The V&A Waterfront gets ready to rock, preparing to represent Cape Town and the continent, with one of Africa’s biggest parties on New Year’s Eve!
The countdown has begun as cities across the world prepare to showcase their regions with spectacular scenes of celebration. As South Africa’s most popular destination, the V&A Waterfront offers revellers the best opportunity to approach 2015 in a festive environment, with live entertainment and an explosion of colour from the midnight fireworks display, co-sponsered by the City of Cape Town.
Although the official celebrations kick off at 6.30pm, the entire day will be filled with a kaleidoscope of activities as buskers interact with visitors across the property.
A custom-built stage on Jetty One will host a number of live bands, and become a show in itself with massive LED screens lighting up the performances for party-goers. The crowd can expect a non-stop entertainment experience of sight and sound, as KFM DJ and MC for the night Ryan O’Connor leads them through to 2015.
For those who do prefer to be seated, the action on stage can also be viewed from different restaurants, including the Harbour House, Quay Four, Alba Lounge and the Hildebrand, but booking is essential.
In addition to the more than 80 eateries based at the V&A Waterfront, the new format Cape Town Fishmarket (CTFM) boasts a great dining offering, where diners can pop outside to view the midnight fireworks. Mondiall’s Marvellous Burgers, Den Anker and Hot Dog King will all be open for visitors milling around the Pierhead, and some Food Market vendors will be open until 2am on New Year’s Eve to satisfy late-night hunger pangs.
The rocking New Year’s Eve party will showcase some of the best local talent, including:
6.30pm: Take the Stage winner: Indigo Child
The winning band in the V&A Waterfront’s Take the Stage competition, Indigo Child, will take to the stage from 6.30pm, so come and rock with the top of the crop!
7.30pm: Jeremy Olivier
The singer, songwriter and guitarist will get the crowd into a party mood with his infectious stage presence. Jeremy has had music in his blood for as long as he can remember, and his journey has included performances with a veritable who’s who in contemporary sounds, from George Benson to Katherine Jenkins and Jonathan Butler. His popular hits include “Serendipity”, “It’s My Time” and “What About Now”.
8.45pm: Jeremy Loops
Jeremy Loops will keep the party on track from 8.45pm. The popular local musician describes himself as a modern-folk artist, with Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan featuring prominently in his vast list of musical influences. But, in truth, this energetic creator of some seriously South African beats offers a heady mash-up of folk, reggae, hip-hop and gypsy-jazz, just the ticket to get the good vibes going when bidding 2014 goodbye.
10pm: Hot Water
At 10pm Hot Water raises the tempo. Fusing everything from kwasa kwasa to sakkie-sakkie in his music, Afro-folk singer-songwriter Donovan Copley’s Hot Water is, in a word, hot. Throwing in bits of blues and a hearty dose of maskandi, the result is a toe-tapping explosion that will get even the most dance-shy folk on their feet. Having played in more than 10 countries since it launched in 2006, Hot Water provides plenty of entertaining antics on stage. And although every show is different, it always delivers in the fun stakes.
11.15pm: Mi Casa
At 11.15pm it’s time to take the party up a notch. The trio of talent behind Johannesburg-based Afro-house band Mi Casa comprises pianist Dr Duda, vocalist and guitarist J’Something and trumpeter Mo-T. With various SAMA awards and nominations to their name, they’re best known for catchy tunes like “These Streets”, “Heavenly Sent” and “Jika”, and boast a unique urban-jazz flavour that’s hard to beat. And as they’ve opened for international bigwigs like Reel People, Tortured Soul and Drake, the crowd can expect 2014 to get a glorious send-off.
Mi Casa will perform until 11.50pm, stopping only for the New Year countdown and majestic fireworks display that New Year’s Eve at the V&A Waterfront is known for, and resuming their set at midnight. Let Mi Casa be the first sound you hear in 2015!
Midnight: Fireworks for Africa!
As the clock strikes the magical midnight hour, 2015’s arrival will be announced with a literal bang. Framed by a star-lit African sky, an illuminated Table Mountain and the glittering city lights, Table Bay will be further lit up by a riot of colour from the biggest and boldest New Year display of fireworks to date. A partnership between the V&A Waterfront and the City of Cape Town, this year’s fireworks will last longer and be more spectacular than previous years.
Transport: avoiding congestion
Partygoers and spectators are advised to get to the V&A Waterfront as early as possible on New Year’s Eve to avoid traffic congestion inside and outside the property.
“The V&A Waterfront has taken as many steps as is possible to ease traffic congestion, which is always an issue with an event of this scale. However, we’d like to ask visitors to work with us in this endeavour, and make use of public transport or get to the venue as early as possible to avoid disappointment,” says Emma King, PR & Communications for the V&A Waterfront.
Part of the effort to ease congestion is making Cape Town’s MyCiTi buses even easier to catch for the event.
The City of Cape Town is coming on board, by extending the MyCiTi bus service to and from the V&A Waterfront until 1am on New Year’s Eve. Mi Casa will play until 12.30am, followed up a DJ thereafter, for visitors wanting to stay a little longer to avoid the traffic.
And, for visitors wanting to welcome in the dawn, the first bus of 2015 will run from 6.05am on Thursday, 1 January.
For more information or a taste of last year’s festivities,
