Detroit pioneer celebrates 30 years of “Live at the Liquid Room” with dates in Johannesburg and Cape Town in March 2026!
SOUTH AFRICA – One of Techno music’s most influential architects is set to make a rare and historic appearance in South Africa as Jeff Mills brings his celebrated Liquid Room 30th Anniversary tour to both Johannesburg and Cape Town in March 2026.
The two-city tour will see Mills perform at 1 Fox Junction in Johannesburg on 27-28 March, followed by Apollo Warehouse in Cape Town on 28-29 March. The performances confirm South Africa as a key location for electronic music, as the Detroit pioneer brings decades of innovation and legendary status to local shores.
Jeff Mills stands as a towering figure in electronic music history. As a founding member of Detroit’s groundbreaking Underground Resistance collective alongside “Mad” Mike Banks, Mills helped define the sound, attitude, and ethos of techno in its formative years. His influence extends far beyond the Motor City, having reshaped DJ culture with precision, fearlessness and imagination that continues to inspire generations of artists worldwide.
The Liquid Room in Tokyo became a spiritual home for Mills throughout the 1990s and beyond, where his residency evolved into the stuff of legend. His critically acclaimed mix ‘Live at the Liquid Room”, recorded in 1996 – is widely regarded as one of the best DJ sets of all time. “What happened during that 3-hour set was more than any of us had ever imagined” reflects Mills, “it wasn’t a typical DJ set. It was more of a transition point. One that doesn’t come very often. What resulted would be the preservation of a turning point in dance music history”
This 30th anniversary tour honours that transformative era and revisits the artform of DJing truly unique to Jeff Mills. For South African techno enthusiasts, these performances represent far more than just another international booking. Mills’ appearance signals a meeting of worlds – past, present, and future – and a recognition of South Africa’s growing position within the global electronic music landscape.
“Standing alongside Jeff Mills at this point in time is profoundly symbolic for us,” Underground Africa stated. “Though we are part of a newer generation, our work is rooted in respect for techno’s lineage, disciplined curation, and long-term thinking. We believe in growing with purpose, care, and responsibility.”
“This night marks a rare moment for South Africa: a meeting of worlds, past, present and future. A celebration of the culture that shaped us – and the culture we are shaping next,” organisers CTEMF stated.
Tickled pink for a ticket?
Event Details:
Johannesburg – (Underground Africa)
Dates: 27-28 March 2026
Venue: 1 Fox Junction, Johannesburg
Tickets: From R450.00
Age Restriction: No under 18s
Available at: Howler
Cape Town – (CTEMF)
Date: 28-29 March 2026
Venue: Apollo Warehouse, 10 Natal St, Paarden Eiland
Tickets: From R450.00
Age Restriction: No under 18s
Available at: Howler
Tickets are on sale now through Howler.
For more information and tickets, visit www.howler.co.za
About Underground Africa
Joining forces on this historic tour is Underground Africa, one of South Africa’s most focused and forward-driven forces in contemporary Techno.
Founded in 2020, Underground Africa operates not merely as an event platform, but as a brand-led collective rooted in intention, collaboration, and long-term cultural contribution. Known for its warehouse parties and carefully curated club nights, the collective has built a reputation for precision, atmosphere, and uncompromising musical direction.
Despite its relatively young footprint, Underground Africa has hosted a respected roster of international and local artists, including MARRØN, Ignez, Ø Phase, Radio Slave, Juliet Fox, Inox Traxx, BENZA, and SAMA’, among others. Each booking reflects a deliberate focus on depth, integrity, and artistic alignment rather than trend-driven programming.
In 2024, the collective expanded its vision with the official launch of its record label, Kova Records, extending Underground Africa’s role from dancefloor curation into recorded music. Since launch, the label has released work from both international and South African artists, reinforcing its commitment to meaningful artistic exchange and long-term development.
Links | No official website. Staying underground 😉
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/undergroundafrica
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/undergroundafrica
Label: https://kova-label.bandcamp.com/music
About CTEMF
Established in 2012 as a platform to celebrate South Africa’s innovative and thriving electronic music culture, The Cape Town Electronic Music Festival (CTEMF) quickly gained recognition as one of the most relevant and forward-thinking events on South Africa’s festival calendar.
CTEMF’s objectives are simple: contributing to the growth of electronic music culture in an inclusive, positive and responsible way by showcasing South Africa’s most interesting and progressive electronic artists alongside their international counterparts.
Since its establishment in 2012 CTEMF debuted the likes of Richie Hawtin, Four Tet, Octave One, Goldie, Chloé, Dave Clarke, Nightmares on Wax, Anya Schnieder, Justin Martin, Caspa and many more on South African soil.
A key differentiator is the development-focused programme that includes workshops, lectures, artist and label showcases in both cities and townships. CTEMF is committed to creating opportunities for those willing to be a force for change regardless of their socio-economic standing.
Official Website: https://ctemf.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctemf
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CTEMF
A huge thank you to Lume Agency and the spectacular Katie Coetzee for sharing such a meaningful snippet of info regarding a culturally significant, jivey event taking place on our home turf!