CTEMF: more than just music
THEfifth annual Cape Town Electronic Music Festival (CTEMF) has officially started with the Open End Sessions. The workshops are still on in the city today and in Langa tomorrow. Then on Friday, the performance portion of CTEMF begins and will end on Sunday. Here’s a quick guide to what you can look forward to during the next few days.
THE VENUE
The Cape Town City Hall is an iconic building. And not just because of Mandela. It will offer three spaces inside and outside the building that will act as the stages that revellers can enjoy, depending on their taste in electronic music.
THE MUSIC
By now, you’ve probably heard that UK powerhouses, Goldie as well as Nightmares on Wax, will be playing on two different stages. Nightmares On Wax will also play at Kitcheners in Joburg on Saturday night if you’re having FOMO. But I digress. The music is the largest point of CTEMF so it makes sense that there is a variety on offer on the Club, Auditorium and Terrace stages. You can look forward to France’s own, Chloe, South African-Congolese-Angolan artist, Petite Noir, and Mzansi’s DJ Kenzhero, Niskerone, H-Bomb, Paul Waxon, Driemnaskap, Sibot and Toyota and many more.
THE EDUCATION
The music might be of utmost importance, but so is the educational aspect of the fest. With Red Bull Studios in the CBD and Guga S’thebe in Langa acting as the classrooms, aspiring musicians and those who just want to be behind the scenes can be a part of the workshops that enhance their passion and support their dreams.
There’s a workshop that helps artists up their online game, a rough guide to the gqom genre and discussions with some of the most sought-after artists who will be playing at the festival.
Entry to the workshops is open to everyone – even if you don’t actually make music – and it is free. Visit the CTEMF website (ctemf.com) to see timeslots for the workshops you might want to attend.
THE STREAM
And, of course, if you’re not going to be in Cape Town this week, there’s no need to go and boo-hoo in a corner. You can be a part of the festivities via Live Stream. Both the Open End Sessions and the concert itself are going to be streamed live and in HD so you can feel like you were there in the flesh. But it’s always better to actually be there, so if you can make it, come through to CTEMF 2016.
The Cape Town Electronic Music Festival is at the City Hall from Friday to Sunday. The Open End Sessions take place at the Red Bull Studios and at Guga S’thebe. Visit www.ctemf.com for more information.