At GROUND The Venue in Muldersdrift, Luxurious Marble Circus 2025 unfolded like a dream. The two-day festival, running on 4–5 October, transformed the lush fields into a world of colour, rhythm, and taste. It was a space where music met theatre, and food became art.
Produced by The Marble Group, Grid Worldwide, G&G The Goosebump Company, and Investec, the event is quickly becoming one of Joburg’s most talked-about cultural gatherings. It’s more than a party. It’s performance art with a dance floor.
Images by MODE Photography
The Soundtrack of the Weekend
The lineup reflected the full spectrum of South Africa’s evolving house and electronic scene.
DJ Zinhle, Kabza De Small, Oskido, Mi Casa, Mörda, Felo Le Tee, and Shekhinah shared stages with Amy Wiles (UK) and Laura Zimmerman. A highlight moment came when the Soweto Gospel Choir joined Mörda for a once-off “History of House” performance. It was a powerful meeting of spirituality and rhythm.
Saturday leaned into disco, deep house, and melodic house, while Sunday carried amapiano and Afro-house energy. It was a reflection of how local sound continues to define global dance floors.
Images by MODE Photography
A Circus for the Senses
At the heart of LMC is its culinary stage. David Higgs and Reuben Riffel curated experiences that went far beyond festival fare.
The Grand Dining Room served plated, multi-course menus paired with champagne and theatrical flair.
The Royal Lounge, hosted by Higgs and J’Something, offered wood-fired sharing plates and Saint-inspired comfort.
Across the grounds, The Pantry’s Playground in the Field expanded with five new menu concepts, featuring everything from sushi to soft-serve.
Bars and lounges added to the indulgence. Think Johnnie Walker’s Bar Extravaganza, the Veuve Clicquot Vista Veranda, Don Julio’s Cantina, and the Schweppes Uncaged Carousel, which spun cocktails and spectacle in equal measure.
Images by MODE Photography
Beyond the Stage
The festival’s immersive energy came alive through its activations, a mix of art, fashion, and performance.
A Ferris wheel sponsored by Investec offered sweeping views of the venue, while a hot air balloon lifted guests into the sky. Roaming performers, aerialists, and stilt walkers added an element of theatre that blurred the line between audience and act.
Brand partners turned creativity into culture.
LMC’s immersive zones were alive with more than visuals. The Savanna Dry District mixed brand theatre, humour, and hands-on interaction. Guests played memory games, walked through green apples and bubbles, discovered hidden bottles in ice, and left with drinks or merch in hand.
Steve Jobe, Savanna’s newly appointed Chief Dry Officer, anchored the experience with his trademark wit. The space doubled as a comedy and sport stage, where Celeste Ntuli, Mbali Gudazi, Tsitsi, Mpho Pops, and Robbie Collins kept crowds laughing between Springboks vs Argentina match screenings.
Elsewhere, Fabiani’s Gentlemen’s League brought easy sophistication. Heineken’s F1 Fantasy Zone pumped festival-energy into the lower lawns. The Vilafonté x Creation Wines Bar, Moët & Chandon Pavilion, and the LMC Emporium rounded out the map, a layered mix of art, fashion, and indulgence that mirrored Johannesburg’s own creative rhythm.
Images by MODE Photography
A Celebration of Culture and Connection
LMC 2025 wasn’t just about escapism. It was a reminder of how South African creativity continues to remix global influences into something deeply local.
Whether in the rhythm of amapiano, the flavours of Higgs’ kitchen, or the precision of the circus performances, the festival captured the country’s instinct for collaboration and imagination.
It’s not every weekend that Joburg gets to live inside a fantasy. But at Luxurious Marble Circus, it feels perfectly natural.
Image by MODE Photography
