Whatever your taste in music and entertainment you’ve got it made this summer in and around Cape Town, with a fantastic selection of al-fresco venues putting on concerts and plays. Here are 5 of the best:

Oude Libertas Summer Season Concerts
For 35 years people have been entertained in classical Greek style at Oude Libertas Amphitheatre, where new and established talent make their appearance until the middle of March. It’s an eclectic line up from Ikapa Dance to La Rosa’s en el Tablao Flamenco and Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels to piano and opera recitals.

Rhebokskloof Summer Concerts
This historic Paarl wine estate puts on the most delightful summer concerts by the lake. Bring your own picnic or buy food and beverages at the venue. Shows include a tribute to Dire Straits and Creedence Clearwater Revival, DNA Strings and Die Heuwels Fantasties, and start at 7pm. Tickets are R130 per person, half price for children under 15 years.  See their schedule here.

Backsberg Picnic Concert Series
Entertaining artists such as Francois van Coke, Blues Broers, Robin Auld, The Black Cat Bones and Koos Kombuis will put you in a great mood to enjoy music, picnic and beautiful surroundings at Backsberg. Shows are every Sunday afternoon from 17 Feb to 17 March, with up-and-coming opening acts warming up the audience before the main band. Tickets are R85 in advance, R100 on the door and R60 for student card holders. Children under 12 years are free if accompanied by their parents. For more look at their Facebook Page and buy tickets here.

Summer Concerts in De Waal Park
De Waal Park in the Gardens suburb of central Cape Town have a superb line-up of singing talent for their informal summer concerts, which run until 17 March 2013.  See their schedule here and don’t miss Karen Zoid on 6 Jan, Glenn Robertson Jazz Band on 20 Jan, Steve Louw & Big Sky on 3 Feb, Robin Auld on 17 Feb, Arno Carstens on 3 March and Hot Water ending the series on 17 March. Everyone welcome, including dogs!

Maynardville Open Air Theatre
There can be no better setting than Maynardville Open Air Theatre for an innovative production of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. Think laser lights, fairies, magic and romance under a starlight sky. It’s on from 21 Jan – 23 Feb and tickets cost from R110 to R160. While this is the main attraction of the season, the sylvan setting is perfect for the classical ballet Giselle, portraying the tragic tale of a young girl who loses her mind when jilted by her fickle lover.  On from 27 Jan to 17 Feb, costing R110, R120 or R130.  Finally, Shakespeare’s ‘lost play’ Cardenio, is a thrilling adventure of love, sex, betrayal of friendship and honour in 17th century Spain and is playing on various dates from Jan to March. See more details here.