The third annual Vodacom In The City Music Festival took place at the iconic Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown at Joburg as it came alive with thousands of fans through memorable
performances by international acts Rudimental Live, MGMT, Crystal Fighters and The Presets, as well as Vodacom Open The City Winners, P.H.Fat. Electronic duo P.H.Fat were the first to hit the stage. As the only local act on the bill they had the task of entertaining the masses before the seasoned internationals.
They did a phenomenal job immediately captivating the early attendees who made it to the venue to catch their set.
With their outlandish and dreamlike costumes, feather headdresses and spectacular staging Crystal Fighters transported the audience into an alternate dimension of basque-folk bliss.
The entire crowd took part in a touching tribute of thanks and appreciation for former drummer, Andrea Marongiu, who tragically passed away just a few weeks ago.
Next on stage was psychedelic rock duo MGMT who, with their mind-bending electro pop not only delivered the classics “Kids” and “Electric Feel”, which had the crowd signing and swaying in unison, but gave fans a taste of their latest songs off the album ‘MGMT’.
Picking up the tempo were the highly anticipated Rudimental.
This drum’n’bass-meets-soul group with three vocalists and a total of nine members literally took over the stage with their high energy feel-the-love-collectivism. Shouting “We love you Johannesburg” and playing favourites like “Waiting All Night”, “Home” and “Free”, Rudimental exceeded all expectations.
Australian electronic duo The Presets closed the night with their incredible live set. Listening to their dark-hued techno fill the square it was difficult to believe that there are only two members of this captivating act.
These experienced professionals had attendees in the palm of their hands with their hypnotizing stage graphics and pounding tracks.