The Black Dog Freehouse

The basement of The Black Dog Freehouse (popularly known as The Black Dog) isn’t very large, but it’s relaxed. It makes it feel like home, in some ways – like the young days of partying at home with friends. And, each of the three floors has its own unique atmosphere: from the basement (known as The Underdog) to the no-fuss main floor, and from the upper rooftop garden to the heated patio that the bar calls “The Wooftop.”

It takes a lot of assistance to give the bar its easy-going feel. “I do rely on the feedback of other people who are maybe more socially related to scenes,” says Tamara Cullen, manager of the bar. “For example, hip-hop is not something that I know a lot about, so I rely on staff and DJs to educate me a little bit, and give me their input. I definitely look for and accept help from other people, because, one person just can’t really know everything.”

Knowledge of different music has allowed performers and DJs to become regular residents at the bar. Each day of the week, DJs, with their music expertise, take over “the wooftop” and the basement at nights like Metal Mondays and Soul Sundays.