KAREN RUTTER drove to Prince Albert for Journey to Jazz 2026 – and was reunited with a very special space in the Karoo:
Once again, Journey to Jazz has shown it is so much more than a straightforward music festival. It’s a gathering that honours connection, participation, heritage and innovation. A celebration of sound, and an acknowledgement of the deep power of listening, of collective sharing through stories and song. Combined with the spirit of community that drives this event, Journey to Jazz is a unique, multi-dimensional experience.
It’s a journey to get there, but the journey doesn’t end when your car stops. The vast, formidably beautiful contours of the Karoo make the road trip a joy in itself, with that same expansiveness continuing as you discover the rich delights that make up the festival programme. From solo pianists to al fresco songbirds, from reconstructed marabi to reimagined gospel, at intimate workshops and packed performance venues – with early morning yoga to start the day and star gazing at the end, and fig picking, stoep stories and more inbetween – there is a literal cornucopia of treasures unfolding every day. It’s a carefully curated, imaginative and generous agenda. A physical, emotional and sensory journey for the soul.
The festival is also a showcase event for the Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT), a non-profit and public benefit organisation aimed at empowering young people using education, creative arts and micro-enterprise. It’s a living, breathing experiment in how jazz can spark social change. Powered by PACT and a dynamic team of young crew members, working alongside a network of mentors and practitioners, the festival doesn’t just showcase talent – it builds futures. This feel good factor forms the basis for the line-up of masterclasses, storytelling, art, food, and nature-based experiences.
So much to astound
Personal highlights on the programme included vocalist Zawadi Yamungu’s exuberant showcase in the funky Showroom Theatre; Paul Hanmer’s soulful solo piano recital in the suitably majestic NG Kerk; Donvino Prins and Jonathan Rubain’s warm and relaxed class on Koortjies to Cape Jazz; the immensely spiritual reflections of saxophonist Linda Sikhakhane and vocalist Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini; the intriguing collaboration between pianist Yonela Mnana and the Soultee Sisters vocal trio (Busisiwe Shongwe, Nompumelelo Gugu Khubeka, and Happiness Siyoko); and the magnificent, sold-out world premiere of Kyle Shepherd playing a live score to four of William Kentridge’s short films (specially commissioned by PACT).
But there was much that was sadly missed, as well, due to personal timing – Zoe Modiga’s groundbreaking performance in the UNESCO-ranked Swartberg Pass; the Mediterranean trio ¡Gracia!, who were apparently phenomenal; the sunrise People’s Concert in the Kritikom Koppie Quarry; and the rousing closing ceremony by Yonela Mnana, the Swartberg High School Choir, the Outeniqua High School Jazz Band and the Karoo Jazz Project.
Don’t miss this one!
Notes to self:
- Make sure to book accommodation WELL before next year!
- Arrive at the festival at least a day before it starts, to be able to enjoy the sunrise opening celebrations.
- Arrange to go to at least one Swartberg Pass performance.
- Make time to explore the fabulous array of activities (friends attended a workshop on indigenous plants and music which blew their minds).
- Find out if there will be more women instrumentalists (not just vocalists and pianists) next year – it would be nice!
Once again, Journey to Jazz did not disappoint. Instead, it reinforced its position as one of the best festivals in the country, despite its relatively small size. I said this last year, and I’ll say it again – this is a hot ticket. Make sure you don’t miss it next time around.
What: Journey to Jazz 2026
Next year: 29 April to 2 May 2027
Photographs: Simone Scholtz and Louis Botha
WS
