Cape Town’s love affair with jazz goes into overdrive this week with the annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

The event has become an institution in Cape Town and this year the music is all the more sweet as it celebrates its 20th edition.

While music lovers are gearing up to see top notch artists hit the various stages for the main event this coming weekend, another highlight is the free community concert at Greenmarket Square.

A precursor to the main event, the mid-week concert draws thousands of residents and visitors from all walks of life who are united in their love for jazz.

‘The free concert is an opportunity for those who could not get a ticket for the festival to enjoy access to some of the best local and international artists on one stage. I would also like to welcome the thousands of festival-goers and performers who are making their way to our beautiful city this week. Cape Town welcomes you with open arms and we hope that the experience will live in your memories long after the last notes fade.

‘Our continued support for the event is an indication of the City’s commitment to ensuring that such live music events are accessible to residents from communities across the city.

‘The City is proud to host the Cape Town International Jazz Festival which has become an important part of the Cape Town brand for the last two decades,’ said the City’s Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato.

The City has worked closely with the event organiser to ensure that a detailed event plan is in place so that the experience is enjoyable and safe for festival-goers.

‘Crucial to any event is the safety and security of attendees and the various City departments involved in these aspects are well versed on these matters. We will have staff deployed, along with various other entities, to ensure public safety. However, it requires a collective effort. Our message to festival-goers and also the thousands of festival-goers expected at the Greenmarket Square event mid-week is to let your hair down, but to take responsibility for your personal safety,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

Road closures:

• To ensure that the logistics are as smooth as the jazz, the City reminds residents and motorists that temporary road closures will be in place in the city centre and surrounds to accommodate the free concert on Greenmarket Square on Wednesday 27 March 2019, starting at 16:30.

A detailed breakdown of the roads that will be closed is available here: /media/5wji4doi/free-concert-2019-road-closures.pdf

• Road closures will also be in place around the Cape Town International Convention Centre for the main event starting from 06:00 on Thursday 28 March 2019 until Sunday 31 March 2019 at 09:00.

Further details on those closures are available here: /media/vdalagbd/ctijf-2019-road-closures.pdf

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