After two consecutive years at Duma FM grounds, The Hamptons Jazz Festival has now relocated to Gaborone Club.
Hamptons promoter Debbie Smith said in an interview that they decided to relocate from Duma FM grounds after nearby residents raised complaints with local authorities.
However, Lifestyle is informed that there is more to the issue than meets the eye, as the relocation was primarily influenced by financial disagreements between the owners of Duma FM grounds and organisers of The Hamptons. Smith refused to comment on the issue, saying she didn’t want to “burn any bridges”. The Hamptons promoters had reportedly fallen out with the management of Duma FM grounds, who demanded a bigger slice of the pie after realising that the festival was a huge success.
“They almost tripled the initial fee for the venue,” a source said.
The third instalment of The Hamptons Jazz Festival is set to take place on February 27th 2016 at Gaborone Club. Smith revealed that the final list of artists set to grace the event has been completed, and it includes Caiphus Semenya and Letta Mbulu (SA), Vusi Mahlasela (SA), Oliver Mutukudzi (Zimbabwe), The Soil (SA), and Beatenburg (SA). The rich line-up also includes the cream del la crème of local jazz in the form of Sereetsi and the Natives, Sharon Sibonge, Women Of Jazz, Trinity Mpho and Nono Siile. New kid on the block DJ Dy Laninah Benz will also join the line-up. She is one of the very few female DJs in the country. Smith further revealed that early tickets for the show have already sold out. The festival attracts fans from as far as UK, SA, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
She estimates the budget of the 2016 event to be at least P1.5 million.
“We advertised the 2016 event early to give people time to prepare for the event,” said Smith.
The relocation to Gaborone Club has raised worries about limited parking space, but Smith said they have secured parking from other facilities surrounding the venue.
