Three new acts announced for Cape Town Jazz Festival

The announcement completes the full line-up for this year's festival, which will have some 41 artists from countries across the world as well as from within South Africa descend on Cape Town.

The Dainius Pulauskas Group is one of the most influential and active Lithuanian jazz outfits and considered to be the ambassadors of Lithuanian jazz. Jazz critic Jan Patterson described the group as a "unique sextet whose mixture of melody and muscle, lyricism and the unexpected, places it firmly at the forefront of progressive European jazz-fusion". It is supported by the Embassy of Lithuania to the Republic of South Africa.

London Portico Quartet is acclaimed for its distinctive sound created by its use of the 21st-century percussion instrument called the hang. Due to release a new album this month, Portico Quartet set to perform on the Moses Molelekwa stage, is known for taking its audiences on an electro-acoustic-ambient music journey. Its music is described as strange, beautiful, cinematic and futuristic, and South Africans will experience it thanks to the support of the British Council.

Psychedelic, bass and rap music

Rapidly growing in popularity is PH Fat, a three-piece band from Cape Town, which produces a unique blend of psychedelic, bass and rap music, and will perform on the Bassline stage. PH Fat cut their teeth at local gigs, such as Splashy Fen and Oppikoppi, releasing their first album in 2011. Nominated for Best Dance Video at this year's MK Awards, PH Fat were awarded a MK MVP for their hit single City Of Thieves, which is currently number one on MK Top 10 and enjoying extensive coverage on South African radio stations. PH Fat's next album is due for release later this year.

There are two adjustments to the programme. Unfortunately, US' Ravi Coltrane is not able to perform with Jack DeJohnette and Matt Garrison as a trio due to health reasons. Coltrane will be replaced by jazz saxophonist, alto clarinettist, and flautist, Joe Lovano from the US.

Robert Glasper Experiment adds English-born American underground hip hop artist Daniel Dumile, known as MF Doom. MF Doom is best known for anti-hero stage persona and unique lyrics.

Mixing and blending skills

An exciting addition to this year's music celebration is that top DJs will work their recorded music mixing and blending skills on two stages at the CTICC during the festival.

Raiko, considered one of the most hard-working DJs on the South African hip hop circuit, will showcase his talents on the Bassline stage on Friday, 5 April. Raiko made a name for himself in Cape Town in the early 2000s and has come up through the golden era of hip hop. Known for smooth, technical sets, he has taken the DJ spotlight across South Africa and in Europe. He has also been DJ for two artists performing at this year's festival: Ben Sharpa and Khuli Chana.

Das Kapital may be the critical analysis of political economy by Karl Marx, but it is also the name of a 22-year-old Cape Town-based electronic music producer and DJ, who started producing beats at the tender age of 13. Drawing a lot of inspiration from rave music, Das is known to rely on a heavily electro-driven bassline to get any dance floor jamming. He will perform on the Bassline stage on Saturday, 6 April.

On the Manenberg stage on the Friday and Saturday, respectively, will be two DJs from Cape Town, Mr Mo known for his R&B and hip hop "combos" and DJ Azuhl, who has fast become a household name on the South African hip hop and DJ scene.

Mr Mo, aka Andre Swanepoel ,started his career in the music industry as a radio presenter, later setting up a production company specialising in live music events, festivals and corporate events. He plays a diverse mix of music with a keen focus on funky disco and breaks.

Ricardo Nunes - DJ Azuhl - started out as a dancer and MC before becoming a DJ and producer/remixer. He has been involved in the hip hop scene since the mid-1980s yet also moves across musical genres, such as funk, soul, dub, house and rock. His club appearances and performances are too many to mention and he has also taken the limelight internationally. DJ Azuhl researched, co-produced and presented South Africa's first Afrikaans hip hop television series and is actively involved in youth development.

For further information, go to www.capetownjazzfest.com.