El Maní Es Así, on Avenida Francisco Solano near Caracas’ chaotic pedestrian thoroughfare Sabana Grande, is the temple of salsa. From Thursday through Saturday nights starting around 11 p.m., this small, unique club is jam-packed with amazing dancers shaking it all night to the sensuous sounds of excellent musicians like Alfredo Naranjo and El Guajeo. A visit to El Maní, is essential to your understanding of the rumbero (partier) attitude that is prevalent in Caracas.

Caracas Sincrónica adds a sophisticated jazz and world music element to the traditional. They employ an airy, beautiful jazz guitar, congas, clarinet, and mandolin to create a mellow, gorgeous musical experience. The band performs every Friday at Evio’s on the Cuarta Avenida of Los Palos Grandes.

Ensamble Gurrufío, Caracas Sincrónica, and other fine jazz and traditional musicians like Gerry Weil or Huáscar Barradas can routinely be seen for free on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. in Centro de Arte La Estancia in Altamira, a converted coffee hacienda that also has an interesting gallery.

Reggae and Latin ska are also big in Caracas. Desorden Público leads the way and is celebrating 18 years together with a series of concerts this summer. Papashanty Sound System is another important band in the scene. They recently completed a successful tour of Chile and Argentina. Negus Nagast and Jahbafana are excellent Spanish reggae acts appearing at Trenchtown, a new club that recreates a Caribbean beach bar vibe in Las Mercedes, the immense bar/restaurant district. El Arroyito, in the mountains of El Cafetal, is an amazing outdoor venue that puts on reggae and ska shows every Friday night featuring local and international acts.

Venezuelan musicians have combined various musical styles to create something uniquely Venezuelan. Groups like Los Amigos Invisibles, who combine funk and salsa into a danceable amalgam are enjoying great success abroad. Sur Carabela may be the next big export. They use a mix of live musicians, a DJ, and the ethereal vocals of Valeria García to fashion a transcendental trip-hop. Babylon Motorhome has established itself as a unique combination of rock, jazz, reggae, and electronic music. The band is rising fast and performed recently at Festival Sonar in Barcelona. Their concerts mix impassioned singing, sophisticated DJing, tight instrumentation, multimedia techniques, an interesting video show, and even a didgeridoo.

DJ Trece is the leading proponent of hip-hop in Venezuela. He is creating his powerful live sound on his own albums and those of La Corte, as well as producing dozens of up and coming rappers. He has invented a dope style that combines poignant lyrics with hip-hop beats, salsa rhythms, and rock grooves.

One of Venezuela’s most successful live acts of recent years is Bacalao Men. Their style reflects the diversity of Venezuela and its assorted musical manifestations with its interesting mix of rock, salsa, some jazz, a little hip-hop, and just their own uniqueness. Trabuco Contrapunto is another fabulous band that mixes Latin music with Spanish rock. Both these groups can be seen playing live at La Belle Epoque in Bello Monte. This eclectic new club was a French restaurant for fifty years, and the new space has integrated the old decoration in a stylish way.

Electronic music is very popular in Caracas and some of the world’s top DJs perform there. Latin house is the dominant form and down-tempo European styles are common as well. Living Room and Loft in Centro San Ignacio are two of the best places to dance. The Flower in Plaza La Castellana also has first rate DJs, as do Modus and Shadow in Las Mercedes.

Centro Cultural Corp. Group (in La Castellana), El Ateneo in the Plaza de Los Museos (in Bellas Artes), and Trasnocho Cultural (in Las Mercedes) frequently have music festivals or weekend concerts with styles varying from classical to punk. Caracas has it all.