A Jazzy Start to the Year as Maynardville’s Open-Air Festival Debuts its First Jazz Concert
Anyone dreaming of long days and an easy holiday mood should put a pin in their diaries for the 13th January 2026, which marks the opening of the Maynardville Open Air Festival’s Cape Town season with a chamber concert, Shades of Blue. Book tickets for Shades of Blue tickets via Quicket here.
The festival is now a fully-fledged programme of music, dance, opera and a new addition – jazz – with Jazz in the Park (14 & 15 January), performed by Blake Hellaby (Piano), Buddy Wells (Saxophone), Wesley Rustin (Double Bass) and Matt Keswell (Drums).
Jazz in the Park is an easy-going repertoire of jazz standards; contemporary and classic jazz compositions, including timeless favourites such as My Funny Valentine, Take Five and Summertime. It’s a magical escape from the bustle of the season, completed by the gourmet Maynardville Food Market featuring offerings such as Poke Bowls, thin crust pizza, smokehouse BBQ, Thai and Tandoori. There is also a full bar on site as well as a pop-up coffee shop. Book tickets for Jazz in the Park tickets via Quicket here.
Patrons can enjoy their dinner and drinks at the long tables beneath strings of twinkling lights or find a spot in the park to spread a blanket and watch the birds returning to roost. For anyone feeling like a VIP, these special ticket holders get reserved seating at the market, early access to the theatre, priority parking and cushions and blankets set up on their theatre seats.
From Louisiana to London and New York, there’s a rich tradition of jazz concerts in parks where the laid back, foot tapping classics mingle with the sounds of nature. Just as Maynardville’s Open-Air Concerts boast a rich history, the programme features musical works that have defined the 20th Century. George Gershwin composed Summertime in December 1933 for his 1935 opera Porgy and Bess; attempting to create his own spiritual in the style of African American folk music of the period. It was first covered by Billie Holiday, who was then just 21 years old, but it was Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong’s version that propelled the song into the limelight, cementing it as both a jazz staple and globally recognisable hit.
From Chet Baker to Miles Davis, Nina Simone to Sting; My Funny Valentine has been covered by the greats and now has a legendary place in the American songbook. Take Five is a Brubeck original famous for its unusual 5/4 time signature. It was the first jazz single to sell one million copies. Rhythmically complex, it’s still incredibly catchy and accessible and is perhaps most famous for its legendary drum solo, lasting roughly one and half minutes.
Blake Hellaby is recognised as one of South Africa’s top jazz pianists, having performed throughout Africa and Europe, he’s a part‐time lecturer at the University of Cape Town. A stalwart of the Cape Town jazz scene, Buddy Wells (saxophone) played at every edition of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival from 2000–2016 and has recorded with South Africa’s leading jazz figures. Double bassist Wesley Rustin is a prolific Cape Town bassist who has anchored numerous jazz ensembles and is widely noted for his steady work in the local jazz circuit. Matt Keswell is noted for his refined touch behind the kit on Cape Town’s jazz circuit, seamlessly blending subtle drive and lyrical phrasing in ensemble settings.
Sunday Evening Jazz Sundowners
Later in the season, The Great American Songbook will also be looking to the jazz greats, including Cole Porter, Gershwin and Duke Ellington, for inspiration. This time with four vocalists accompanied by the Paul Roos Orchestra, conducted by Wessel Odendaal. The voices are none-other than Katlego Maboe (former SABC 3 Expresso show presenter), Tankiso Mamabolo (Chicago, A Midsummer Night’s Dream & The Tempest), and Amy Campbell (AcaNote, Kinky Boots) – as well as the dynamic singing ensemble Track 5, a five-voice a cappella group that specialises in classic jazz standards and popular music, will be on the bill. These limited edition concerts take place 21 February and 1 March 2026. Book tickets for The Great American Songbook tickets via Quicket here.
Maynardville Open-Air Theatre is a long-held tradition that celebrates its’ 70th year of presenting an annual outdoor Shakespeare play in 2026. For more about the full programme, please visit the website.
All Maynardville Open-Air Festival tickets can be located and booked via Quicket here. The box office phone line is active from 14h00 – 17h00 Monday to Friday or call 069 792 6020 for assistance. There will be a box office on site during the festival season to assist with any last-minute queries or sales.
Maynardville Open-Air Festival is grateful to the City of Cape Town for their support of the 2026 season.
For the full season of shows visit the website.
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