By Alex Updike
Fresh off of a successful 80’s costume party, Bart Lounge is back at it again this week with two more must-attend events. The fun kicks off this Friday, October 30th with an eclectic mix of musical talent and is quickly followed the next night by Bart’s Halloween party featuring DJs Sugarfree and Rich Brandon. Both events are free to the public and promise to be an exciting time in one of the most unique and fun atmospheres the Valley boasts.
The fun starts on the eve of the spookiest night of the year as five bands take the stage at Bart. Ideation, Moods, 1975, The Hellions, and Little Red Spiders all promise to bring a varied mix of sound sure to please all who attend the event. “They all have a pretty unique sound,” Michael Murphy, the owner of Bart, told me, “ranging from alt. rock to electronic funk. Little Red Spiders is an incredible live band and 1975 is like nothing you’ve ever seen before.” Do not expect anything too extreme, however. Although this is not going to be your laid back coffee shop vibe, it is not exactly going to be a Megadeath show either. “If there’s a happy medium, I’ll take that,” Murphy told me. All five bands are Southern California native, with all but 1975 hailing from right here in the Coachella Valley. So if you are a supporter of live, local music, head on out to Bart Friday night and check out a great lineup. The fun starts at 8 pm and, as always, there is no cover.
If live bands are not quite your thing, though, then Saturday night at Bart might be the best bet for you. On Halloween night, Bart is hosting its own party in celebration of one of the most ghoulish nights of the year, with music being provided by DJs Sugarfree and Rich Brandon. And for a bar which already boasts art and décor reminiscent of a Tim Burton movie, you can bet that the atmosphere Murphy brings to the table on Halloween night will not be one that is soon forgotten. “No 80s music this time,” Murphy told me, “just a huge dance party!”
DJ Sugarfree is in the mix once again and she is sure to bring the party hard with her partner in crime for the night, DJ Rich Brandon. “Me and Rich will be doing eclectic mixes of mainly electronic dance and club music with a Latin vibe,” Sugarfree told me. “We will also be throwing well known hip hop/pop hits here and there, you know, to get the crowd hyped up. 
We will be switching every hour and we will probably start the night off with a chill, lounge vibe then turn it up as the night progresses.”
If the great atmosphere and talented DJs were not enough, however, Bart is holding a costume competition with a $250 prize going to the winner. So get those creative minds in gear, assemble a great costume, and come on down to Bart on Halloween night and show everyone what you came up with. You could leave $250 richer and with an entire year’s worth of bragging rights as the best dressed person at the spookiest place to be on Halloween!
