Toyota Music Festival
4 October at 19:00
Jan Marais Park
Jan Marais Park was bursting at the seams as festival-goers gathered to watch Matthew Mole’s performance at the Toyota Music Festival.
Matthew Mole is an artist known for his unique blend of acoustic pop and folk with electronic undertones. PHOTO: Emma Hamman
From the moment Mole took the stage, the crowd cheered and, throughout the performance, sang along with him. Known for his unique blend of acoustic pop and folk with electronic undertones, Mole has garnered a loyal following, and this performance showed exactly why.
Fresh off his international tour, Mole stepped onto the stage in the tranquil nature reserve to celebrate the success of his latest album, Wake Up, It’s Morning. Mole’s energy was infectious, creating an energetic atmosphere.
The evening, held at the edge of Stellenbosch University’s campus, was attended by students, parents and children all dancing and singing alongside each other. Picnic blankets were laid out behind a crowd of dancing fans who flocked to the stage. Students danced with children on their shoulders as Mole sang fan favourites like Holding On and Run, as well as covers of songs like Dancing Queen by ABBA.
The crowd joined in as singer-songwriter Matthew Mole performed a cover of Dancing Queen by ABBA at his Woordfees show. VIDEO: Emma Hamman
The beauty of his performance lies in his ability to make each song feel personal. Whether he’s playing a high-energy track or a slower, introspective ballad, Mole has a way of drawing the audience into his world. This personal connection was reinforced by a duet he sang with his father.
Mole’s interaction with the crowd was as engaging as his music. His easy-going, humorous personality shone through between songs as he shared anecdotes, drawing the audience into the creative process. His humility and down-to-earth nature made it feel as if he were performing for a group of close friends rather than a large audience.
Before the last song of the evening, Mole teased the crowd by explaining how an encore works. He instructed the crowd to chant encore as soon as he started walking off the stage, which they did obediently, resulting in him performing another song.
The crowd left cheerful, highlighting Mole’s ability to create an atmosphere of joy, reflection, and connection. The night celebrated music, love, and live performance in its purest form.