SA: Mos Jazz Fest ‘to shore up local economy’

The festival is organised by events company Camissa Solutions and designed to harness the healing forces of music and nature as well as social entrepreneurship. It will feature at least 23 performances from South African musicians such as Judith Sephuma, Alistair Izobell, Don Veno Pins, Jonathan Rubain, G Minor, The Rockets, Airborne and Karin Kortje.

“Our vision is to bring healing to our still fragmented society,” Camissa Solutions CEO Lovetta Bolters said. “Social cohesion is ultimately at the heart of any successes to be achieved. Our mission is for all people to benefit, economically, from our effort, and the expected knock-on effect that tourism will bring.”

Mos Jazz was inspired by the Jazz on the Rocks festival and is expected to boost economic activity in Mossel Bay, a harbour town that lies on South Africa’s scenic Garden Route.

“Research shows that the economic impact from the Jazz on the Rocks project in Paternoster amounted to more than R800m ($68m) in the past five years. We anticipate the Mossel Bay project to yield even more economic impact and create jobs,” Bolters said.

Camissa Solutions co-director Clarence Ford said the event marked the beginning of a journey that would bring lasting impact to Mossel Bay.

“The event itself will stimulate the fledgling cultural industries of the Southern Cape coast. Moreover, entrepreneurial development will benefit especially young people in the region,” he said.

Ford told Music In Africa that launching a festival on the coast entailed serious planning and logistics.

“The inaugural edition is always a challenge. Being new and building stages on a rock in the sea is no small feat. Tides, winds and ablutions present a learning curve with which we will tackle future editions,” he said, adding that about 6 000 people are expected to attend the event.

Day and weekend passes can be purchased at the Fork and Train bar/restaurant in Mossel Bay.

For more information, visit the Mos Jazz Festival Facebook page.