The Toyota Music Festival brings the best of contemporary South African music to Stellenbosch. You don’t need a single word to get into the groove of the magical jazz performances at Petites Bulles, the Daisy Jones Bar and at the SU Conservatory Amphitheatre. Ramon Alexander, Schalk Joubert, Alwyn Dyers, Melisize Plaatjie and many more. Late night, evening, and jam sessions in which you are invited to bring along your instrument and play with some of our legendary jazz performers awaits you. You will need more than one night, book a few days.
The Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees takes place this year from 28 September to 6 October and the theme is “play”. Get your tickets at Quicket.
If you are from Cape Town and your heart beats in overdrive when you hear anyone mention The Galaxy, Manenberg’s, the 5 to 4 or Westridge City then you also need no introduction to Leslie Kleinsmith. Leslie will be at the Drostdy Theatre performing Kaapse Kabaretand enthralling everyone with his smooth style and velvet voice. Along with Ramon Alexander he won the Woordtrofees Award for their production at the 2023 festival. Get your tickets now, because as soon as the rest of Cape Town hears that Leslie is performing – not a seat will be open in the house.
As important as lyrics are in music, there is something about an open air concert that transcends words – come for the music, the vibe, the atmosphere, the “geselligheid”* (sociability – but much more fun). Five open-air concerts are set to rock Stellenbosch during the festival. Take a chance and experience the “gees”* (rollicking spirit) provided by Ricus Nel, Neon Dreams, Blackbyrd & Elandre, Matthew Mole and Emo Adams and Dr. Victor and the Rasta Rebels. Call some friends, throw on comfortable clothes, pack a blanket and forget about all your cars as you join hundreds of festival-goers in the beautiful Jan Marais Nature Reserve for one, or five, of these open-air concerts. Let the music do the talking. Food and beverages will be available at stalls in the grounds.
Virtuoso pianist Winand Grundling pays tribute to the celebrated pianist and comedian Victor Borge in a programme of improvisation and comedy that will have you smiling and foot tapping in no time at all. Come a little earlier, or linger a little after, and have a drink or snack at the lovely bar and patio area at the Drostdy Theatre.
The Radio Kalahari Orkes (RKO) is made up of violin, old guitars, kwela flutes, harmonicas, drums and just about any other instrument these madcap musicians find on the way. Expect rhythms and music that echo ghoema, Latin-America, and African music from across the continent, and a whole lot of stuff that have crossed their paths. Quiet and conservation the RKO are not! They have been playing together since 2005 and their music transports you straight to the Karoo, around an open fire, “boeretroos” (“coffee brewed on an open fire”) in hand and the wide expanse of a starry South African sky. Yes, some of the lyrics are in Afrikaans, but you really won’t notice as you stomp your feet to the wildly joyful music of this unique South African band.
Film scores have a special beauty and grandeur that moves us almost unconsciously while we are watching the big screen. Two Woordfees productions feature film scores: Mosaic: a journey through space and time weaves together classical music jazz and film music to bring you a masterful sensory musical experience that fuses many genres and cultures.
Silwerskerm-musiektreffers (Silver screen music hits) features the cream of South African singers and musicians in a production that pays tribute to some of the most iconic film scores of the silver screen. Music from movies such as Lord of the Rings, Titanic, Moulin Rouge, Harry Potter and many more are brought to vibrant life under the musical direction of Elna van der Merwe.
Stellenbosch – hold onto your hats. Mandisi Dyantyis is in the house! This exceptional afro-soul-jazz musician with more accolades under his belt than we have space for, will be performing for one night only at the Daisy Jones Bar. He has been hailed as one of the world’s great trumpeters and singers who performs his deeply emotional sounds and lyrics in a way that reaches to your very soul. He has performed with international stars all over the world and no-one should miss the opportunity to experience this outstanding South African musician in performance.
Get the full Toyota Music Festival programme here, and the complete Woordfees programme here.
