The celebrated ‘Kooks’ graced South African shores in 2013 as part of an exclusive brand campaign to the select few who were lucky enough to get tickets - and was met with rave reviews and lots of fans distraught who missed out.

In 2015, Vodacom In The City will feature some important enhancements and changes, all guaranteed to make the music festival experience even more awesome for current and new fans. 

The festival is moving from Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown to the iconic Zoo Lake, just outside the city centre. The move was prompted by several factors, the most important being the fans. Zoo Lake is a safer, more secure venue and the location makes it more convenient and accessible for the fans.  Coupled with improved facilities and better logistics, Zoo Lake is not only a larger, outdoor green space but it provides for better infrastructure and comfort.

Goodbye Friday night, hello sunny Sunday. Vodacom In The City moves to Sunday, 4 October, creating for the first time in its four years a full-day, day-time festival celebrating one of Johannesburg’s top green spaces. 

The festival will now be longer too, starting at 10:00 and ending at 18:00, which means more hours of the best international and local music. And another first – fans of all ages are welcome, making it a family-friendly day out.

“The move to the iconic inner-city park plugs into a global trend,” says Seed Experiences managing director Brian Little. “We are seeing more and more the global format of festivals being held in parks as a way to celebrate cities’ green spaces through music and lifestyle events.” Seed Experiences have a long track record of producing sold-out concerts and festivals at green, outdoor venues like Cloof Wine Estate, Zoo Lake, Emmarentia Dam and Kirstenbosch Gardens.

One thing that won’t change is Vodacom In the City’s reputation for securing top international artists. 

The third international act to join Milky Chance and The Cat Empire on stage is The Kooks, who return to South Africa to play for the first time at both Vodacom In the City and Rocking the Daisies. The British rock band has been making music and touring the world for more than 10 years. Their latest album, Listen, was released in September 2014 and represented a major shift in their sound, with influences from soul music and Afrobeat. Local fans will also get to hear The Kooks’ older hits from albums Konk, Inside In/Inside Out and Junk of the Heart.

Milky Chance became a viral online sensation after they released their self-produced single Stolen Dance on YouTube, which racked up over 30 million plus views in one month. They mix elegant electronic production with acoustic guitars and lilting, lush vocals and have mastered an original style that can best be described as singer-songwriter spirit mixed with electronic beats. 

The Cat Empire is a jazz/reggae/funk/Latin/gypsy/hip hop Australian band that never fails to start a party and have been touring and releasing records for well over a decade. Their latest album, Steal the Light debuted top 20 charts in six countries. They have a massive army of fans the world over, and for very good reason. They deliver incredible musicality, humour entertainment and energy and are guaranteed to make you smile and dance.

Tickets cost R495 and can be purchased online here.

Strapped for cash? Secure your ticket within 24 hours through the new Mobicred payment option – a first for South Africa and an exclusive industry initiative by Seed Experiences and Nutickets. No credit card needed, just easy, minimum monthly instalments via debit order that allow you to party now and pay it off later. Follow the simple sign-up procedure here and get your Vodacom In The City ticket now from R49 per month.

For more information on Vodacom In The City, visit www.vitc.co.za . Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook and on Twitter with the hashtag, #VITC2015.