Top DJs in the mix for Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek

Switzerland’s iconic Montreux Jazz Festival is coming to Africa for the very first time. Presented by Nedbank, theMontreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek, it will bring an incredible line-up of international stars and African musical innovators to the Cape Winelands from March 27 to 29. The newest additions to the festival’s already impressive musical programme are the Curators of Sound — a group of 15 of SA’s most respected DJs and vinyl selectors.

“Montreux has always been about more than a single genre or format — it’s about the discovery of music in all its forms,” says Mark Goedvolk, founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek. Given this ethos, incorporating top SA DJs into the Swiss festival’s inaugural African edition was “the natural thing to do”, he says. Montreux has always been about more than a single genre or format — it’s about the discovery of music in all its forms “DJs and vinyl selectors play a crucial role in contemporary music culture,” adds Lindsay Rhoda, the festival’s Music and Programming Curator.

“Many of them are extraordinary musical historians, digging deep into records and connecting genres, eras, and communities.” Simply put, she says, they are the curators of sound. Together, the Curators of Sound represent a diverse cross-section of contemporary music culture, spanning jazz, soul, house, hip-hop and rare groove. Highlights include broadcaster and vinyl connoisseur CandyFlip, celebrated record collector Charles Leonard, genre-crossing tastemaker Kay Faith, the award-winning DJ Zinhle,house music pioneer DJ Kent, and cultural connector DJ Kenzhero. They are joined by That Guy S’bu, Trev The Japanese, Lelowhatsgood, DJ Mighty, Homie.Lover.Friend, Nelee, the collaborative duo of Cassiem Latief and Leighton Moody, and Rosey Gold.