It was wonderful to be at the Ratanga Park Sunset Concerts launch, last Sunday, February 25, 2024 – featuring Die Heuwels Fantasties and Jitsvinger as the opening act. Exciting to be at this beautiful venue, with views of our magnificent Table Mountain.
This was the first of a new series of sunset concerts in Cape Town. It’s the brainchild of Luvuyo Kakaza and the Cape Town Music Academy (CTMA) working in partnership with Century Park, Century City and Century City.
This urban park is like the Joni Mitchell song in reverse. She crooned in her protest song, Big Yellow Taxi: “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” In this situation, they dismantled the Ratanga Junction Theme Park (not one of my faves) and took the land back to nature. They unpaved and put up an urban park. Love this reclamation of land. Sure, there is massive development in the precinct with up-market housing going up but there is this beautiful parkland in the centre.
Free entrance to the park but entrance applies for the concerts. R200 for adults; free for under 12s. We parked near the Hillsong entrance – Conference Lane. Concert goers may use parking structures P2 and P4. It is easy to get in to park from the parking garages. Minimal walking and wheelchair access. Cashless parking (R12) so take a credit card or other means of card payment. Seating is picnic style, on the grass. Take blankets and low chairs – please do not block the view for others. There are some benches flanking the grass area. Note: There is a no smoking/no vaping policy. This works for me, thank you. There are food trucks on site but one is welcome to bring food. There are porta-loos. It is very well organised,
The venue capacity is 2 000 but the idea is to hold intimate concerts – not with a crush of people. Although next up is Majozi (Sunday, March 17) and uhhm, I think the venue will be packed. Emo Adams will be on stage on Sunday April 14. Early Birds deal: Pay R100 per ticket for Majozi or Emo Adam concerts. Offer ends Monday March 4, 2024, with limited ticket allocation. Book through Quicket.
Bravo to Luvuyo Kakaza, Century City, Century City Arts and the partners for igniting this exciting new series of outdoor sunset summer concerts. A big plus is easy access in terms of ample parking and getting into the venue. No schlepping required. And the views- ahhh. And the music and good vibes.
✳ The launch of the Ratanga Park Sunset Concerts, on February 25, 2024. Pic: Robyn Cohen/TheCapeRobyn.
