Let's Get Local

This is the Culture Edit: A Time Out Cape Town Series showcasing stories at the intersection of travel, heritage, identity and place - from Cape Town and beyond.Come rediscover parts of our culture that don’t always make the brochure, as told from the inside, out. If you have a story to share, drop us a mail at hello@timeoutsouthafrica.com.   Cape Town has just been named one of the best cities in the world for nightlife , and there’s a reason genres like amapiano, gqom, and Afro-jazz are taking over global playlists: South African music is world-class. Gig guide experts Let's Get Local digs into why festivals at home treat local acts as second-tier, and what message it is sending. South African music festivals used to feel like a showcase for the country’s raw creativity. They weren’t just about big stages — they were a proving ground for artists, a meeting place for scenes, and a way to discover music you couldn’t find on commercial radio. Now, too often, they feel like scaled-down copies of global mega-festivals, where the majority of budgets go to foreign headliners and local talent is squeezed into early slots for minimal pay. In the late ’90s through to the 2010s, festivals like Oppikoppi, Mieliepop, and Splashy Fen championed local music. Endless Daze created an intimate boutique experience with indie and psych-rock acts drawn almost entirely from South Africa’s underground. Misty Waters Music Festival (still going today) and Search Festival both made thoughtful curat