Cape Town - With time running out to make those New Year’s Eve plans, Capetonians and visitors to the Mother City will be spoilt for choice this year, as the city lays on a variety of parties from the free to those that’ll set you back a pretty penny.
If you’re still uncertain of your plans, read on…
l The V&A Waterfront will host a free party between 6pm and 2am at Jetty 1 and the Amphitheatre. The evening will kick off with a performance by comedians Rob van Vuuren and Martin Evans of Pants on Fire. Music will be provided by rock band Prime Circle, Afro-fusion band Freshlyground, electro-swing group GoodLuck, ska and reggae band Rudimentals, and the winners of the V&A Waterfront’s Take the Stage talent contest, Early Hours. There will also be a number of street performances by the Zip Zap Circus, along with two fireworks displays at 9pm and at midnight.
“The crowd can expect a heady experience of sight and sound,” said Carla White, communications manager for the V&A Waterfront.
l At GrandWest in Goodwood, celebrations are free, with festivities kicking off at 11pm, when free party packs will be handed out to visitors. At 11.30pm, all-girl band Blackbyrd – comprising Tarryn Lamb, Samantha Heldsinger and Tamsyn Maker – will perform a mixture of pop, country and ballads. Just before midnight, staff will offer trays of bubbly to revellers to allow them to raise a toast to 2014, while traditional Scottish bagpipers will perform Auld Lang Syne. Blackbyrd will perform a second set after midnight.
l Another free party, New Year’s Eve of Design, will take place at the Grand Parade to mark the countdown to Cape Town becoming World Design Capital. Starting at 6pm, artists will include singer-songwriter Toya DeLazy and DJs Ready D and Fresh. Party-goers will also be entertained by various Malay choirs and fireworks displays.
l At the Cape Town International Convention Centre, dance music heavyweight Carl Cox will headline the Electric New Year’s Eve Ball. Celebrated for his triple-deck wizardry, Barbados-born Cox is a pioneer of the electronic dance music genre. Cox and other DJs – including Winner, Coco Loco and Harael Salkow – will play on the main dance floor. On the Red Bull studio floor, DJs will include Ricky H, Gren Forte, Lady M and Ivan Turanjanin. Shaun Duvet, managing director of Electric Music, said the production would have the most advanced sound, stage and lighting the city had “ever seen”. General entrance tickets are R580, and VIP tickets R758.
l Guess and 5FM will host Ibiza Calling at The Bungalow in Clifton, featuring Danny Marquez, a resident DJ at the nightclub Space Ibiza on world-famous party island Ibiza. Marquez has gained international recognition with electronic dance music, having played in venues such as Singapore, Dubai, Ibiza, Barcelona, Miami, Hong Kong and Seoul. 5FM’s DJs Fresh, Rob Vember and Stephanie B will also play. Decor on three dance floors promises to make revellers feel like they are on Ibiza. Up to Christmas, general tickets will cost R450, and VIP tickets R700. From then until New Year’s Eve, general tickets will cost R500, and VIP tickets R800.
l The Rezonance New Year’s Eve party, a three-day-long trance festival from December 31 to January 2, takes place at the Contermanskloof farm in Durbanville. Organisers have promised that the 2103 event, which has the theme “Rebirth”, will be a more enchanting experience than in previous years, with improved layout, decor, arenas and artwork. People can take their own camping gear and tents, but there will also be tents available for hire. There will be four dance areas – the Prizm stage, Delta stage, Misfits Meadow and Chill Temple. Party-goers can cool off in a dam close to the Prizm stage. Stalls will be selling clothes, food and drinks. Tickets cost R450 at selected outlets, R470 online and R490 at the gate.
l The Protea Fire & Ice hotel in New Church Street in the city centre will host its fifth New Year’s Eve party. Four dance floors will open from 8pm, and New Church Street will be part of the party zone. Metro FM DJs Naves, Sphectacula and Lulo Café will entertain the revellers. At midnight, the winner of a five-day trip to Reunion Island, followed by five days at the Protea Fire & Ice hotel, will be announced. General tickets sold in advance cost R150, and VIP tickets R350. At the door, general tickets are R200, and VIP tickets R400.
l The Orphanage Cocktail Emporium on the corner of Bree and Orphan streets hosts a Studio 54 party, named for the famous former New York nightclub. DJs Nick Matthews, JanuaryOne, Matthew Loots and Roy Hendrickse will be on the decks. Party-goers are asked to dress in groovy disco gear, and can expect creative and delicious cocktails. Tickets cost R200.
l Electro-jazz duo Goldfish, supported by acoustic guitarist Yoav and songstress Tailor, will perform at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. Audience members are invited to take along blankets, picnic baskets and bubbly. Tickets are R290.
l At The Shimmy Beach Club, near to the Waterfront, internationally acclaimed DJs Krystalroxx, Bijan and Sam Hanbali will show off their skills. The Girly Show, featuring dancers doing neo-burlesque routines, and an acrobatic gymnastics troupe, Spelbound, will also perform. General tickets cost R2 250, and VIP tickets R3 850. - Weekend Argus