Sad new music fans! Oppikoppi 2019 has been postponed until next year. This year’s festival would’ve been the 25th annual edition.

This statement was posted by the Matchbox Live CEO on the Oppikoppi Facebook page a few minutes ago:

Greetings South Africans. It is with a mixed bag of emotions, that we announce the postponement of the 25th edition of the annual music festival, Oppikoppi, till 2020.

We are very happy about the evolution of the festival dynamics, which are changing at Oppikoppi. Although Oppikoppi has been going for 25 years, the audience is young and keeps changing.

This was a very big decision for us. The decision was made after discussions with all stakeholders, our international investors & partners, sponsors & partners on the viability of the project this year and we have their full support and backing on the decision.

For 24 years, Oppikoppi has been going great guns. Unfortunately, in 2018 we experienced the rampant crime currently impacting events and festivals across South Africa.

For us to present the 2019 event with the increased security measures that are required to curb this crime to present a safe and enjoyable festival, the production costs also increase drastically.

By taking a gap year, we are giving ourselves the breathing room to redesign the festival and bring in the necessary changes without impacting the festival goer by increasing ticket prices. We believe that in doing this, we will bring everyone a fresh new festival, ready to take music lovers forward for the next 25 years.

Globally, live music festivals are constantly evolving, and even more so in South Africa. We are very proud of the moves we have made and the direction of the festival, but we feel like we needed to take a step back and start with a completely clean slate. It is an opportunity for us to take a look at what our tribe of fun-loving fans want, where they want it, and for how long.

The team is relooking every single brick that builds a festival in South Africa. We are even investigating bringing the festival to a venue closer to a major city, to enable day tickets, less travelling and other options for the attendees. All options are open. Nothing is out of question.

We realise that a festival like Oppikoppi has a significant role to play in the South African music scene, along with a critical social cohesion role that it has been playing for many years. We are 100% up for it BUT we want to do it right.

Thank you for the support over the last 24 years. We’ll see you in the trenches again in 2020.

In Dust We Trust.

Theresho Selesho
CEO – Matchbox LIVE, Owners of the Oppikoppi festival.

PS: We’re open to all suggestions on venues, provinces, bands, genres, stages, entertainment, bars and any crazy ideas that you may have for the 25th edition of South Africa’s most-loved festival. Send them to: [email protected]

All credit card purchases will be refunded automatically into the card that did the transaction. If you have used the EFT option, please email [email protected] and request the refund.

Plankton is rolling out the refunds today, receipt is dependent on your bank.

My response to the Oppikoppi 2019 Postponement announcement

This is sad, but also understable. I’ve been to 20 Oppikoppi festivals since 1998, so this hit my right in the feels. Crime was a problem at Oppikoppi Nomakanjani (in 2018). I wasn’t a victim but some of my friends were.

Oppikoppi has always been my favourite festival on the SA calendar. It’s one of the main reasons WHY I love SA Music as much as I do.

As sad as it is, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with taking a gap year. Ask yourself if you would do something half-assed if you could wait a while and do it better? Most of you would probably wait.

I’m confident that Matchbox Live will bounce back next year and bring us an festival with that’s improved and secure. I’m definitely holding thumbs for an amazing Oppikoppi 2020.

Watch this space for updates in the Music category on Running Wolf’s Rant.