Carfax

Carfax is an old warehouse in an industrial part of downtown Newtown that opened in 1995 to book acts that rarely got local airtime. In Your Pocket says it closed in 2013 and relaunched in early 2014 with better sound and facilities, keeping its graffiti-covered walls and its motto, "conceptual by nature". Neighbours include wholesalers, car repair shops and artist studios. Gauteng Tourism calls it a long-running underground club and event space, and In Your Pocket's April 2026 guide lists alternative and underground music and notes that the adjoining streets close for festivals, turning the cobbles into an indoor and outdoor space with several stages.

Time Out's August 2026 report calls the site Carfax District, formerly known as 3rd Place, and describes a late-night third place where the party continues after bars close. Its main hall holds the Carfax Stone River, a floor and wall installation etched with the names of people from the creative industries. Entry costs an entrance fee that Time Out does not quantify, and guests are stamped on the wrist. The music across the Newtown precinct runs from deep house and techno to Afro-house, gqom and drum and bass. Hours depend on the event, and the venue's own website could not be opened for this guide, so check its Facebook page before going. Not for you if you want a fixed weekly programme.