A lot of people went back to work today, and I think for all those attending Milk and Cookies Presents: Kaytranada in Cape Town yesterday, we just wanted one last party before the perpetual grind commenced.
He’s one of the biggest DJs in the world. An excellent curator of groove, blending soul, funk and hip-hop into one seamless shakedown. However (and I hate to say this) yesterday’s experience was underwhelming to say the least. Here’s why.
My friends and I arrived just before 7pm, certain that we had left ourselves enough time to find a good spot and get a drink or two. Well, we ended up queuing for almost an hour just to get in to the venue. Everyone who was at The Ostrich last night will tell you the same thing – there were just way too many people.
Milk and Cookies sold too many tickets, prioritising profit over the safety and enjoyment of attendees. At one point someone fainted right in front of me from the sheer intensity of the crowd, not to mention the constant pushing and shoving just to get a glance at the stage. And this is coming from a guy who loves a packed and sweaty dance floor.
Now, I’m not saying people didn’t have a good time, because they definitely did. Kaytranada played all the hits, and as expected, we went crazy. Opening his set with bangers like “VIVID DREAMS” and “Need It”, the Timeless Tour definitely delivered a quintessential Kaytranada experience.
An unexpected remix of “CUFF IT” also made a big impression, whilst he ended the night off in perfect splendour with fan favourites “Be Your Girl” and “Intimidated”. It was hard not to feel the joy of the people around you, even if we were being corralled like sheep.
Supporting acts included DJ Kent, Dwson, Kitty Ca$h and Zakes Bantwini, all of whom delivered solid performances, warming up the crowd with a range of sounds that included Gqom, Afro-House and amapiano.
The overall production of the event was also impressive. A massive, crystal clear screen stood looming behind the stage, whilst another even bigger one was suspended above the main dance floor, projecting brilliant visuals. It made it feel like we were witnessing a true spectacle; like this wasn’t just another outdoor music festival, but a world-class event.
But here’s the kicker. The average ticket went for about R900, and most people ended up paying more than that because of how quickly Phase 1 and Phase 2 tickets sold out.
I understand that a lineup and production of this level comes with a price, but in a country like South Africa, paying R900 for a ticket is simply not affordable for the large majority.
There are so many events that make provisions for low-cost tickets, ensuring that parties can remain accessible and non-exclusionary. To be fair, Milk and Cookies did later announce an after-party hosted at the Old Biscuit Mill where Kaytranada would be playing a second DJ set, and Phase 1 tickets started at R500.
Still, the fact remains that people paid a lot of money to be there last night, and perhaps made financial sacrifices which some middle class concert-goers might take for granted, and in my opinion, we didn’t get our money’s worth.
The sound was too soft once you moved away from the main dance floor, which many of us were forced to do due to the of lack of space, and there weren’t nearly enough bathroom facilities, to the point that people were queuing for almost 45 minutes at a time.
Leaving also proved even more challenging than arriving. Those who came with cars queued for almost two hours, whilst those who opted for Uber had to walk 2kms to stand on the side of the N7, with no signal, waiting for Ubers that never came. Fun right?
Also, if I’m being entirely honest, I found Kaytranada’s set to be incredibly average. I was speaking to some people after the show and we all agreed that he could have adapted his set, at least in some way, to celebrate South African culture and showcase South African music.
This is incredibly on the nose, but just imagine if he dropped “Sister Bethina” or something similar. It’s quite common practice for DJs to incorporate local music into their sets, but what Kaytranada delivered last night felt very flat, and much too rigid.
It dipped a few times, with some of the most repetitive house transitions I’ve ever heard, which left everyone kinda just standing around waiting for him to start the next song. It almost felt like he was just hitting play on a lineup of tracks without really thinking about how he could extend or transform those songs for a live setting. And we know he can, we’ve all seen that Boiler Room in Montreal…
The conclusion? I should have gone to the after party instead.
