We’ve dug deep to bring you incredible bookings, ranging from the new-school right through to the very people who planted the seeds of the scene we celebrate today. While hit-makers come and go, they all draw on the foundations laid by a few key individuals. And let’s be clear about one thing, those foundations are laid on dancefloors.
True legends earn the right to influence future generations by demonstrating relentless power in front of a hungry crowd. Beyond widening horizons and uplifting knowledge of the scene, these artists were booked because they are masterminds of performance. Our promise to you is to deliver life changing experiences, and throw every ounce of effort and budget behind the sound and environment that brings these moments to life.
Highlights on this year’s roster include the baron of Techno himself, Dave Clarke, who has made people sweat in basements and 90’s festivals stages alike, remixing the likes of Depeche Mode, Leftfield, Underworld and The Chemical brothers. We eagerly anticipate Heidi’s heady dose of crowd crushers as the BBC 1 host prepares to make a permanent mark on the South African house and techno culture. With an October through December residency at the incredible London Club XOYO, hosting artists like TheBlack Madonna, Modeselektor & CTEMF alumni Ritchie Hawtin, Heidi is sure to deliver something incredible.
A consistent name right at the top of our CTEMF wishlist for the last 6 years has been Âme live. Frank Weidemann epitomizes the sound of today’s house/techno landscape through the rise of innervisions label and his sound is instantly recognizable through productions and remixes of artists like Sailer & I, Howling, Radio Slave, Moderat & Radioslave.
Coldcut are considered to be in upper tier of electronic dance music pioneers. Soundtracking a generation of the formative years of dance culture explored through the creation of the Ninja Tunes label, their mix series Solid Steel, Collaborative projects with Hextatic and production credits on Eric B & Rakim, Blondie, INXS and Nina Simone.
Stones Throw Records has dictated quality-driven underground hip-hop for decades and has nurtured artists such as Madlib, MF DOOM, J Dilla and Mayer Hawthorne. Its formative influence over this genre has us falling apart with excitement as label owner and pack leader Peanut Butter Wolf comes to town.
The CTEMF crew is delighted to host two young trailblazers in their respective genres, Ryan Hemsworth, who has worked regularly with Diplo and collaborated with Tinashe, and Mateo! who, alongside Hungarian counterpart Gaga has created a unique brand of dark minimal Techno that is taking the techno scene by storm. Both of these artists open audiences to the possibilities of an electronic music future right now in the present.
Representing the Highveld, Stay True Sounds Label founders Jullian Gomes and Kid Fonque continue to inject their underground ethos into mainstream consciousness. Fonque’s inclusion into this year’s 5fm roster speaks to the hope we feel in our nation’s musical evolution. The inclusion of relative newcomer Jazzuelle, who is steadily gaining metric momentum, having signed to Get Physical Records, and gigging shows the likes of Sonar, Glastonbury and many more.
Closer to home, an artist who had steadily represented the sound of House music in Cape Town, Leighton Moody has been an inclusion in Boiler Room, plies his trade as a full time musician and humbly calls some of the biggest names in Global House Music personal friends.
Zaki Ibrahim’s life seems to follow a melodic, natural rhythm around the world. This is no better epitomised by her musical talent and steadfast dedication to her creative vision. Her angelic voice, various accolades she continues to receive and exciting projects are a constant source of inspiration for the audience who grow to become long-time fans.
One of our proudest and humblest musical exports, singer / songwriter Portable or Bodycode now lives, tours and plays regularly in Europe. Always a consideration for us, and one of the highlights of festivals past. Releasing on Perlon, K7! and Spectral, Portable is leading the charge alongside friends and fellow artists on exposing the loose terms of african electronica to a more discerning and seasoned group of music lovers.
