Cape Town - Popular summer concerts, Concerts In the Park (CITP) at the De Waal Park, have made a fierce return after an almost three-year hiatus.
The shows, which are hosted in an idyllic location in the heart of the Cape Town CBD, feature famous musicians and artists and are held in the public park that’s also a recognised heritage site in Oranjezicht through ten concert instalments.
CITP Founder Charles Lindsay-Bowman said he was excited to see the return of the popular concerts, more so the reception of the beloved shows by the crowd of concert-goers who attended the first instalment on December 4.
Lindsay-Bowman said: “Due to the pandemic, the last performance was back in 2019, so we are thrilled to revive this initiative. On Sunday, the weather was superb and a capacity crowd made their way into the Park for the concert.”
He said: “Concerts in the Park started 12 years ago, the vision for the concerts was the celebration of music, supporting world-class local talent and bringing people together in a family-friendly environment.”
Lindsay-Bowman said CITP chose De Waal Park as the location for the concerts because of its idyllic setting, as it sits in the backdrop of the most recognisable mountain in the world, the iconic Table Mountain.
“It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy a Sunday afternoon concert. It also encourages the community, as a whole, to use and enjoy their public parks,” he said.
Through the concerts, CITP selects a charity each year to give back to as part of its efforts to support societies that uplift underprivileged communities. This year, CITP chose to support The Learning Initiative, a non-profit organisation that promotes holistic child development to children from disadvantaged communities.
Concert-goers can donate to The Learning Initiative when purchasing their tickets.
“The vision for the concerts was the celebration of music, supporting world-class local talent and bringing people together in a family-friendly environment. It also encourages the community, as a whole, to empower each other, uplift and enjoy our public parks and spaces,” Lindsay-Bowman said.
Lindsay-Bowman also revealed that artists that perform at the concert play in an original 1905 Edwardian bandstand manufactured by Messrs Walter McFarlane and Co in Glasgow.
He said: “It was used as an exhibition space in Green Point before being relocated to De Waal Park. De Waal Park was Cape Town’s first and largest park, after the Company’s Gardens, when it opened in 1895. It was proclaimed a National Monument on March 22, 1968, and is now listed as a Provincial Heritage Site.”
The next CITP features well-known musicians Francois van Coke and Tasché, the first female to win ‘The Voice SA’ in 2019. While the schedule for 2023 includes Jesse Clegg, Prime Circle and Kurt Darren.
The complete line-up, artist information, FAQs and tickets sales are all on the Concerts in the Park website: www.concertsinthepark.net