By Mediamec 
The “Hey Neighbour” music festival is returning with a bang, promising a high-energy, two-day celebration of global talent, music, and culture. Set to take place on 30 and 31 August 2025, the highly anticipated festival has already ignited buzz with its star-studded lineup — led by none other than Grammy-winning artist Doja Cat and US singer-songwriter Leon Thomas.
This year marks a historic moment for fans, as Doja Cat will be performing in South Africa for the first time. The chart-topping artist behind hits like “Say So,” “Paint the Town Red,” and “Woman” is expected to bring her signature energy and boundary-pushing sound to the Hey Neighbour stage.
Rumours have swirled that Doja’s long-awaited visit may be personally significant, given her South African heritage. Her biological father, actor Dumisani Dlamini, hails from the country — a connection fans are eager to see acknowledged during her performance.
In a 2024 interview with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden, Doja shared:
“I still haven’t been [to South Africa]. I rely on my career to just throw me out to places. I don’t find pockets of time in my life. I can fly, but I don’t like flying, especially long flights like that.”
Joining Doja Cat is multi-talented artist Leon Thomas, set to perform on day two of the festival. With roots in Broadway and fame from his role as André Harris on Nickelodeon’s Victorious, Thomas has evolved into a respected singer, songwriter, and producer.
He’s known for tracks like “Yes It Is,” “Rather Be Alone,” and “Vibes Don’t Lie,” and has penned hits for some of the biggest names in R\&B. Notably, Thomas earned a Grammy Award for his work on “Love, Marriage & Divorce” with Babyface and Toni Braxton.
Last year, Hey Neighbour captivated over 60,000 music fans with performances by Kendrick Lamar, Tyla, Swedish House Mafia, Khalid, Zakes Bantwini, and H.E.R.
In a statement, organisers promised to take the 2025 edition to the next level:
“To spice it up even more, we’ve taken all the magic of the 2023 fest and combined the previously announced three-day fest into two high-impact, high-energy-filled days of music, culture, and, of course, connection.”
They added:
“Ideally, we, your neighbours, are encouraging you to groove harder, sing louder and create the best, most authentic memories possible.”
The local artist lineup — and possibly more international headliners — will be revealed in June, adding to the growing excitement. Festival-goers are encouraged to stay tuned as the countdown to one of South Africa’s most electrifying music events begins.