The 'Routes of Sound' festival took place at Spier Wine Farm in Stellenbosch, becoming a celebration of South African music. Theatre director Brett Bailey lit a candle during the festival to express solidarity with foreigners fleeing xenophobic violence in South Africa.
Solidarity and Musical Culture
At the opening of the festival in early July, Bailey commented on the current situation in the country, stating that music can overcome cultural barriers. He urged the audience to keep the image of the flickering candlelight in their hearts in the darkness.
Festival Organization and Participants
'The Routes of Sound' ran for three weekends in July and August at the Spier Wine Farm grounds. The festival gathered 33 local musicians from across the country, with a different lineup presented each weekend. According to the Spier website, the festival's concept is based on the ideas of 'routes' and 'roots'—paths of musical discovery and enjoyment of music in its purest form: intimate, close, and acoustic.
Performances and Genres
During the first weekend, two routes were presented, each featuring three different artists. Each performer played for half an hour, after which the audience gathered in the main hall, Yellowwoods Lounge, for a performance by a group that does not usually play together. Performances took place in various areas of the Spier farm, providing an intimate atmosphere as the audience sat close to the artists.
Among the participants was folk singer Mage Trotski from Cape Town, whose lyrics are written in 'Mengels'—a mix of English and Afrikaans. Trotski, as a storyteller, charmed the audience with her guitar and personality, painting images of different parts of the city in her songs.
Singer Chosi from Johannesburg presented a sound combining nesingqi, soul, and jazz. Nesingqi is a term from the isiXhosa language denoting the fundamental rhythm or groove in African musical expressions. Chosi experiments with this in her performances, playing the uHadi, a traditional Xhosa musical bow.
Another outstanding performer was Tubatsi Moloi, a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Johannesburg, who demonstrated an exceptional vocal range. Upcoming participants named include indigenous instrumentalist and singer Sky Dlala, poet-musician in Afrikaans RFKI, and singer from South Africa and Peru, Mano.
Future Event Dates
Future shows of 'The Routes of Sound' are scheduled for July 31 – August 1 and August 21 – 22, 2026. Concerts take place from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM.