UPDATE: Stellar line-up for all-new Ugu Jazz Arts Festival 2018
The festival promises to be bigger and better in its new format.
The countdown to the Ugu Jazz Arts Festival has begun, and South Coasters are gearing up to welcome the thousands of fans who will be flocking to one of KZN’s biggest musical events.
Organiser, Cyassound Holdings, is excited to be hosting the spectacular music extravaganza, with a star studded line-up of top musicians set to take the stage at the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre on Saturday, June 30.
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN : Songbird Zonke to perform at Ugu Jazz Arts Festival
Gates open at 10am.
This year’s event, which was organised following Ugu District Municipality’s withdrawal of funding for the annual Ugu Jazz Festival, will offer a touch of something different by introducing fresh music genres.
Topping the bill are jazz legends like Oliver Mtukudzi, Selaelo Selota and Zonke Dikana, but one of the biggest drawcards is the South Coast’s own home-grown music talent, Mlindo the Vocalist, best known for his debut hit single “Amablesser”.
Mlindo hails from Gcilima near Margate, and attended Phathwa High School before joining local soul group “White-bread”.
His big break came when a video clip of him performing at home was spotted by Johannesburg-based music producer, DJ Maphorisa.
This led to Mlindo taking the local music industry by storm and fans are looking forward to meeting him at the festival.
Other local artists, Sisanda Nilsson from Margate and renowned kwaito king DJ Professor, who is from Izingolweni, are also expected to perform.
Maskandi giant Khuzani will feature in the “Maskandi meets Jazz” session, emceed by popular Ukhozi FM radio personality Tshatha Ngobese.
Cyassound Holdings has also promised to beef up security to ensure the safety of festivalgoers.
Some roads will be closed during the event and traffic will be monitored by the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality Traffic Department and South African Police Service.
While limited parking will be available at the event for a R150 fee, a park and ride facility will be available from the St Michael’s beach car park.
Tickets for the festival are available at Computicket at R200 (early bird), R350 for the golden circle and R1 200 for VIP.
VIP ticket holders are urged to have their tickets readily available for presentation, regardless of their position in communities, in order to avoid disappointment at the gate.
An assortment of refreshments, provided by local businesses, will be on sale at the venue.
As a positive spin-off, the festival is expected to boost accommodation facilities, provide temporary employment, and boost local businesses as fans from around the country descend on the coast.
>>>>>>
April 16, 2018
Ugu District Municipality has announced that there will be no jazz festival this year due, it said, to ‘unprecedented delays in the awarding of the tender’.
The statement, issued by municipal spokesman France Zama, comes after jazz lovers raised their concerns about the delays which insiders claim were a result of internal squabbles in the tender process.
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: Time running out for Ugu Jazz Festival
“The Ugu Jazz Festival has over the years manifested itself into the biggest musical extravaganza in the Ugu District and has managed capture the interest and hearts of all music lovers across the continent. The municipality is determined to build upon the past successes of this flagship event by presenting our jazz lovers with the enhanced experience of the Ugu Jazz Festival during the month of June next year,” read the statement, which added that plans were already in place for the 2019 Jazz Fest.
The statement continued, “An announcement for the appointed bidder who will organise the 2019 festival once tender processes are finalised will be made in due course.We wish to extend our unreserved apology to jazz-lovers for the inconvenience that might have been caused.”
However, the good news is Cyassound Events says is planning to host a Jazz Arts Festival at the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre on June 30 this year. Details to follow as soon as more information is made available.
AVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
For news straight to your phone, add us on BBM 58F3D7A7 or WhatsApp 082 421 6033
