Top Tips for an Enjoyable Cape Town Jazz Fest…

With days to go to the 21st staging of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF), organisers have issued a Tip List for Festinos and residents alike, to help everyone have the best jazz-fest experience over the weekend of 3 and 4 May 2024.

Over the past few weeks, the festival has announced some pretty big hitters that are due to light up the four stages. The calibre of the line-up, and the fact that Africa’s Grandest Gathering is back after a few years, has seen Festinos (fans) come out in their droves, consequently, the mother city is expected to be busier than usual this coming weekend.

Here’s how to ease into the festival weekend and have the best experience:

Free Concert – Greenmarket Square, Thursday 2 May, 16H00 – 22H00

  • This is a family event – no alcohol, no smoking. Hydration points will be on the square – bring your own drinking container. There is also crowd control at this event and security may conduct random searches.
  • Please also remember there will be road closures around the Square.

Festival Days – 3 & 4 May

With the event taking place at the CTICC, roads in the direct vicinity will be closed from 16H30 on Friday 3 May to Sunday 17H00. These include Lower Long between FW De Klerk Blvd and P2 parking, as well as Lower Long Southbound, and portions of Heerengracht, Walter Sisulu, Jetty, and Wharf streets.

Access –

  • only tickets purchased through Ticketmaster will be allowed into the festival. Festinos must download the Ticketmaster app and present their digital ticket for scanning at the door. No printed tickets are allowed.
  • No Children under 10, and there will NO pass outs.
  • Remember, there is a R30 per person, per performance surcharge for shows on the Rosies and Moses Molelekwa stages.

Cashless – the event uses Howler

  • Festinos will need to load up on site so please bring Debit or Credit cards. Monies are loaded onto a wristband, which can then be used to purchase food and drink at the festival, and there’s a feast of options including wines from the official wine partner, Sophron Hospitality Consultancy.
  • Howler loading points are located on the Ground Floor in the entrance lobby. For info on how to use Howler and reclaim unused funds, click here.

Get Connected –

  • download the brand new and exciting Cape Town Jazz Festival app, which is available on all App Stores. The app has a cool scheduling tool, built-in photo frames, and….more info and insights on the artists who are playing. Although the app is for anyone wishing to know more about the festival, for Festinos, the app is a one-stop palm pilot – look out for special messages and discount offers whilst at the festival.

Parking and Road Closures – No parking is available on site

  • Whilst the festival’s artists and VIPs will be driven in style thanks to Kia Diep River, the official vehicle partner to Africa’s Grandest gathering, organisers recommend that Festinos make use of e-hailing services to get to and from the venue. Drop off and collection points can be found at corner Heerengracht & Bartolomeu Dias, as well as corner Lower Long & Cullinan Streets.
  • Please note there will be road closures in the direct vicinity of the CTICC, and traffic delays may be experienced. For info on road closures please see the website or download the festival app.

What to wear –

  • Go big, go bold, go bright, go as you will, but it might be best to put your best foot forward in comfortable stylish footwear…

Masterclasses – 4 May, The Arena, Artscape

Free masterclasses with an amazing array of artists and a special session “Spotify for Artists”. Online registration is key – head over to the jazz fest website to sign-up here.

Partners supporting the Cape Town International Jazz Festival are:

Loot.co.za as presenting partner, City of Cape Town, the official host city, Paramount Pictures with its BET Africa brand SAA, Stella Artois and PenBev, Headset Solutions, Ozow, Orleans Cosmetics, Fabiani, Conde Nast’s Glamour and GQ titles. No event would be successful or have its public recognition if it were not for the tireless and creative efforts of today’s media, and the festival would like to thank all press who have opened their arms to welcome the news of the festival’s return, especially Independent Media, Heart FM, IOL, Africa Community Media, Volt Africa, and Magic 828 who have all put into action their professed love for this iconic festival.

There is something else on offer at this year’s CTIJF, injecting fresh energy into the festival’s atmosphere – the all-new Flavour Junction, which is located on the ground floor, outside, alongside the Topaz stage. Here, there will be food trucks, a selection of bars, and tantalizing treats ensuring that Festinos stay fuelled all night long. For those seeking a more refined dining experience, a selection of upscale options await just beyond the main stage. This year too, there will be the Howler cashless system.

The organisers of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival also have further good news, stage names will revert to their original designations and so once more, there will be Kippies (Sapphire), Manenberg (Topaz), Rosies (Emerald) and Moses Molelekwa (Ruby).

Festival organisers, espAfrika, have also unveiled a revamped VIP hospitality offering that epitomises the spirit of camaraderie. Introducing Jazz Ensemble, a luxurious lounge boasting a sumptuous buffet and complimentary beverages, serving as the ideal gathering point for socializing and networking. Meanwhile, Jazz Café offers an alternative experience for Festinos wanting a little more than a general admission ticket, which grants access to complimentary catering and a dedicated cash bar (the bar will also use the Howler system).

And that’s not all – back by popular demand are the enlightening artist masterclasses which will also be held at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th May, offering enthusiasts a rare opportunity to glean insights from some of the industry’s finest music minds.

There’s only one question – why haven’t you booked your tickets on Ticketmaster yet? Get booking now or go to the website for more info, and for those who want to receive any more exciting news first, download the new Cape Town Jazz Festival app from your app store right now.

This is a cashless event.

Connect with the Cape Town International Jazz Festival on social media:
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Show Information:
Cape Town International Jazz Festival

Dates:
3 & 4 May 2024

Venue:
Cape Town International Convention Centre

Ticket Prices:
General admission festival ticket at R950 per night per person (access to Sapphire and Topaz stages)

Surcharge tickets are in operation for Emerald (Rosies), and Ruby (Moses Molelekwa) at R30 per person per show

Bookings:
General admission tickets on sale through Ticketmaster

Surcharge Tickets for Ruby and Emerald will be released later

Age Restriction:
No under 10s and no pass outs allowed

Please note: The surcharge is to manage capacity in the venues which can only seat 1500 per show. Festival goers are required to purchase a general festival ticket above to then purchase surcharged show tickets.