Cape Town’s Greenmarket Square will come alive on April 24 with the 2025 CTIJF Free Concert, featuring an electrifying lineup of local and international artists—including TKZee, Hannah Ray, and Fancy Galada—in a vibrant, open-air celebration that marks the kickoff to Africa’s premier jazz festival.
As the sun sets over Cape Town’s historic Greenmarket Square on Thursday, April 24, 2025, the city will erupt in rhythm, soul, and high-voltage energy as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival kicks off its highly anticipated Free Concert.
More than just a prelude to the main festival, this open-air musical celebration is a major cultural highlight, drawing thousands to the city’s heart for a night of unforgettable performances and shared joy.
The 2025 edition promises to be the biggest and boldest yet, with an eclectic mix of artists and sounds set to electrify the CBD from 3:30 PM until late into the night.
Organized as a gift to the people of Cape Town and the many fans of jazz across South Africa and beyond, the free concert transforms the bustling Greenmarket Square into a dynamic concert venue, where music lovers of all ages can experience top-tier performances without the barrier of ticket prices.
It’s a show of inclusivity and community spirit that defines the ethos of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival—known affectionately as “Africa’s Grandest Gathering.”
The lineup for this year’s event reads like a sonic journey across genres, cultures, and generations. DJ Eazy will open the evening with an infectious blend of hip hop, amapiano, Afrobeats, and R&B—setting the tone for a night designed to keep the crowd moving.
Hailing from the UK but raised in Cape Town, Hannah Ray will follow with her distinctive cinematic pop-meets-soul sound, bringing a haunting, emotional depth that connects deeply with her South African roots.
Her music, often compared to Florence Welch and Lana Del Rey, adds a unique flavor to the night’s offerings.
Vocal powerhouse Fancy Galada is another standout. With a voice that effortlessly glides between raw township soul and contemporary jazz, Galada has already made waves on global stages, including a stirring performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Her collaborations with musical giants like Angelique Kidjo have helped her develop a cross-cultural resonance, blending traditional Xhosa elements with modern stylings in a way that feels both rooted and revolutionary.
Andrea Fortuin, whose breakout performances online have earned her a passionate fan base, will also take the stage. Her rich, velvety vocals and emotional range have positioned her as one of the country’s most exciting young talents.
Cape Town’s own genre-bending group The Ploemies will shift the energy into high gear with their exhilarating mashup of jazz, funk, goema, and ska.
Their horn-heavy arrangements and infectious stage presence are tailor-made for outdoor festivals, and their inclusion in the lineup guarantees an unforgettable dancefloor experience.
Perhaps the most anticipated act of the evening is the legendary kwaito group TKZee, returning to the spotlight with their era-defining hits like “Shibobo” and “Dlala Mapantsula.”
For many South Africans, TKZee represents the soundtrack of a generation, and their appearance at the Free Concert is both a nostalgic throwback and a powerful reminder of kwaito’s enduring cultural relevance.
Their high-energy performance is expected to bring the house down and bridge the gap between generations in a unified celebration of sound and memory.
Beyond the star-studded lineup, the Free Concert serves a broader purpose. It’s a cornerstone of the CTIJF’s mission to make world-class music accessible to everyone, regardless of background or income.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has publicly praised the concert for its ability to bring the city together, calling it a “cultural gift” that affirms Cape Town’s place as the jazz capital of South Africa.
The city’s vibrant creative spirit is nowhere more visible than on this evening, when people from all walks of life gather shoulder to shoulder, united by rhythm and joy.
CTIJF Festival Director Shaakirah Adams described the Free Concert as “the spark that lights the fire,” not just for the festival weekend, but for the entire jazz-loving community.
She emphasized that this night often creates once-in-a-lifetime moments—when a rising artist breaks through to a massive audience, or when a legendary band reminds everyone why their music still resonates decades later.
For many performers, the Free Concert stage is not just a gig; it’s a homecoming, a celebration, and a career milestone rolled into one.
Greenmarket Square, with its cobblestones, colonial facades, and energetic urban buzz, provides a striking backdrop for this musical showcase.
As the CBD comes alive with lights, food vendors, dancing, and music, the scene becomes more than just a concert—it transforms into a citywide block party.
Locals are encouraged to arrive early, bring picnic blankets or camp chairs, and settle in for a night under the stars. Families, friends, tourists, and first-time festivalgoers will all find themselves swept up in the energy.
In the context of the wider festival, which draws global artists and tens of thousands of visitors to Cape Town each year, the Free Concert plays a key role in setting the tone.
It’s a reminder that the power of music lies not only in ticketed venues and formal stages, but in public spaces where anyone can gather, dance, and feel connected.
The performances may only last a few hours, but the memories made—of street rhythms, shared smiles, and spontaneous dance—last much longer.
As the city counts down to April 24, the buzz is undeniable. From fans planning their outfits to artists fine-tuning their sets, the excitement builds.
Whether you’re a jazz aficionado, a casual listener, or someone just looking to feel the pulse of Cape Town, the 2025 CTIJF Free Concert is set to deliver a night of magic in the heart of the Mother City.
And if history is anything to go by, it will leave the crowd wanting more long after the final note fades into the night.
