10/06/2026
We'll be selling all kinds of weird things this year! AND we can't wait to see the new venue! Any suggestions that you would like to see this year?
Pre-orders welcome!
Dear Cape Town Metal Community,
We have some news.
Firstly, as happened in 2015 when we suddenly and without warning lost our home of 9 years (Klein Libertas Theatre), we have again lost our home of nearly 11 years. The property on which Viben Lounge operates has been bought by an adjacent property owner whose own business is expanding with immediate effect.
However, in our 20th year of Friendship and Metal, the journey does NOT stop here!
A new and exciting venue has been secured where our vision for the type of event you've become used to can continue. WinterFest'26 is taking place at The Alley, 85 Auckland Street, Paarden Eiland, Cape Town.
Things to know:
Plus points...
• For our Southern Suburbs, Cape Flats and Peninsula friends, it's closer!
• For our guests travelling from far, it's easier to access from the Cape Town CBD.
• It has a larger indoor space.
• There is a wider stage for more front-row access.
• It has an undercover/waterproof outdoor area in case of rain.
• It has more available seating.
• It has more toilets for both ladies & gents.
• For artists, it has a separate entrance for load-in.
• For media, you'll have an actual media pit.
• Stage production will be on par with what you know from M4A.
Minus points...
• It's further away for our friends from the Winelands & Helderberg.
• Whilst we still have two entertainment areas, it's less feasible to run them both at full steam the whole time. We're accommodating this in the short term by slightly extending band changeover times and blasting the DJ area during those times.
Additional info...
• Times - we're extending the concert's running time by 1 hour. The first band will begin at 16h30, and the final band should finish by 00h30.
• Food - we will have the same service provider.
• Parking - similar to in Brackenfell, there is only street parking available in Paarden Eiland. The venue owner assures us that his own staff provide security & also marshall traffic for efficient use of designated areas.
• Ticketing - if you are unable to attend owing to this venue change, you may request a refund. Otherwise, existing tickets remain valid. New tickets will have the new address. Walk-in sales on 25 July will also still be welcome.
• Costs - bar prices will be on par with previous M4A events. The venue itself does cost us more, but we've been granted use of it at a similar price for our introductory festival. Afterwards, we'll have an honest conversation with you, our community, about the path forward and what we collectively want.
• Reconnoisance - there's plenty of media online which shows The Alley. However... very little shows the new space opened up that we'll use (in addition to what you can find online). We kindly ask that you trust us that this is going to be great!
