Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town kicks off its 2023/2024 series of Summer Sunset Concerts on Sunday, December 3 with a star-studded line-up of South Africa’s best loved, grooved-to acts.
The Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts are a deeply embedded, and much loved and looked forward to 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 March 31) as autumn starts settling in. Music lovers can groove along all summer to acts like Lloyiso, Mango Groove, the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, Emo and Loukmaan Adams and many 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 December 23. 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 1. 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 in full attendance at every show offering a variety of delicious eats. Concertgoers are also welcome to pack a picnic, or to pre-order five days ahead from the Kirstenbosch Tea Room or Moyo Restaurant.
Besides artists already mentioned, the line-up this year features multi-award winning and platinum selling singer-songwriter, Amanda Black; Soweto a cappella group, The Soil; prolific Afrikaans singer/songwriter, Appel; 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 March 24 with South African diva, Simmy.
Unless otherwise stated, gates open at 4pm on concert days. The line-up (that may be subject to change):
Below is the the line-up (that may be subject to change):
| Artist | Date | Buy tickets online |
| Mi Casa | 03 December 2023 | Book Now |
| Amanda Black and The Soil | 10 December 2023 | Book Now |
| The Cape Town Carols | 14, 15, 16 & 17 December 2023 (Gates open at 18h00) | Book Now |
| Swing City | 23 December 2023 | Book Now |
| Jeremy Loops and the Congo Cowboys | 31 December 2023 (Gates open at 19h00) | Book Now |
| Goldfish | 01 January 2024 | Book Now |
| Die Heuwels Fantasties and Jack Parow | 07 January 2024 | Book Now |
| Mango Groove | 14 January 2024 | Book Now |
| Al Bairre and Shortstraw | 21 January 2024 | Book Now |
| Lalah Hathaway (International Act) | 27 January 2024 (Gates open at 18h00) | Book Now |
| Lloyiso and Ami Faku | 28 January 2024 | Book Now |
| Unity at Kirstenbosch with Emo and Loukmaan Adams | 04 February 2024 | Book Now |
| The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra | 11 February 2024 | Book Now |
| Matthew Mole | 18 February 2024 | Book Now |
| Deacon Blue (International Act) | 22 February 2024 (Gates open at 18h00) | Book Now |
| Xavier Rudd (International Act) | 23 February 2024 (Gates open at 18h00) | Book Now |
| Mandisi Dyantyis | 25 February 2024 | Book Now |
| The Golden Oldies | 03 March 2024 | Book Now |
| Fokofpolisiekar | 10 March 2024 | Book Now |
| Goodluck and Craig Lucas | 17 March 2024 | Book Now |
| Sun-El Musician and Simmy | 24 March 2024 | Book Now |
| Neon Dreams and Ard Matthews | 31 March 2024 | Book Now |
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 approach to smoking. Offenders will be fined. People who simply cannot attend a concert without lighting up are advised to stay away.
For more information and for line-up updates and ticket prices, you can visit the SANBI website or connect on social media and share your experiences tagging #KBRocks.