Cape Town is set to become a vibrant jazz stage this week, leading up to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, with a series of community events bringing live music to residents and visitors.

The celebration kicks off today (Monday 23 March) at 17:00 with pop-up performances in partnership with Sofar Cape Town, featuring three artists blending jazz, soul, and R&B. The programme builds towards the main festival taking place on Friday 27 March and Saturday 28 March at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Last year’s festival attracted more than 16 000 from across South Africa and more than 20 other countries, injecting millions of rands into the local economy.

“The Cape Town International Jazz Festival remains one of the continent’s premier live music events,” said Mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith. “The City’s support for these events reflects its commitment to enabling inclusive, accessible and world-class experiences.”

Free concert returns to Greenmarket Square

The traditional free jazz concert returns to Greenmarket Square on Wednesday 25 March, offering an open-air musical experience in one of Cape Town’s most historic public spaces.

The line-up includes Joneca, Zolani Mahola, Cameron Ward, Justin-Lee, Zoe Madinga and Shiela E & The E-Train. Gates open at 16:00 with the concert starting at 18:00.

The event creates employment opportunities and provides hands-on experience for emerging professionals in the events and creative industries while supporting local talent. Residents and motorists should note that temporary road closures will be implemented around Greenmarket Square from 06:00 on Tuesday 24 March until 06:00 on Thursday 26 March.

The following roads will be impacted:

Burg Street (between Wale and Longmarket streets)

Longmarket Street (between Long and Adderley streets)

Shortmarket Street (between St George’s Mall and Long Street)

Additional partial closures on Burg and Church streets on event day

Bree Street becomes jazz circuit

Thursday 26 March will see the inaugural Jazz in the City event, transforming a six-block stretch of Bree Street between Wale and Castle streets into the Bree Street Jazz Hop, a walkable circuit of venues and pop-up performance spaces.

The event reimagines the traditional festival format by bringing jazz directly into spaces used by Capetonians and visitors daily.

Art galleries, boutique hotels, restaurants and everyday city spaces will be reshaped into performance venues.

Performers include Kujenga, Sisonke Xonti, Vuyo Viwe, Yonela Mnana, Herbie Tsoaeli and Muneeb Hermans, offering intimate experiences that encourage audiences to move between venues and curate their own musical journey.

Participating venues include:

• Athletic Club & Social (35 Buitengracht Street)
• 107 Castle Street
• Vault on Bree (70 Bree Street)
• Youngblood Africa (Bree Street)
• The Blue Room at Grub & Vine (103 Bree Street)
• Room 91 at Chefs Warehouse (91 Bree Street)
• Trade Boutique Hotel (55 Shortmarket Street)
• Story Horse (104 Bree Street)
• Secret Gin Bar (64A Wale Street)
• Openwine (72 Wale Street)
• Pop-up activations along Shortmarket Street

Main festival brings international acts

The week culminates with the main festival featuring over 30 leading international artists alongside South Africa’s finest musical talent. The programme spans jazz, soul, Afro-fusion and genre-blending sounds across multiple stages.

Both Friday and Saturday sessions run for eight hours, from 18:00 to 02:00, with doors opening at 16:00.

To accommodate the main festival, several road closures will be in effect including:

• Walter Sisulu Avenue (between Lower Long and Heerengracht streets) from 06:00 on Wednesday 25 March to 17:00 on Sunday 29 March.
• FW de Klerk Boulevard (between Heerengracht and Lower Long streets) from 16:00 on Friday 27 March to 03:00 on Sunday 29 March.
• Lower Long Street (between FW de Klerk Boulevard and Walter Sisulu Avenue) from 16:00 on Friday 27 March to 03:00 on Sunday 29 March.
  

Visit www.eventsincapetown.com for more information on these and other events hosted in Cape Town. Visit Cape Town International Jazz Festival for more details.