FROM AN ACORN TO A WONDEROUS TREE
Concerts in the Park began 12 years ago with the vision to bring people of all colours, religions and walks of life together to collectively enjoy some of the best musical artists South Africa has to offer. This unique event is held in Cape Town’s wonderful Victorian De Waal Park where artists play in the historic bandstand.
Concerts in the Park is focused on nation-building with the aim of bringing joy to people’s lives through accessible concerts. It also encourages the community as a whole to use and enjoy their public parks.
Concerts in the Park Founder, Charles Lindsay-Bowman, was vice chairman of a Park association and was involved with the City Council Parks in making De Waal Park, a wondrous City centre Victorian Park, a safe, serene and beautiful park for all to enjoy. This also included the 1905 Bandstand which had been dormant for years. This is how the planting the Acorn was planted.
With virtually no experience and certainly no pop concert knowledge, Charles registered Concerts in the Park as a non-profit company. Hot Water was the first artist with around 1,000 fans; Prime Circle featured later and brought in 8,000 gregarious visitors from babies to octogenarians. That’s what it’s about. Concerts in the Park is about families and their friends, old and young – sharing a common excitement to experience the very best artists we are blessed with in South Africa.