And suddenly, just like that, Dubai has real DJs throwing real parties. No red-carpets, no dress codes, no processions of magnum bottles with sparklers on top. Just some music-loving people hiring a bar (or a boat) to play ace tunes for small crowds. Who would have thought that budget hotels in dusty Al Barsha would be where it's at one day?

How did this happen? Isn't Dubai nightlife all about posh clubs at even posher hotels peddling stifling luxury to the affluent masses; blasting out chart-breakers on poor sound systems and generally killing any potential for a genuine vibe to develop? Well, yes. It still is, and lots of people, even nice ones, love it. But now there are a handful of alternatives, organised by vinyl lovers such as Volt Music and the Deep Crates Cartel, aimed at those of us who like their music a little less obvious, their crowds a little smaller and their fashion police in outer space, preferably.

Dubai has a lot of places you can go and be outrageous, but not many where you can do it your way. Far from the city's usual party palaces, people have started getting down as they see fit: to quality music, at obscure venues promoted by word-of-mouth. Of course, it is only a vestige of 'the underground'. Dubai is still Dubai, meaning you need permits for everything. What I'm talking about here are not illegal shindigs at secret locations, where information is passed on exclusively to the personal contacts of the promoters and DJs involved. That still goes on and, although some of the crowds may well overlap, it is a different brand of revelry.

What the self-labelled 'underground' parties mentioned here provide is independent, non-mainstream music played at independent, non-mainstream venues. City dwellers in other countries, with looser laws and a more developed music and nightlife culture, might be used to such things, but it is an utter novelty here in the UAE. Heck, there's even after-parties on boats now.

To the extent to which it is possible, the people who run and attend these parties are giving two fingers to the system, while also tapping into hitherto less visible groups: hipsters, punks, reggae fans and, soon enough, I'm sure, inhabitants of other cultural niches, too. Dubai's embryonic subcultures are reclaiming the night.

What else do I have to tell you? Get out there, listen to better music, have more fun and check out the hidden side of Dubai's otherwise less than convincing nightlife:

Analog Room

Analog Room by Volt Music at The Q at the Holiday Inn Al Barsha.

What they say about themselves:

Dubai's finest underground party!

Analog Room is going to be bringing you the finest parties in quality underground sound with the hottest DJ's and producers from around the globe! We are about quality, quality in music, sound and environment.

Lets get together and do it!

Drop Dread Sessions

Drop Dread Sessions by Deep Crate Cartel at Casa Latina at the Ibis Al Barsha.  

What they say about themselves:

“We play Good Music for Good People”

Deep Crates Cartel (“DCC”) is an award winning Dubai based organization of like minded DJs, vinyl junkies, street artists, musicians, producers and vocalists.

In a region that sonically can be a real desert of barren and played-out commercialism, the Deep Crates Cartel has received international recognition from major artists all over the world for pushing the boundaries musically and keeping quality music and culture, not commercial interest as its main focus. As Ron Burgundy from Anchor Man would say: “We’re kind of a big deal!”

Bad House Party

Bad House Party by Zaina Shreidi, Jane Aldersley, Mike Priest, and Adam Carr at Casa Latina at the Ibis Al Barsha.

What they say about themselves:

We play indie & punk

Expect to Hear:

Pixies / Goat / The Clash / Brendan Kelly & The Wandering Birds / Unknown Mortal Orchestra / CHVRCHES / Grimes / Fugazi / Girls / The Black Angels / The Horrors / Astronautalis / Bouncing Souls / Foals / The Smiths / Frank Turner / Yuck / Wolfmother / The XX / Fol Chen / Pantha Du Prince & The Bell Laboratory / Caribou / The Lawrence Arms / The Shins / Jimmy Eat World / Weird Dreams / The Vaccines / Strike Anywhere / Biffy Clyro / No Use For a Name / Two Door Cinema Club / Temples / Tame Impala / The Cure / Sonic Youth / The Preatures / Takeshi Terauchi & The Blue Jeans / Radio Moscow / The Black Keys / The Growlers / Grizzly Bear / Mikhael Paskalev / The Smith Street Band / Saves The Day / the 1975 / Wolf Alice / John Talabot / Arcade Fire / Broken Social Scene / Crocodiles / of Montreal / Neils Children / Pennywise / Crazy Arm / Cage The Elephant / Bow Wow Wow / Daughn Gibson / The Breeders / The Go! Team / Modest Mouse / Against Me! / Apologies I Have None / Weezer / Moon Duo / Melody's Echo Chamber / Los Mirlos / Violent Femmes / Band of Horses / Mikal Cronin / Good Riddance / Idlewild / The Get Up Kids / Radiohead / Cut Off Your Hands / Eagles of Death Metal / Civil Civic / The Knife / The Ramones / Future Of The Left / The Gaslight Anthem / Hot Water Music / Lazy Bones / La Femme / Hanni El Khatib / Alkaline Trio / The King Blues / Wavves / Splashh / Cat's Eyes / Jimi Hendrix / Rancid / Great Cynics / The Postal Service / Glocca Morra / Teenage Bottlerocket / Funeral Suits / Clinic / Best Coast / Savages / Friendly Fires / Screaming Females / Black Rebel Motorcycle Club / Dum Dum Girls / Minus The Bear / NOFX / Front Bottoms / Bloc Party / Yeah Yeah Yeahs