This December, live music lovers are in for a treat with the much-anticipated return of one of the city’s most vibrant and socially interactive jazz festivals, the original (and now official) Jazz on the Lawn. After a decade-long hiatus, the new Jazz on the Lawn Weekender (now planned over two days, 10-11 December 2022) builds on the very successful formula that made it a mainstay on the jazz calendar for a few years running. Jazz on the Lawn is a registered trademark of Uncle Cal Entertainment.

According to Calvin Peters aka Uncle Cal, a veteran promoter and DJ/producer (originally from Matroosfontein Elsies River), “This year we start Cape Town’s live jazz calendar early. People no longer need to wait for January for a high-quality jazz festival and they don’t have to travel far, either. Cape Town needs this. Covid really knocked us all. But now it is time to get out there and socialise again, and our musicians need to get out there to perform again.”

Uncle Cal is well-connected with several established and up-and-coming performers, both in South Africa and abroad and he is guaranteed to present a star-studded line-up. And since the Cape Town Jazz scene often has crossover links with the city’s Gospel scene, revellers can expect some jazzy Gospel vibes to kick off the Sunday event – officially called Legends on the Lawn.

The line-up includes some of the country’s top musicians, including:

·         SAMA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, McCoy Mrubata

·         SAMA winner Claire Phillips

·         Richard Caesar

·         The Rockets

·         The Black Ties

·         Jonathan Rubain

·         Cameron Ward

·         Garth Taylor

·         Salome

A resourceful and respected jazz promoter, Peters is also very committed to uplifting his community. He says, “This event started out as an extension of the now-defunct G-Spot Leisure Lounge, which I headed-up at the time. It was a way for us to continue providing our guests with stellar entertainment and to ensure our team was paid, while we struggled with liquor licensing issues. Since then, the vision has grown. Presented by Kapzella Productions and Band Aid SA – a charitable organisation geared at supporting artists/musicians in need – the Jazz on the Lawn is more than just another jazz event; it is also an opportunity to help local businesses and create some jobs for the performers/musicians and for a variety of event support staff.”

Jazz on the Lawn returns to the Bevcan Sports Field in Epping Industria, a venue specifically chosen in an effort to bridge the divide between the north and south of Cape Town. Event organisers are prioritising everyone’s safety, engaging local Neighbourhood Watch organisers, SAPS and Law Enforcement to ensure that patrons and residents of the surrounding communities have an enjoyable and trouble-free experience.

As with previous Jazz on the Lawn festivals, the event offers a range of amenities that has given it the reputation of being one of the best and safest music festivals hosted on the Cape Flats. Watch the press for details.