logo
Top DJ Armin van Buuren climbs Lion's Head

Top DJ Armin van Buuren climbs Lion's Head

Renowned Dutch DJ and producer Armin van Buuren embraced Cape Town's natural beauty by hiking up Lion's Head on Friday ahead of his performance at Ultra South Africa.
He shared his experience on social media, stating, 'South Africa it's good to be back. Climbed the beautiful Lion's Head trail today, the view over Cape Town is just breathtaking.'
Van Buuren's ascent of the iconic peak coincided with his headlining set at Ultra South Africa's 10th anniversary event, held at The Ostrich Ranch later that evening.
The festival featured a line-up of top electronic music artists, including Martin Garrix and KSHMR.
Following the Cape Town show, Ultra South Africa will continue in Johannesburg on Saturday, 10 May, with Van Buuren also performing at the Expo Centre in Nasrec.
Armin van Buuren is a world-renowned Dutch DJ, music producer, and remixer, best known for his work in the trance and electronic dance music (EDM) genres.
Born on December 25, 1976, in Leiden, Netherlands, he began producing music in his teens and quickly gained recognition for his innovative sound and technical skill.
He is the creator and host of A State of Trance (ASOT) , a weekly radio show that has become a major platform for trance music, attracting millions of listeners globally.
Over the years, Van Buuren has released multiple studio albums and hit singles, earning critical acclaim and numerous industry awards.
Armin has been voted the world's No 1 DJ multiple times by DJ Mag and is known for headlining major international music festivals such as Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival, and Electric Daisy Carnival.
Beyond his music career, he is also recognised for his contributions to the global dance music scene and his ability to connect with fans through high-energy live performances and uplifting, melodic productions.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

A triumphant finale: highlights from the 20th Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival
A triumphant finale: highlights from the 20th Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival

IOL News

time16 hours ago

  • IOL News

A triumphant finale: highlights from the 20th Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival

Conductor Antony Hermus with the festival orchestra at the SICMF Image: Tiffany Schultz The Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival (SICMF) has concluded its 20th edition with a resounding triumph, marked by the Festival Symphony Orchestra's electrifying encore of Shostakovich's Polka. This spirited finale not only brought the audience to their feet but also produced the loudest applause ever recorded in the Endler Hall, encapsulating the festival's vibrant atmosphere and the transformative power of music. Over the course of ten exhilarating days, the SICMF showcased an extraordinary array of performances, uniting a richly diverse audience in a celebration of connection, creativity, and joy. Dutch maestro Antony Hermus, conductor of the Festival Symphony Orchestra, expressed his delight at the festival's success. 'This festival was a celebration of connection, creativity, and joy. Incredible music, brilliant people, Stellenbosch in full glory, and many extremely talented students with shining eyes all around. It has been an honour to be part of it,' he remarked. Hermus's words resonate with the festival's mission to foster a sense of community through music, as attendees from various backgrounds came together to experience the magic of live performances. Throughout the festival, audiences were treated to a plethora of musical offerings, including seven faculty concerts, eight guest ensemble concerts, 12 additional student ensemble performances, three workshops, seven public master classes, eight 'In Conversation with' lectures, and four symphony concerts. Each event contributed to an exhilarating atmosphere that echoed the energy of a pop concert, igniting a passion for music among attendees. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading A particular highlight was the captivating performance by the SICMF Alumni Symphony Orchestra, which delivered a stunning display featuring some of the world's most cherished symphonic compositions on the eve of the festival's opening. Audiences were mesmerised by a treasure trove of beloved works by Brahms, Ravel, Saint-Saëns, Shostakovich, and many others. This year, the festival also celebrated innovation with the world and South African premieres of eight new compositions, adding a fresh and daring dimension to this year's repertoire. The assembly of talent at this year's festival was remarkable, with 31 faculty members hailing from over 20 countries, alongside five guest artists, four assistant faculty members, eight invited student groups, and 287 student participants. These young musicians formed 92 chamber music groups and two large symphony orchestras, filling the air with a joyous musical cacophony and forging lifelong friendships in the process. The festival not only nurtured musical talent but also created a supportive environment where students could learn from world-class faculty and collaborate with their peers. In addition to the musical performances, this year's festival featured an artistic highlight – Gavin Rain's nine square-metre artwork, crafted from 1,098 messages etched into metal circles, made its virtual debut. This monumental piece, angled to reflect the face of SICMF patron Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, was officially laid down by SICMF Director Peter Martens, Artistic Director Nina Schumann, and Rain himself during the final day of the festival. The artwork served as a poignant reminder of the festival's commitment to creativity and community engagement. During its run, the SICMF sold an impressive 5,841 concert tickets and garnered an estimated 8,000 virtual attendees from nearly 90 countries, all eager to experience the livestreaming of 11 enlightening evening concerts. Maestro Michael Repper, who led the 152-piece Festival Concert Orchestra, reflected on his experience: 'Leading the FCO in this milestone 20th year of the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival was a true privilege. The young musicians brought incredible passion and skill, and the world-class faculty created an atmosphere of inspiration and excellence. My deepest congratulations to Nina Schumann and Peter Martens for building something so meaningful and enduring—SICMF is a gift to the musical world.' As the last echoes of the performances faded, patrons and festival-goers left the Konservatorium building, their hearts filled with a mix of joy and bittersweet sadness. With such an extraordinary celebration behind them, excitement brews over what awaits next year as the SICMF prepares to embark on its 21st journey into the world of chamber music. The festival's legacy continues to inspire and uplift, reminding us of the profound impact that music can have in uniting people across cultures and generations.

Shock and sadness as Tomorrowland music festival opens after fire
Shock and sadness as Tomorrowland music festival opens after fire

eNCA

time16 hours ago

  • eNCA

Shock and sadness as Tomorrowland music festival opens after fire

Shocked, sad but determined to dance, tens of thousands of electronic music enthusiasts started to arrive at Tomorrowland in Belgium Thursday, a day after the festival's main stage went up in flames. Organisers said the world-famous event, which was expected to draw 400,000 people over two weekends, would go ahead after the massive blaze was put out. The festival counts on 15 other stages spread over 34 hectares of land in Boom, in northern Belgium, which were not affected by the fire. But its main stage, due to host dozens of DJs including the likes of David Guetta, Lost Frequencies and Steve Aoki, "is no more" organisers said. BELGA/AFP | Tom Goyvaerts "It's impossible to put into words what we're feeling," they said in a statement. "We spent the night working on possible solutions." Images of the blaze circulated widely on social media, showing flames tearing apart the impressive set design depicting a frozen fairytale kingdom, with a giant ice-covered lion, castles and snow peaks. All that remained of the 160 metres wide and 45 metres high set up on Thursday was the charred scaffolding. "This is heartbreaking", Belgian DJ Charlotte de Witte wrote to her almost four million followers on Instagram. - 'We almost cried' - About 40,000 people were expected to spend the festival's first night at the "DreamVille" campsite Thursday. "It was so sad, we almost cried, it was horrible," Marie, a festival-goer who gave only her first name, told AFP as she arrived on site with her rucksack and camping equipment. "But we're glad it's still happening, we're in the mood, and Tomorrowland is a big family." Several of the planes chartered for the event have already landed in Belgium, and events planned in Brussels and Antwerp to welcome visitors from all over the world were going ahead as planned. "There's no main stage, but it's better than nothing," said Giulio, who travelled from Italy with a small group of friends. The causes of the blaze were not yet clear. Some witnesses said they heard fireworks, possibly launched as a test, going off around the time the fire broke out. The Antwerp public prosecutor's office said Wednesday it has opened an accidental fire investigation. Tomorrowland/AFP | The festival relocates to Brazil in October, and a winter edition is held every year in the Alpe d'Huez ski resort in France. By Jeremy Audouard With Matthieu Demeestre In Brussels

Tomorrowland Festival set to go on: main stage fire won't dim the rave spirit
Tomorrowland Festival set to go on: main stage fire won't dim the rave spirit

IOL News

timea day ago

  • IOL News

Tomorrowland Festival set to go on: main stage fire won't dim the rave spirit

The main stage of the Tomorrowland Festival was gutted by a fire ahead of it kicking off in Belgium. A fire erupted at the main stage, causing extensive damage and raising concerns among electronic dance music enthusiasts, many of whom are en route to the spectacular gathering. Festivalgoers have been reassured that their travel plans to the much-anticipated Tomorrowland festival in Boom, Antwerp, Belgium , can proceed as scheduled, despite a significant incident that unfolded just a day before the event's launch. The Tomorrowland festival, famously held within De Schorre provincial recreational park, has evolved into one of the world's most renowned electronic dance music events since it started in 2005, born from the vision of brothers Manu and Michiel Beers. Given its fame, the festival has amassed numerous accolades, securing the title of "Best Musical Event of the Year" at the International Dance Music Awards on five separate occasions. With thousands of attendees expected, the stakes were high for this year's gathering. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries have been reported following the blaze, a significant relief for both festival organisers and attendees alike. In a statement released by Tomorrowland's organisers, they confirmed the damage to the main stage, assuring fans that "the show must go on.' The statement read: 'Due to a serious incident and fire on the Tomorrowland Mainstage, our beloved Mainstage has been severely damaged. We can confirm that no injuries were reported during the incident. "We can announce that DreamVille (campsite) will open tomorrow (Thursday, July 17) as planned and will be ready for all DreamVille visitors. "All Global Journey activities in Brussels and Antwerp will take place as planned.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store