| What: The Routes of Sound 2025 – curated by Brett Bailey When: September 26- 28, 2025 Where: Spier Wine Farm in Stellenbosch Lineup: Included Giuliette Price, Taleswapper, Ntokozo Zwane, Odwa Bongo, and Jak Thomas, concert with The Herbie Tsoaeli Quintet Booking: www.spier.co.za |
This is your sign to book for next iteration of The Routes of Sound at Spier. I attended the 2025 edition last weekend. The season ran September 26- 28. It was a glorious evening at Routes of Sound at Spier. It is a sublime event.
The “routes” refers to routes as in journeys at the event and roots as in “roots” of sound.
There were two routes. Participants received a bracelet which indicated a route. On each route, one moved around three venues at Spier. Three music sets were revealed in spaces, laid out with comfy seats, cushions and draped in carpets. There was sense of sacred space as we entered each venue. Phones were allowed on silent but I noticed that people took quickie pics and then put their devices away. There was a sense of not wanting to distract from the music and be present. Recently, I saw a t-shirt with the words: “Offline is the new luxury.” And I think that The Routes of Sound, distils that – the luxury of been unplugged from devices – and the opportunity to be immersed up close with musicians and their art.
Spier wine was served, paired with amazingly flavoured chocolates, at the start of each set and gluwein at the final gathering, with The Herbie Tsoaeli Quintet, with all the participants, communing together in one space. Phones did emerge during Herbie’s gig.
Our route began with the charismatic Ntokozo Zwane who decompressed us with his beautiful music and words of inspiration: “Take a deep breath. Let us relax our shoulders. Be here – there is nowhere else you need to be”. His set included a lullaby, Langa Vuma to “shed light on our journeys”.
The next set was with Giuliette Price who welcomed us into her “cave” – a room/space in an auditorium at Spier. It felt like a little nest that we had stumbled upon – a dream – with cushions and carpets. Price captivated us with her own compositions and she also took requests. I selected Dream a Little Dream of Me – the iconic song by the Mamas & The Papas. It did feel like we were in a dream.
The final set on our route was with Taleswapper – story musicians. The duo got us upbeat with foot stomping vibes and Hillbilly energies.
And then all the groups gathered together, to soak up the energy of the Herbie Tsoaeli Quintet, with Herbie on bass and vocals and Buddy Wells on sax. It was magical.
Huge care and love by Brett Bailey in curating this beautiful event. On that note of care and attention to detail, mention must go to the chocolates served with Spier wines: Passion Fruit and Lemon White Chocolate, Liquorice Blueberry & Elderflower Milk Chocolate and Cherry & Chilli with Crispy Pearl Dark Chocolate. Sublime. Routes of Sound was billed as an “intimate” and “immersive music experience”. The event was all of that – plus more. It felt like a gift of an evening, a balm. This is your sign to be present at the next Routes of Sound at Spier.
✳ Ntokozo Zwane performing at the Routes of Sound 2025, at Spier, curated by Brett Bailey. Pic: Robyn Cohen/TheCapeRobyn.
