Summer is most definitely in attendance in Cape Town!  And I can’t think of many better ways to spend a sultry summer’s evening than lolling about on a lawn somewhere leafy, picnicking on a communal spread and enjoying the sounds of some local musical talents.

We’ve covered Picnic Baskets (the kind you order in advance, usually on wine farms), and we’re all set for Picnic BYO (great places for picnics, and some ideas on where to find awesome goodies to fill your own basket).  This time, though, it’s all about Picnic Concerts.

Click a link below to skip to that particular event, or scroll down to view them all!

• De Waal Park – Concerts in the Park
• Backsberg Picnic Concerts
• Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts
• Solms-Delta Summer Concert Series
• Helderberg Nature Reserve Picnic Concerts
• Paul Cluver Summer Concerts

De Waal Park Summer Sunset Concerts

De Waal Park, Oranjezicht.  Cape Town.

A new series of summer concerts launched in De Waal Park last last year. The season continues in the new year until Sunday 1 April 2012. The concerts, free to the public, will be on every other Sunday afternoon at 4pm.

Venue / Location:
De Waal Park is located in Oranjezicht, with gates on Molteno, Upper Orange and Camp Roads. Entrance is free and patrons are encouraged to arrive from 15:00.

http://www.dewaalpark.co.za/events-in-de-waal-park/

Dates & Times:
SUNDAY 5th FEBRUARY – The Gugulethu Tenors
SUNDAY 19th FEBRUARY – The Rudimentals
SUNDAY 4th MARCH – Ike Moriz
SUNDAY 18th MARCH – Saudiq Khan
SUNDAY 1st APRIL – Nomfusi *starts at 3pm, not 4pm.

Cost:
None, it’s free!

kykNET Backsberg Picnic Concerts

Backsberg Estate, near Paarl. 

It’s lovely out at Backsberg Estate, and spending a Sunday afternoon lolling about drinking their fantastic wines and listening to great artists sounds pretty good to me (dress for hot weather, it’s cooking this time of year).  Audiences can choose to pre-book a special Backsberg picnic to enjoy with these sunset acoustic performances, or buy one of their (apparently) famous lamb burgers at the venue. http://backsberg.co.za/picnicconcerts/

Dates & Times:
Admission to concert venue starts at 3pm, with the opening act starting at 4pm and the main act at 5pm.  Sadly, the summer season is already over half-way through – but four concerts still remain:

• SUNDAY 29 Jan: Die Tuin Dwergies
• SUNDAY 05 Feb: Blues Broers
• SUNDAY 12 Feb: Laurie Levine
• SUNDAY 19 Feb: Francois van Coke

Cost:
Tickets are R85 or R170 with a picnic and R100.00 at the gate. Children under 12 years get in free when accompanied by their parents.

How to book tickets:
Online bookings can be made at www.ticketbreak.co.za/backsberg.  Contact Details: picnicconcerts@backsberg.co.za

Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concert Series

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (Rhodes Avenue, Newlands, Cape Town)

Dates & Times:
Season runs from 20 November 2011 – 1 April 2012. SUNDAY evenings, concert starts at 5.30pm (gates open at 4pm).
View full lineup.

Cost:
Ticket prices vary from R60 to R125 (adults), depending on concerts and whether you are a member of the Kirstenbosch Botanical Society. See here for individual prices.

How to book tickets:
Online bookings can be made at www.webtickets.co.za. Redeem your e-ticket at the Kirstenbosch Ticket Office. Over-the-counter tickets go on sale on the Tuesday preceding each concert, from the Visitor’s Centre Ticket Office only. On Sunday tickets will be available at all three entrances. Telephone bookings (021 761 2866) can be made from the Tuesday before each concert, with an administration fee of R10 per ticket applicable.

Solms-Delta Summer Concert Series 2012

Solms-Delta Estate, Franschhoek

Enjoy a feast of rural Cape food, music and dance each Saturday evening from 14 January to 10 March 2012.  Sample the estate’s wine and tuck into a hearty Fyndraai Kaapse Braai Buffet in a beautiful setting.

Listen to the Solms-Delta Music van de Caab’s homegrown bands and the Delta Soetstemme and Delta Valley Entertainers perform alongside some of South Africa’s favourites, such as much loved Hannes Coetzee, Les Javan, Hot Water, Tribal Echo, House of Davids, Kaapse Affodille and Pieter van der Westhuizen.

Dates & Times:
SATURDAYS. 14, 21, 28 January;
4, 11, 18, 25 February;
3, 10 March.
From 7.00pm to 9.30pm.
Cost: R195pp (food and music). Kids U 12yrs R95.
More info/bookings:
To book call Henry 021 874 3937 or email: restaurant@solms-delta.co.za and follow them on Twitter @solms_delta and Facebook.com/solmsdelta, for updates.

Helderberg Nature Reserve Picnic Concerts

Helderberg Nature Reserve, near Somerset West

This series of summer concerts is held to raise funds for the nature reserve’s Environmental Education (EE) projects.

Dates & Times:
The season is already more than half way through, but three concerts still remain: SATURDAYS – 5 February 2012, 19 February 2012, 11 March 2012.
All concerts start at 17:30.

Tickets at the gate: R40 Adults, R10 Scholars, Free for children under the age of five

Enquiries: call the Information Centre  (021) 851-4060.
Or email helderbergfriends@telkomsa.net.
www.helderbergnaturereserve.co.za/events/concerts/

Paul Cluver Sunset Concerts

Paul Cluver Estate, Elgin

Only an hour or so out of Cape Town (less, if traffic is kind) is Paul Cluver Estate, in Elgin. During the summer season, Saturday evening concerts are held under the trees at the estate’s lovely wooden amphitheatre. Concert tickets are limited, so it’s not too crowded, and you can order a picnic in advance, or bring your own food (but not your own wine).

Dates & Times:
Selected Saturdays during the summer season.  Gates open at 5pm (seating is unreserved), and concerts start at 7pm.  Five more concerts remain for 2011/2012:

• SATURDAY 4 February 2012 – FreshlyGround (R325)
• SATURDAY 11 February 2012 – Share The Love (special concert) (R200)
• SATURDAY 18 February 2012 – Elvis Blue (R200)
• SATURDAY 25 February 2012 – Watershed (R325)
• SATURDAY 10 March 2012 – Vusi Mahlasela (R325)

Cost: Various (depends on concert price)

Bookings:  Book concert tickets via Computicket.  Book picnic hampers directly with Paul Cluver Estate:  021 – 844 0605  or email tourism (at) cluver.com

DISCLAIMER: Please use any event information as a guide only. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy thereof, things do change – and the best way to make sure something is definitely on is to contact the event organisers themselves. Full bells’n'whistles disclaimer here.