PRESS: Diverse music offerings on the KKNK programme

Theatre Scene Cape Town

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From jazz and pop to classical and contemporary with an open-air extravaganza or two – the KKNK this year presents music ’things for every taste.

Photo Supplied

The KKNK, sponsored by Absa, is presented for the 29th time in Oudtshoorn from 1 to 6 April, with a special Opening Concert and Night market on Monday 31 March.

Judith Sephuma, Demi Lee Moore, Frank Opperman, Die HeuwelsFantasties, Lynelle Kenned, Timothy Moloi, the Charl du Plessis Trio, Mauritz Lotz and a symphony orchestra, conducted by Richard Cock, kicks off the festival in the Feesmark with the Openingskonsert met al die ietse. Diverse music genres are included – from rock, pop and alternative to jazz, opera and classical favourites. The programme includes hits from international musicals and popular music from home.

Nataniël closes the festival on a spectacular note on Sunday 6 April in the Feesmark with a theatrical open-air concert, Duif. Joining him on stage are Tracey-Lee Oliver, Wiehahn Francke, Nicolaas Swart, Dihan Slabbert, Jordan Rogers, Tamia Stanczyk, Charl du Plessis, Juan Oosthuizen, Werner Spies and Peter Auret.

Various music productions debut in theatres. Coenie de Villiers and Rocco de Villiers share the stage for the first time in 88, with a repertoire ranging from Afrikaans folk music to Bach, from the blues to ballads. There are old hits that boast fresh interpretationsand new compositions written specifically for this production.

The Charl du Plessis Trio performs music by The Beatles for the first time in Bach & Beatles. Similarities and contrasts in the diverse styles of The Beatles and Johann Sebastian Bach are highlighted, in new arrangements of swing, the blues and bossa nova.

Oudtshoorn’s talent is on display in beHOORNlik, a multidisciplinary showcase with Haidee Muller, John Theodore, Paul Amas, Danny B, Kezia Swarts, MC Noemwoord, B-Boy Da-vinci, Janine Fourie, Willo & Jenny Maya, Gail Arendse, JESSICA and more. Various dancers accompany the music talent of Oudtshoorn on stage.

In Blues by die kruispad Christiaan Rabie, Nelmarie Rabie, Marcel Dednam, Deryn Dednam, Werner Spies and Peter Auret tell the legendary story of Robert Johnson at the Crossroads. They take the audience on an unforgettable journey, with a story of passion, sacrifice and timeless emotions, everything that makes the blues so universal.

Corneille Hutten and Christiaan Jacobsz, or CH2, bring an interesting mix of flamenco from Spain, the motherland of the guitar, with a little French influence, where Spanish music borders France in the small town of La Bolle. CH2 throws in a touch of Italian and, of course, a little Afrikaans too for CH2: Olé to Bollé.

Danie Reënwolf du Toit and his father, Johan du Toit share the stage in a brand-new show, Songs, stories en gedigte. Johan reads from his first volume of poetry, while Danie performs new music in this rare opportunity to see father and son together on one stage.

Die gevlerktes brings together two seasoned artists for an extraordinary production that combines a musical recital and animated film art. Celebrated and international award-winning animator and artist, Diek Grobler created four new short films in response to works for solo piano inspired by birds. Four piano works are performed by Mareli Stolp.

Blackie Swart, Thean Kotze, Leon Ecroignard, Wouter van de Venter, Mathys Roets and Mel Botes are back on stage together for Die Ses Snare van ouds. The original sextet reunites after an absence of more than a decade and a half for a special reunion show which will include the hits they became famous for and more.

Goue Boere, silwer tango is a captivating music experience that explores the surprising connections between Afrikaans folk music and Argentine tango. Featuring award-winning actress and singer Nicole Holm with Leon Oosthuizen, Alberto Otero, Silvia Otero and Skhumbuzo Mhlauli, who intertwine the sounds of Afrikaans folk music with the passionate melodies of Argentine tango in a unique cultural collaboration.  

The legendary and beloved cabaret and jazz artist from District Six in Cape Town, Leslie Kleinsmith, is known for his skill in various music styles, including popular music, R&B and big band swing. In Kaapse Kabaret 2.0 he shares the stage with Ramon Alexander, Dylan Tabisher and Annemie Nel.

Elzabé Zietsman asked Johann Slabbert to write a cabaret to pay homage to David Kramer’s songs. After Kramer read the script, he suggested that this story and its characters become a “mini-musical” and offered to write new music for the show. And Katrien, die King en die Kween was born. Zietsman shares the stage with André Schwartz and Tony Bentel, directed by André Odendaal.

Photo by Hans van der Veen.

Two of South Africa’s leading and highly acclaimed instrumental groups, the Soweto String Quartet and ULTRACOUSTIC join forces and creativity for Klassiek en kwêla tot tango en techno. This energetic concert is full of adaptations and original music with various genres on show.

Wynand Strydom pays tribute to the late Koos du Plessis in Koos Doep, as he was popularly known, who would have celebrated his 80th birthday in 2025. Chanie Jonker joins him on stage.

Award-winning and nominated music productions from other festivals and theatres are also on their way to the Klein Karoo. Amanda Strydom’s The Incredible Journey of Tinkerbell van Tonderwon the Woordtrofee for Best Performance: Contemporary Music – Solo/Duo at the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees in 2024. She is accompanied by Coenraad Rall on piano.

Vincent: His Quest to Love and Be Loved with Daniel Anderson and Paul Ferreira won the 2024 Naledi Awards for Best Breakthrough, Best Cabaret/Revue/Small-scale Music Production and Best Lead in a Music Theatre Production.

Frieda van den Heever’s moving Spoorsny was nominated for a kykNET Fiësta for Best Contemporary Music Production, as well as a Woordtrofee for Best Solo-driven Contemporary Music Production at the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees in 2024. She is joined on stage by Mauritz Lotz.

-LOOS with Joanie Combrink and Laurinda Hofmeyr was nominated for the kykNET Fiësta for Best Music-driven Theatre.

Other music productions in the theatres include: Merry Krismis, Elvis with André Schwartz, De wals van de liefde with Jannie du Toit, Marcel Dednam and Deryn Dednam, Drie van die bestes with Mathys Roets, Danie Niehaus and Germandt Geldenhuys, Gé sing: Hoor my lied! with Schwartz, Arina de Witt, Louis Loock and Stephanie Baartman, Jak de Priester en Antoinette Pienaar in Koppieteefontein and Soet water uit die donker put with Koos van der Merwe, Ivan Zimmermann and Anjulie Nock.

Various favourite artists are performing on the Feesmark and Castle Lager music stages in the Feesmark, the festival terrain with entertainment for the whole family. Look forward to amongst others Die Heuwels Fantasties, Emo Adams & Take Note, Demi Lee Moore, Snotkop, Blackbyrd, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Kurt Darren, Refentse and artists like Booshle G. and Irene-Louise van Wyk on stage at the KKNK for the first time.

KKNK 2025 is sponsored by Absa, with the support of the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds, NATi, Checkers, Netwerk24, kykNET, ATKV, Oudtshoorn Municipality and the Western Cape Government.

The complete programme for the 29th KKNK, sponsored by Absa, is available online at kknk.co.za. Tickets are available at Webtickets or the KKNK office.