Cape Town Jazz Fest back in March 2023
THE popular Cape Town International Jazz Festival will return to the Cape Town International Convention Centre on March 17 and 18 next year.
South Africa’s premier jazz event will continue its 21st anniversary celebrations after an enforced threeyear interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with a line-up, look and feel that celebrate its roots, but with a nod to the future.
The announcement was made by Afrojazz queen Judith Sephuma, who is thrilled to be returning to the festival stage.
“The Cape Town International Jazz Festival holds a special place in my heart. I performed at the very first one and am happy to be at this, the 21st event, to share my music with festinos again.
“There has been a definite gap in the music festival calendar without the jazz fest these past couple of years, so I’m delighted it is back, and it promises to be amazing – as usual. I hope to see you all there,” she said.
The festival will comprise three
stages, featuring more than 20 performances.
The stages for 2023 are Rosies, for jazz purists; Kippies in the main hall on the ground floor will feature all the big names; while the open-air Downtown stage (formerly Manenberg) will be the place to discover new beats, names and jams.
The line-up will be announced later this year.
Another change to the festival is that Billy Domingo, the director of programming for many years, has retired from espAfrika.
Newly appointed CEO of espAfrika, Amit Makan, had this to say about the eagerly anticipated return of the festival: “Growing this brand and taking it forward into the next phase of its success is a challenge, one I relish, even with these interesting times we are living in.
“It is artists like the sublime Judith Sephuma, who has today lent her considerable support to this next event, that I wish to thank and who make what we do a pleasure and worthwhile.
“Without you, there would be no festival for the fans to enjoy, but together we are a powerful match made for listening and experiential bliss.
“Thank you, Judith, and to every artist who has ever performed here and to those yet to come.”
In keeping with the Afri-Futurism theme for the 21st anniversary, and looking to the digital future, the festival has partnered with Ticketmaster, which will provide the ticketing platforms, and will also launch a new audience engagement platform and festino experience app.
The app, which will go live later this year, will be a content-rich platform to allow festinos to keep up to date with what’s happening, navigate the festival on the day, set reminders and event planners, as well as enter competitions and win spot prizes.
Tickets are available from ticketmaster.co.za. A day pass is R750 and a weekend pass R1200 a person. For more information on hospitality packages, email hospitality@espafrika.com