Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town kicks off its 2023/2024 series of Summer Sunset Concerts on Sunday, 3 December, with a star-studded line-up of South Africa’s best-loved and grooved-to acts.

Summer’s Hottest Event

The Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts are a deeply embedded and much-loved part of the Cape Town summer social scene. This season’s line-up lives up to all expectations, bringing the biggest names in South African music to the city.

The line-up kicks off with Mi Casa and wraps up 17 weeks later (on 31 March) as autumn starts settling in. Music lovers can sway all summer long, with acts like Lloyiso, Mango Groove, the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, Emo and Loukmaan Adams, and more.

The traditional (and hugely popular) Cape Town Carols at Kirstenbosch, proudly hosted by the Rotary Club of Kirstenbosch, are scheduled for 14, 15, 16 and 17 December. Swing City will include carol tasters in their performance to warm you up for the Christmas celebrations on 23 December. The New Year’s Eve Concert sees Jeremy Loops and the Congo Cowboys take to the stage, and a show by Goldfish rings the new year in on January 1st. The season wraps up at the end of March with Neon Dreams and Ard Matthews.

Sarah Struys, Events and Tourism Manager at Kirstenbosch says the whole team looks forward to concert season. “It’s wonderful to welcome so many people to the garden, and to be such an ingrained and beloved part of Cape Town’s festive season and summer happenings. This is a city that has few (if any) rivals for fun, outdoor summer lifestyle living. The summer sunset concerts make the most of this, and of Cape Town’s fantastic weather; long, lingering evenings; breathtakingly beautiful surroundings and fun-loving people.”

Food trucks will be available at every show, offering a variety of delicious eats. Concertgoers are also welcome to pack a picnic, or pre-order five days ahead from the Kirstenbosch Tea Room or Moyo Restaurant.

Local & Global Acts To Take the Stage

Besides artists already mentioned, this year’s line-up features multi-award winning and platinum-selling singer-songwriter, Amanda Black; Soweto a cappella group, The Soil; the incomparable Jack Parow; rock bands, Die Heuwels Fantasties and Fokofpolisiekar; American diva, Lalah Hathaway; trumpet maestro, Mandisi Dyantyis; Ami Faku, whose debut album debuted at #1 when she released it in 2019; indie rock bands, Shortstraw and Al Bairre; SAMA Record of the Year winner in 2021, Matthew Mole; Scots pop band, Deacon Blue; Australian singer-songwriter, Xavier Rudd; Cape Town’s own nostalgia generator, The Golden Oldies, who cover and celebrate living legends older than 60; singer-songwriter (and winner of The Voice, Season Two), Craig Lucas; electronic music band, Goodluck; and world music sensation, Sun-El Musician, who will share the stage on 24 March with South African diva, Simmy.

Experience your Favourite Artists

Unless otherwise stated, gates open at 16h00 on concert days. Here’s the epic line-up (that may be subject to change):

December 3rd – Mi Casa
December 10th – Amanda Black and The Soil
December 14th, 15th, 16th & 17th – The Cape Town Carols at Kirstenbosch, proudly hosted by the Rotary Club of Kirstenbosch; gates open at 18h00.
December 23rd – Swing City
December 31st – Jeremy Loops and the Congo Cowboys in a New Year’s Eve special; gates open at 19h00.
January 1st – Goldfish
January 7th – Die Heuwels Fantasties and Jack Parow
January 14th – Mango Groove
January 21st – Al Bairre and Shortstraw
January 27th – Lalah Hathaway (international act brought to Kirstenbosch by Showtime); gates open at 18h00.
January 28th  – Lloyiso and Ami Faku
February 4th – Unity at Kirstenbosch, with Emo and Loukmaan Adams.
February 11th – The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra
February 18th – Matthew Mole
February 22nd – Deacon Blue (international act brought to Kirstenbosch by Breakout); gates open at 18h00.
February 23rd – Xavier Rudd (international act brought to Kirstenbosch by Breakout); gates open at 18h00.
February 25th – Mandisi Dyantyis
March 3rd – The Golden Oldies
March 10th – Fokofpolisiekar
March 17th – Goodluck and Craig Lucas
March 24th – Sun-El Musician and Simmy
March 31st (Easter Sunday) – Neon Dreams and Ard Matthews

Book Your Tickets

Tickets may be booked through Webtickets at Pick n Pay stores nationwide, and at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden gate. Please note that Webtickets is the sole online ticketing partner of the Summer Sunset Concerts. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden cannot guarantee that tickets purchased from third parties will be valid. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has no working relationship with Viagogo.

The concerts are non-smoking events. There are no designated smoking areas anywhere at the concerts, or in the garden. There will be a zero-tolerance policy for smoking; offenders will be fined. People who can’t attend a concert without lighting up are advised to stay away.

For more information and for line-up updates and ticket prices, visit the website link below or connect on social media and share your experiences tagging #KBRocks.

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