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Capetonians and jazz lovers flocked to the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre this past weekend to enjoy the soulful tunes of aspiring artists as the Cape Town Jazzathon returned following a two-year break.
The ‘People’s Festival’, as the Jazzathon is known, kicked off on Friday 13 January and wrapped up on Sunday 15 January.
The festival, which is supported by the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, celebrated its 26th anniversary. It is the longest-running music festival in the country.
The event featured six performances daily, between 12:00 and 20:00.
Lauren Parks, Operations Manager for Jazzathon, says: “Through the years Jazzathon’s been about headlining musicians. This year we are giving a platform to youth upcoming artists. Jazzathon focuses on workshops within the Cape Flats, we want to give the kids a platform so that the audience that comes here to see their talent. Artists like Cameron Ward started here. Jonathan Rubain started here.”
Belhar residents Cathleen Lot says: “I am happy to be here, I love the amazing jazz sounds. I am here to enjoy the last few days of my holiday and to support the local artists.”
Vonny Booysen, from Namibia, says she is still on holiday. He attended the festival for the first time.
“I am here in Cape Town on holiday and when my friend told me we are coming here I was excited. I am enjoying the good sounds. The atmosphere is great.”
JP Smith, Mayco member for safety and security says: “Over the last quarter of a century, the event has served as a platform for the discovery and development of emerging artists who have gone on to make a name for themselves in the music industry. The City’s support for this event is based on its ability to provide opportunities for young musicians to showcase their talent while also offering them mentorship programmes on the business side of music.”
Performers that took to the stage were The Artscape Youth Band, Young Visitors, The Fantastics from Bonteheuwel and the Mitchell’s Pain Music Academy among others.
On Sunday the crowd was entertained by artists such as the Bottelary Blokfluit Blasers, Ouintessence, African Soil 4 Jesus, The Lekker Crew and The Little Giants.
Mario Williams, the co-founder of Bottelary Blokfluit Blasers, says the group was founded in 2015 to keep young people occupied and off the streets.
He explains that they started with 15 children and today they have more than 300 children.
“This is our first time at the Jazzathon, for some of the children this is their first time at the V&A Waterfront. The children come from different farms in Bottelary. To see the crowd participation and to see the excitement on the children’s faces was so rewarding. That is why we are doing this, to give the children a platform and to expose them.”
Parks says: “Jazzathon is known because of the artists that started here who made a name for themselves. This is the chance they get to make it further. We believe in them; we present them to the audience. We are confident that in 10 years these guys will play on the big stages and the audience will remember them and support them.”
