“If music be the food of love, play on!” – William Shakespeare

South Africa is not just known for its sunshine, coastal bliss and safaris! MUSIC features on the SA calendar all year long from festivals to concerts & more, across the country. Mzansi music scene is wonderfully diverse bringing artists and visitors from all over the world. March into June this year offers a sweet spot for music lovers. It’s a prime time for local and international artists showcasing their beats at festivals like Ultra & Splashy Fen and concerts by classic bands like the Counting Crows & UB40. Even the BACKSTREET BOYS are back (alright!) with a planned World Tour, and SA is on their list of stops!

So, get ready to soak up the beats and vibes of some of the coolest music on the planet, right here on home soil. But hey, let’s be real – the last thing you want after a long day of dancing & ‘vibing’ with your squad is to crash in a dingy hostel or a sketchy motel. You need a place that’s comfy, convenient, and ready to rock your socks off so you can rest & recharge before the next day’s LIVE playlist unfolds. When travelling for the ultimate music experience, we’ve got hot spot resorts you can book to help hit the right note and travel to the beat of your own drum!

Ultra SA in Cape Town & Johannesburg

Event link: https://ultrasouthafrica.com/

Hello EDM heaven! After a three-year break, Africa’s largest electronic music festival is back, baby! The original Ultra Music Festival took place in Miami in 1999. Over the years, it has grown to include many annual events around the world including an SA leg. Ultra has some of the biggest names in electronic dance music taking over the decks from Adam Beyer and Alesso to Fisher, Black Coffee & so many more. The 2023 Festivals promises to make you move like never before with two coming up:

• Cape Town on Friday, 10 March at HollywoodBets, Kenilworth Racecourse
• Johannesburg on Saturday, 11 March at the Expo Centre, Nasrec

When it comes to booking accommodation, you definitely wanna be right in the heart of the action so you can get there and back with no stress. Make sure #sucky accommodation doesn’t ruin your ULTRA experience and book a place that becomes the most memorable Ultra HQ.

If you’re looking for a little bit of pampering and relaxation after a long day of dancing, stay at Mount Sierra where you can choose from one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartments with magnificent views of Table Mountain. With a resort pool & wellness spa onsite, you can take a dip or plan a spa spoil to prepare for the ultra-awesome fest or wind down & pamper sore muscles with a full body massage after all your worries are danced out!

The Peninsula All-Suite Hotel is another great Mother City option when you’re planning to bring your A-game to dance the night away. You can choose from a 3-bedroom apartment (if your whole squad is coming along) or a studio apartment (if it’s just you and bae or you and your bestie). Featuring a balcony with a sea view, all accommodation at this hotel is air-conditioned and furnished with modern décor and everything you will need from entertainment options to convenience plus that special touch of luxury.

With its mind-blowing stages, epic light shows, and electrifying music, Ultra 2023 South Africa is the festival that will make you feel alive like never before – and your accommodation can be the key ‘supporting act’ to non-stop Ultra-awesome vibes!

Splashy Fen in Underberg

Event link: https://splashyfen.co.za/

The Splashy Fen Music Festival (affectionately referred to by veteran attendees as just “Splashy”) is one of South Africa’s longest running and most popular music festivals. It takes place over the Easter weekend (6 – 10 April this year) in the stunning KwaZulu-Natal Berg. The festival has a laid-back and family-friendly vibe and features a diverse range of music genres, including rock, folk, and electronic. Set against a backdrop of stunning natural Underberg brilliance, most attendees camp on the festival grounds for 5-days straight. But, if you’re not too keen to rough it and wanna experience the music and great entertainment, booking a nearby resort can be the key to an awesome feel-good fest experience.

Bushman’s Nek is the best place to book if you’re planning on day trips to Splashy. It’s rustic luxury in the countryside with mountain views that keep coming. You can choose from a selection of luxury hotel rooms, affordable self-catering apartments and even rustic log cabins for the full bush experience. Perks include the Bushpot restaurant with warm cosy favourites for foodies, a wellness spa, horse riding, paintball and loads of other facilities & conveniences that you won’t get if you go camping. It’s the perfect resort, conveniently placed a short drive from the Fest grounds so that you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

This year Splashy has a stellar line-up of artists from Ziggy Alberts, the Ndlovu Youth Choir, Pierce Brothers, Goodluck, Neon Dreams, Majozi and more! Don’t miss out on the festival experience and the awesome line-up just because you’re not a camper. We got you!

Backstreet Boys in Cape Town & Pretoria

Event link: https://bit.ly/3KEWvgx 

Fondly known as ‘BSB’ by their biggest fans, Backstreet Boys have been recognized as the best-selling boy band in HISTORY!! Why and how? Well, with numerous number 1s, countless awards, record-setting tours, and worldwide sales of over 130 million – they have become one of pop’s most influential acts to date. They are a loved classic and are determined to stay in the charts and hearts of music lovers all over the world.

They’ve been creating the best beats for over 29 years and now… FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, Backstreet Boys will be coming to South Africa! May 2023 is guaranteed to bring the best of Backstreet when they land four spectacular shows as part of their DNA World Tour (pssst… two were added only recently because of POPULAR DEMAND):

• Cape Town 
  • Tuesday, 16 May 2023 at the Grand Arena, GrandWest
  • Wednesday, 17 May 2023 at the Grand Arena, Grandwest
• Pretoria
  • Friday, 19 May 2023 at the SunBet Arena, Time Square
  • Saturday, 20 May 2023 at the SunBet Arena, Time Square

For those looking to travel out to their shows, booking your accommodation ASAP is key to ensuring you’re not left booking some backstreet motel! (see what we did there? Haha!). Book Hastings Hall if you’re travelling to the Cape Town concert. It offers charming rooms, Free WiFi & braai facilities to make your ‘concert holiday’ truly awesome – plus it’s centrally located giving you access to the trendiest spots in the Mother City.

Over the decades, the Backstreet Boys have consistently captivated millions with their impressive collection of hit songs – don’t miss them on their SA stop on this World Tour and the chance to relish fan fave hits LIVE like Everybody, Quit Playing Games With My Heart and As Long As You Love Me plus MORE!

Counting Crows & UB40 in SA

UB40 event link: https://bit.ly/3KJbwhm
Counting Crows event link: https://www.bigconcerts.co.za/artist-counting-crows-8566

If you’re looking to experience the soulful & fun classic sounds of the Counting Crows and UB40 LIVE in SA, the time has come!

The Counting Crows are well known for their songs Mr. Jones, Accidentally in Love (from Shrek) and Big Yellow Taxi – among many others. For the first time since 2008, legendary rock band Counting Crows are returning to South Africa with two performances on their critically acclaimed “Butter Miracle Tour.”  The two special performances are set for:

• Pretoria on Tuesday, 14 April at the SunBet Arena, Time Square
• Cape Town on Friday, 16 April at the Grand Arena, GrandWest

UB40 is a household name! They’re famous worldwide for hits that are soundtracks to our lives from Red Red Wine, I Got You Babe and (I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You among countless others which is evidence of the significant mark their music has made with more than 70 million records sold! This tour sees them performing with Ali Campbell – bringing their unique British slant on Jamaican reggae to South African soil. They have three shows coming up:

• Cape Town on Tuesday, 30 May at Grand Arena, GrandWest
• Durban on Thursday, 1 June at the Durban ICC
• Pretoria on Saturday, 3 June at the SunBet Arena, Times Square

Both Counting Crows and UB40 have enchanted listeners worldwide for decades with their soul-stirring songs, and when you travel to experience their timeless tunes, ensure your accommodation is (almost) as cool as the band members. As you prepare for a memorable musical journey, here are a few options for awesome places to book for any of these upcoming concerts or fests – so that your musical expedition is epic from check-in to check-out.

Stay at Hastings Hall or Riviera Suites if you’re going for the Cape Town offerings – these resorts are top quality, within reach of the events, and they have everything you’ll need for a comfy and memorable stay when you go to experience either band or festival. Being centrally located and having super views of Table Mountain, these resorts are the perfect holiday destinations to check-in and relax before breaking it down to your favourite band.

Book The Palace All-Suite or Breakers in Durban if you’re travelling to the Durban UB40 concert. Both resorts are right on the beach. Breakers in Umhlanga has many malls, daytime excitement nearby & attractions for all to enjoy from outdoor thrills (like nature reserves & beach hot spots) and indoor excitement (like clubs, casinos & theatres). The Palace is on Durban’s Golden Mile with SunCoast Casino in reach and tons of other awesome attractions to fill your free time, close by – plus there’s a spa onsite to soothe those tired muscles after a long day of epic tunes.

This season, South Africa is filled with remarkable rhythm and lyrics that can elevate you from the haze, helping you forget your worries and look to brighter days. Travelling to hear your favourite artist, band or DJ is like hitting the musical jackpot, and the right music holiday HQ can make all the difference between an epic fizzle or a grand sizzle of a time! So, pack your bags, grab your dancing shoes (and crew), and get ready to embark on your musical adventure through the rainbow nation. The music never stops in SA, and neither should your wanderlust!

Let the music take you on a trip!