You are currently viewing Major events and gigs happening around Mzansi

Major events and gigs happening around Mzansi

In a social-media dominant world, where experiences reign supreme, festivals are the ultimate playground for sharing cool content, showing off your unique fashion sense – and, let’s face it, just for having fun.

As the weather warms up, we’ve got some good stuff to look forward to. It’s time to take off those AirPods or headphones, polish your dance moves and enjoy an eclectic mix of genres by your favourite local and international artists – in real life. 

1. Rocking the Daisies  

When we think ‘outdoor music festival’, this is the first one that springs to mind. Not only because it officially kicks off summer (for almost two decades now), but for its diverse music genres on four stages and multiple dance floors. It’s a three-day getaway in Darling, near Cape Town (plus one day only in Jozi), that has music fans scrambling for tickets.   

There are more than 80 artists (bands, singers and DJs) to look forward to – this year’s international guests are British rapper Stormzy, American rappers Westside Boogie, J.I.D, Bas, Shady Blu and Denzel Curry, American DJ MixedByAli, Nigerians Ayra Starr and Dope Caesar, Gabonese-Canadian Anaïs Cardot and Brit-pop band The Vamps. The local lineup includes Ami Faku, Focalistic, J Clu, Kyotic, Desmond & the Tutus, Will Linley, Justin 99, Kamo Mphela, Lemon & Herb, Lordkez, Samthing Soweto and 2wo Bunnies.  

Get there: 6–8 October at Cloof Wine Estate in Darling; 8 October at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
Tickets available on rockingthedaisies.com and via Quicket
Phase 3 tickets – R1 295 
With camping – from R1 495 

2. Hennessy Back to the City Festival  

Celebrating 50 years of hip-hop, Africa’s biggest gathering of the genre features artists representing the pinnacle of artistic expression from South Africa and abroad. Think three stages, 120 local MCs, 40 DJs and surprise international acts, plus there will be dozens of stalls to stop-and-go between and fun activities (basketball, a skatepark, a gaming zone and more).  

Get there: 7 October at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Joburg.
Tickets via Webtickets 
R350 – R400 

3. Afropiano Festival  

The ‘world’s biggest afrobeats and amapiano festival’ is coming to SA – for four days in Cape Town and two days in Joburg. The Cape leg is a beach festival, with themed parties on different days (think Old Skool, All White, All Black etc). The full lineup is still being announced, but so far includes Ruger, Morachi, Xlim Jay and Leczy (Nigeria), DJ Snypez and Mixolis (UK) and SA’s Focalistic, Tango Supreme and The Vinyl Kid.  

Get there: 17–20 October at Cabo Beach in Cape Town.
21 + 22 October in Joburg.
Tickets via Webtickets or afropianofest.com
From R550 (VIP R950) 

4. Hey Neighbour Festival

If there’s one festival worth splurging on this season, it’s this one – the mega lineup’s headliners are Kendrick Lamar, Khalid, H.E.R, The Chainsmokers and Swedish House Mafia… Yes, over three epic days, you can tick off these world-class acts, along with a batch of local stars. Multiple stages and dance floors, plus food stalls, bars and experiences will keep things pumping. You can stay and camp (from no-star basic to 5-star glamping) or buy a single day pass.  

Get there: 8–10 December at Legends Adventure Farm outside Pretoria. 
Tickets via Ticketpros.
R1 599 (day pass) 
R4 199 (weekend pass)   

5. Funky Fish  

A summer celebration with a soundtrack of techno, psy-trance and deep house, courtesy of more than 20 DJs, this two-day outdoor party lays on the fun with food stalls, interactive games, art installations and more – plus you’re in a lush, green, jungle-like seaside resort near Durban. The ticket price includes camping.  

Get there: 4–5 November at Chantilly Resort, near Zinkwazi, KZN North Coast.
Tickets via Quicket
R400 – R500 

  

6. African Throne tour 

Hip-hop titans Cassper Nyovest and Nasty C are kicking off summer with an epic 15-country tour of the continent. Nasty C posted the question on his socials: ‘Which country do you think will be the littest?’ Make that South Africa, with concerts in Jozi, Durbs and the Mother City, where you can rock out to hits like ‘Jump’, ‘Loco’ and ‘Juice Back’.  

Get there: 24 September at Operation Station, Cape Town.
30 September at People’s Park, Durban. 
28 October at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Joburg. 
Tickets via Webtickets. 
R250 – R350 

7. Sexy Groovy Love 

Celebrating 10 years of outdoor house parties with star-studded DJ lineups in fabulous Cape Town locations, this season kicks off with The Beach – groove to the beats beside the sea as the sun sets and the stars come out – followed by The Castle, an actual medieval-style castle on a mountainside, which is usually inaccessible to the public. These parties are smaller in scale but still bring the vibe. Dress to impress, and no under-21s.  

Get there: 30 September at Grand Africa Café & Beach, Waterfront, Cape Town.
28 October at Liechtenstein Castle, Hout Bay, Cape Town. 
(Also on 31 December and back at the beach on 1 January 2024.) 
Tickets via sgl.howler.co.za 
R390 – R650 

  

Look out for: 

Words: Caroline Webb, Sarah Enous

Photography: Gallo/Getty Images, Supplied

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