Perth Nightlife

From Thursday to Saturday, there is no shortage of nightspots to visit in Perth - although occasionally it can seem as if there are more venues than punters. The most popular dance clubs are concentrated in Northbridge, Subiaco and Fremantle. Perth is home to a healthy indie rock scene and the 'craic' is good at several Irish pubs and non-Irish establishments city-wide. Some venues demand a smart standard of dress (which means no thongs (flip flops), vest-tops or shorts - the Aussie male uniform) and some have a cover charge. Free entertainment weekly XPress (www.xpressmag.com.au) is the best resource when planning a night on the town, while Teknoscape (www.teknoscape.com.au) is a useful clubbing guide. Perth also has a lively, if low-key arts and cultural scene. The West Australian Academy of the Performing Arts (WAAPA), renowned for turning out stars of stage and screen, attracts students from all over the country. Tickets to most shows are available from Ticketmaster (tel: 136 100; www.ticketmaster.com.au). Cultural listings can be found online (www.xpressmag.com.au) and in the West Australian newspaper.