Cape Town: Countdown to Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) has begun. The popular free concert is returning to Greenmarket Square this week, on Thursday, April 24, 2025. The event is a precursor to the CTIJF that is taking place at the CTICC later in the upcoming week.
The 2025 CTIJF Free Concert line-up is set to electrify the CBD with performances from a dynamic mix of international icons and local talent. Captivating headliners include British Acid Jazz legends Incognito, iconic South African kwaito group TKZee, genre-blending group The Ploemies, rising star Hannah Ray, powerhouse vocalists Andrea Fortuin and Fancy Galada, as well as DJ Eazy, who will keep the energy flowing between the sets.
This is a free-to-attend open air concert that has over the years have become popular feature of Cape Town’s annual events calendar, which serves as a precursor for the main festival. The Free Jazz Concert provides the residents and visitors a front row seat to a world-class musical experience at the second oldest public space in Cape Town – Greenmarket Square.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security – Alderman JP Smith said that the Free Jazz Concert has become an annual tradition for Capetonians and visitors alike, who come together to enjoy and celebrate their love of music. It is an opportunity for the City of Cape Town, as working with the organisers of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, will provide a musical experience with big name artists for those who are not able to get tickets for the main festival.
As per Smith, they invited everyone to come and be part of this special celebration that is set in a safe, vibrant and family-friendly environment. Bring your loved ones, soak in the rhythm of the city and enjoy world-class performances under the Cape Town sky.
Following the Free Concert, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival will take centre stage at the CTICC from April 25-26, 2025. Consisting of more than 30 artists, will be performing across the multiple stages, as the 21st edition of the CTIJF will deliver a vibrant celebration of global jazz, soul and Afro-fusion.
The festival includes a bold line up of genre-blending artists, including a collaboration between Grammy winning DJ Black Coffee and jazz pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, American R&B sensation Ari Lennox, South African music icon Thandiswa Mazwai, 11-time SAMA winning Afro-soul artist Lira, Incognito and TKZee, among many other performers.