of activities for the younger crowd. Check www.kidsinmadrid.com for more

Andersen, El Musical de Los Cuentos
The stories of Hans Christian Andersen, including "The Little Mermaid," "The Tin Soldier," "The Ugly Duckling," and "The Snow Queen" come together in one big musical production to teach children the value of love, friendship, sacrifice and reading.Teatro Häagen-Dazs Calderón, C/Atocha, 18 (Metro: Tirso de Molina). Tel: 902 00 66 17. Tickets (www.teatrohaagen-dazs.es/andersen.htm) €22. Sat 4pm, Sun 12noon. Until 28 Mar.

Los Tres Cerditos
The classic tale of "The Three Little Pigs" performed with one big twist: one of the pigs is a girl. A very modern, intelligent and feisty girl at that. Teatro Gurdulú, C/Tirso de Molina, 4 (Metro: Casa del Reloj). Tel: 91 694 75 54. www.teatrogurdulu.com. Tickets €5.50. 6-7 Mar, 6pm.

El Cantar de la Sirena y Otros Mitos
This workshop gives children the opportunity to learn about and draw some of the legendary myths and characters that populate the National Archeological Museum. For ages 8 to 11. Museo Arqueológico Nacional, C/Serrano, 13 (Metro: Serrano). Tel: 91 577 79 12. http://man.mcu.es. Free, reservation needed. 6 & 20 Mar, 5.30-8pm.

Museo del Aire de Madrid
Packed with history, the Museo del Aire de Madrid houses airplanes, models, simulators and uniforms of decades past. A must for your little aircraft aficionado. Museo del Aire de Madrid, Carretera de Extremadura, A-V, Km. 10,500. (Metro: Cuatro Vientos). Tel: 91 509 16 90. www.aire.org/museo. Free. Tues-Sun 10am-2pm.

Las Aventuras de Lincelot
Part of the "Cuentos de Animales" storytelling series for little animal lovers, "Las Aventuras de Lincelot" follows the life of an endangered lynx cub as he learns to hunt for food and survive the dangers surrounding him. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, C/José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2 (Metro: Gregorio Marañon). Tel: ? 91 411 13 28. Tickets: €3, limited to 25 children. www.mncn.csic.es/actipublico.htm. 28 Mar, 1-2pm..

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