Red Bull Unlocked brought 10 Cape Town venues and more than 70 DJs and artists together at Makers Landing.
On Saturday night, 26 September, getting from one Cape Town nightlife spot to another didn’t mean crossing the city. Instead, Makers Landing and the Cruise Terminal at the V&A Waterfront became a condensed version of the city’s after-dark scene for the third edition of Red Bull Unlocked in Cape Town.
Ten venues took over different parts of the space, with more than 70 artists and DJs playing across the night. The line-up moved between Amapiano, hip-hop, Afro House, deep house and R&B, while each venue brought its own look, sound and crowd into the mix.
The participating venues included returning spaces Souk, Destiny, Drama, Fools Gold Social Bar and Broke, alongside newcomers Texas, HALO, Beluga, Club Paradise and The Athletic Club & Social.
Guests could walk from one room to the next, spending time wherever the music or atmosphere took them. It made for an unusual way to experience places that usually exist in very different parts of the city.
Souk brought its familiar groove and soulful sound, while Destiny leaned into its more polished club setting. Drama’s pink neon and graffiti-covered statues were recognisable immediately, and Fools Gold brought its more laid-back social-bar character into the venue.
Broke, which operates as a store during the day (but known for their on-trend parties at night) was also in the mix. Elsewhere, the newer additions gave regulars a chance to get a first taste of venues they may not usually visit.
The music was spread across the different spaces throughout the evening. A-Reece, Dee Koala, Oscar Mbo, Chelsea Sloan and DJ PH were among the names on the bill, joined by Sliqe, Dwson, Jullian Gomes, CA MA GU, Babalwa M, Tristan Urwin, Inkosi YaMandebele, Enrico Celento, Les-D and DJ Phil.
For Teddy Tumi, who also performed, part of the appeal was being able to experience different venues and artists without having to commit to a single destination for the night.
“I really love the idea of having all of the different clubs in one place because you’re able to experience a taste of a venue you might have seen but never had the chance to go to and find your new favourite act.” – Teddy Tumi.
He also described the crowd as energetic throughout his set, which followed Jullian Gomes and made him the first hip-hop DJ of the night.
“Being able to end with a high energy and full dance floor meant that my mission was accomplished.” – Jullian Gomes
The line-up also reflected the different sounds and scenes that make up Cape Town’s nightlife. Dee Koala represented Khayelitsha, while Cape Town-born Chelsea Sloan, now based in Johannesburg, brought her Amapiano set to the night. Oscar Mbo handled the deeper, more soulful end of the spectrum, while A-Reece brought hip-hop to the programme.
Different crowds ended up sharing the same night. Regulars from Souk, Destiny, Drama and Fools Gold were suddenly occupying the same building.
By the end of the night, Red Bull Unlocked had offered a snapshot of the city’s nightlife in one place: different venues, different crowds and a long list of DJs and performers, all within walking distance of each other.
For anyone who spent the night moving between rooms, the biggest takeaway was probably the simple one: there was a lot happening, and you didn’t have to choose just one place to party, you could have it all.
