Making Time No write up of dance nights in Philadelphia would be complete without a mention of Making Time, the behemoth that arguably birthed this burgeoning scene. Started by promoter and DJ Dave Pianka in 2000, it has been growing strong since and features a mix of live music and DJ sets. Bands like Bloc Party and LCD Soundsystem played at Making Times before they hit it big. With free Sparks and PBR from 9-11 p.m., this night’s location rotates between Transit, Woody’s and Pure. If you’re clad in American Apparel and ready to “FREAK OUT LIKE CRAZY PEOPLE,” stop by Making Time, prepared to sweat to death and dance later and longer than any other place in the city.
England Belongs To Twee DJs HTSHELL and MCKEE bring together people of all sorts — from wannabe skinheads (no, not the racist kind) to that bespectacled girl who never stops listening to Belle and Sebastian. The cutesiest music meets the toughest in a mixture that never seemed so right — it can go from foot tapping and head nodding to body slamming and drink spilling in a second. The two often feature guest DJs, from their friends to members of touring bands, and the next morning there are guaranteed Craigslist-appropriate missed connections. The Khyber in Olde City is the only place in the city where Oi! and twee collide in a free night full of dancing (and sometimes you’ll get lucky enough to get a mixtape). Philadelphia belongs to twee, indeed.
Fight Club Seeing a room full of people bouncing to the songs you’ve selected is a terrific feeling. Inspired by these other events? Try your hand at deejaying at Fight Club, the second Tuesday of every month at the Barbary. Get there early and put your name on the list — DJs are drawn randomly every half hour. If you’re lucky enough to hear your name called over the loudspeaker, head straight to the bar, where you’ll be handed a beer bong of PBR and a shot of whiskey (the ultimate city-wide special) which you have to down before beginning your set. And the best part? There’s no cover.
Robotique Disco is not a dirty word. Billy W and Ryan T spin disco records at Kung Fu Necktie during their weekly free Friday night parties. This relatively new and rapidly growing venue is located just blocks from the Girard SEPTA stop and brings live music and DJ sets on an almost nightly basis — Jimmy Fallon recently announced the selection of the Roots as the house band for his late night talk show in a video filmed here. With the addition of a new art gallery, KFN is a force to be reckoned with. Come dance for free to tunes spun by a Penn employee (they’re cool, can you believe it?).
Woody’s 202 S. 13th St. Pure Nightclub 1221 Saint James St. Transit 600 Spring Garden St. The Barbary 951 Frankford Ave. Kung Fu Necktie 1248 N. Front St. The Khyber 56 S. 2nd St.
