U2 Concert. PICTURE: LOUISE McAULIFFE

We were all warned to leave home early, but no one anticipated sitting in traffic for close on 2 hours to get to Soccer City, for U2’s 360 Degree Johannesburg leg of their world tour.

Once inside  Soccer City, I had to wait a further hour and forty minutes to get a hot dog and soft drink, because the catering company did not seem to have enough staff to man the food and beverage kiosks. With refreshments in hand, I eventually made my way to my seat for the first time. As I took a bite of my hot dog, U2 walked on stage – I dumped the hot dog, and joined the approximately 92,000 strong crowd who were up-standing, cheering and clapping as they opened the show singing my all time favourite ‘Beautiful Day’.

Regardless of the traffic and snack drama – the concert was well worth the twelve-year wait, which is how long ago U2 last performed in South Africa.

Even if U2 are not your cup of tea (Me heard a rumour that fashion designer Gert Johan Coetzee and his partner left half way through the concert and went to nap on the bus) – there is no way that you would not have been in awe of the stage nicknamed the ‘claw’ with all its mechanical genius. The four-legged structure with revolving screens ensured that no matter how ffffaaarrrrr away from the stage you sat – you got to see all the onstage action.  The lighting effects were mind blowing too. Big ups to the 650-production crew who put the claw together over a four-day period.

U2 Concert. PICTURE: LOUISE McAULIFFE

Cape Town fans are in for a big treat on Friday February 18, as U2 complete the South African leg of their tour and move on to Santiago, Chile on February 25.

I hope that Cape Town Stadium has staff to maintain hygiene levels in the restrooms, as Soccer City’s toilets were absolutely disgusting. Thank goodness I did not have to use them because I heard that they ran out of toilet roll at 1pm in the afternoon.

U2 Concert