Bassline, founded by Brad Holmes, originally opened in 1994 as a small, live music venue in the bohemian suburb of Melville. It rose to prominence as the ultimate live music venue to experience South Africa’s finest Jazz and Afro-beat, branching out by featuring poetry readings, comedy and impromptu jam sessions. It was home for numerous musicians and Jazz fans, and helped launch and enhance the careers of luminaries such as Vusi Mahlasela, Moses Taiwa Molelekwa, Zim Ngqawana, Paul Hanmer, Jimmy Dludlu and Tumi & The Volume just to name a few.

In 2003 the Jazz Club closed and was resurrected in 2004 in the downtown Newtown Arts and Cultural Precinct, with a 1000-capacity concert venue and an intimate jazz venue 150-seater, both with top-of-the-range sound and lighting. Hosting the cream of the crop artists and helping to develop the urban youth stars of Kwaito, Hip-Hop, Rock and Afro-pop. In addition to the venues Bassline offered a plug & play rehearsal space for musicians, with 4 fully equipped rehearsal rooms ready at all times for musos to create and practice. This space ran successfully for 12 years, until 31st December 2016.

As the Music Industry changes so the Bassline has evolved, now in it’s current evolution, the Bassline is a mobile Live Music offering, producing and promoting live concerts and festivals, most notably the regular KayaFm and Bassline Live Present Series at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City as well as the annual Bassline Fest, held on the Saturday closest to the AU’s Official Bassline Africa Day Concert 25th May. See FEST page for more info. The Bassline Artist Management/Agency represents a hand full of choice artists who represent what the brand stands for…… quality and originality.

Bassline is an institution amongst music fans young and old. In it’s 24 year history has hosted over 3200 concerts featuring many of Africa’s and the Globe’s most famous stars and music icons.