For Free - Paris - page 128

clubbing (clubbing events) float between venues - including the city's many dance-driven
bars.
But the beat is strong. Electronic music is of particularly high quality in Paris' clubs, with
some excellent local house and techno. Funk and groove have given the predominance of
dark minimal sounds a good pounding, and the Latin scene is huge; salsa dancing and
Latino music nights pack out plenty of clubs. Sono mondiale (world music) has a huge fol-
lowing in Paris, where everything - from Algerian raï and other North African music to
Senegalese mbalax and West Indian zouk - goes at clubs. Many venues offer salsa classes.
R&B and hip-hop pickings are decent, if less represented than in many other European cap-
itals.
BEFORE, L'AFTER & AFTER D'AFTERS
Seasoned Parisian clubbers, who tend to have a finely tuned sense of the absurd, split their
night into three parts. First, la before - drinks in a bar that has a DJ playing. Second, they
head to a club for la soirée, which rarely kicks off before 1am or 2am. When the party con-
tinues (or begins) at around 5am and goes until midday, it's l'after . Invariably, though, given
the lack of any clear-cut distinction between Parisian bars and clubs, the before and after can
easily blend into one without any real 'during'. After d'afters, meanwhile, kicks off in bars
and clubs on Sunday afternoons and evenings, with a mix of strung-out hardcore clubbers
pressing on amid those looking for a party that doesn't take place in the middle of the night.
CLUBBING WEBSITES
Track tomorrow's hot 'n' happening soirée with these finger-on-the-pulse Parisian nightlife
links.
Paris DJs ( www.parisdjs.com ) Free downloads to get you in the groove.
Paris Bouge ( www.parisbouge.com ) Comprehensive listings site.
Parissi ( www.parissi.com ) Search by date, then la before, la soirée and l'after .
Tribu de Nuit ( www.tribudenuit.com ) Parties, club events and concerts galore.