Once Upon A Time In Joburg Brings Lucky Daye And More.

Once Upon A Time In Joburg Brings Lucky Daye, Smino And Baby Rose To South Africa

Johannesburg is getting another day dedicated to the kind of R&B that deserves to be experienced properly.

On 5 December 2026, Once Upon A Time In Joburg returns to the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens in Emmarentia, bringing together three international artists who each represent a very different side of contemporary Black music: Lucky Daye, Smino and Baby Rose. More artists are still expected to be announced.

For Johannesburg’s R&B audience, this is more than another festival announcement.

It is another sign that there is a real audience here for artists whose music lives somewhere between R&B, soul, hip hop and everything in between.

Three Artists. Three Different Worlds.

Lucky Daye, Smino and Baby Rose don’t sound alike, and that is exactly what makes the lineup interesting.

Lucky Daye brings the polished, deeply melodic side of contemporary R&B. The New Orleans singer has built his catalogue around smooth vocals, layered songwriting and a modern interpretation of classic soul.

Then there is Smino.

The St. Louis artist has always treated genre like a suggestion rather than a boundary. His music moves between hip hop, R&B, funk and soul, with an unmistakable approach to rhythm, wordplay and melody.

And then comes Baby Rose.

Her voice carries a completely different weight. Rooted in soul and contemporary R&B, she has developed a sound that feels intimate, dramatic and emotionally rich, making her one of those artists whose live performances can take on a life of their own.

Put the three together and you get a festival that isn’t trying to give Johannesburg one version of R&B.

It is giving the city several.

A Festival For The People Who Really Listen

Once Upon A Time has been building a reputation around a simple idea: create space for R&B and neo soul artists whose music deserves a stage in South Africa.

The festival has previously brought international names including Xavier Omär, GoldLink, dvsn and SiR to South African audiences, while continuing to build an identity around R&B, soul and alternative sounds.

The Joburg edition feels like a natural continuation of that story.

This time, the festival is returning to the city after its recent Centurion edition, responding to the audience that wanted the experience back in Johannesburg.

And the new location matters.

The Johannesburg Botanical Gardens gives the festival a different setting from a traditional concert venue, creating the possibility for a full day where music, culture, food and community can exist alongside the performances.

Lucky Daye In Johannesburg

For many R&B listeners, Lucky Daye’s appearance alone will be enough reason to be there.

His music has become part of the modern R&B conversation because he understands how to take familiar ingredients and make them feel current.

His records carry the warmth of classic soul, but they never feel trapped in nostalgia.

That balance makes him a natural fit for Once Upon A Time.

Johannesburg has a particularly strong relationship with artists who can make R&B feel both timeless and new, and Lucky Daye sits comfortably in that space.

Smino Brings The Unexpected

If Lucky Daye represents one side of the spectrum, Smino pushes the festival somewhere completely different.

His presence means the day isn’t going to be built around slow jams alone.

Smino brings movement.

His combination of hip hop, soul, funk and unconventional flows gives the lineup an unpredictable edge, creating a bridge between R&B listeners and audiences who live somewhere closer to alternative hip hop.

That contrast is important.

The best R&B spaces don’t have to sound the same from beginning to end.

Baby Rose Is The Voice To Watch

Then there is Baby Rose.

Her inclusion feels particularly fitting for a festival built around listeners who care about vocals, songwriting and emotional depth.

There is something timeless about her approach to soul. Her lower register and distinctive delivery give her music a presence that doesn’t need excessive production to make an impact.

Seeing her perform in Johannesburg could be one of the day’s most intimate moments.

And for listeners discovering her for the first time, it could be the kind of performance that sends them straight back to her catalogue afterwards.

Johannesburg Keeps Asking For More R&B

What makes this announcement exciting for us at RNBSOULsa is the bigger picture.

South Africa has never lacked R&B listeners.

The challenge has often been creating enough spaces where those listeners can see the artists they follow, discover new ones and experience the culture around the music.

Events like Once Upon A Time In Joburg help close that gap.

The audience is already here.

They’ve been listening.

Now more of the artists they have been streaming are finally coming to meet them.

A December Day For R&B

On 5 December, Johannesburg Botanical Gardens will become the meeting point for three different interpretations of modern R&B, soul and hip hop.

Lucky Daye brings the melodies.

Smino brings the unpredictability.

Baby Rose brings the soul.

And with more names still to be announced, Once Upon A Time In Joburg isn’t finished telling its story yet.

For Johannesburg’s R&B community, December is already looking interesting.

Tickets Available Here