The seventh annual Ebubeleni Music Festival is from Friday December 28 to Sunday December 30.
Organisers have lined up top acts with the hopes of attracting 22,000 festival-goers over the event’s three-day run at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and Boardwalk ICC.
Organiser Marc Mahambehlala said the concept for the outdoor festival with its picnic feel was born from the idea that there was no flagship event in the metro over the festive season and the aim was to attract people to the Bay while entertaining them.
“Over the years, with the growth of the event, we filled up the Adcock Stadium in Korsten and had to find a new venue.
“With that growth, the festival is no longer a metro event but has become a provincial event and a national [one] because for the past two years we’ve seen ticket sales from all nine provinces,” Mahambehlala said.
More than 50 artists are due to participate over three days.
Friday’s programme features the Urban Festival with national acts like Moonchild Sanelly, Nasty C, A Reece, Emtee, Sjava and Nadia Nakai.
Ebubeleni Comedy on Saturday December 29 at the Boardwalk ICC will include the likes of Joey Rasdien, Mpho Popps and actor-comedian Celeste Ntuli.
The main festival on Sunday will see Zonke Dikana, Jonas Gwangwa, Ringo Madlingozi and Amanda Black on stage.
Mahambehlala organises the festival alongside his mother, Tembi Mahambehlala, who has been in the entertainment industry for 35-plus years.
Mahambehlala urged people to book at Computicket to avoid buying fraudulent tickets.
Tickets for the comedy on Saturday December 29 cost R180.
The Main Music Festival on Sunday December 30 costs R265 for general tickets, R320 for golden circle and R850 for VIP. Cooler box tickets are R80, with patrons then allowed to bring in refreshments.