Helen Herimbi
It’s not often that a music festival claims to be green. But when one like the Rise and Shine Festival, which heats up this weekend, claims it, they mean business. There are regular tickets as well as Green Tickets. With every Green Ticket purchased for the all-day event on Saturday at Sandton Central Park, a tree will be planted on behalf of the ticketholder.
This is made possible, in part, through the festival’s partnership with Greenbeings. In addition to trees planted because of Green Ticket purchases, the festival will plant one tree for every 50 attendees of the fest. The trees will be planted in Cosmo City where other sustainability practices will be sparked. Since the festival began two years ago, 300 trees have been planted, thus gaining the organisation a green footprint.
But that’s not where it ends. The event is primarily about music so you can expect to see the likes of Boo!, Mr Cat and the Jackal, Sutherland, New Academics, The Urban Village, Go Barefoot, Float Parade and Bye Beneco.
Joburgers, Bye Beneco, who were one of the opening bands for Ben Howard’s South African tour, will be a treat to watch. As will Boo! The band that comprises Chris Chameleon, Ampie Omo and Riaan van Rensburg had been on hiatus since 2012 but now, they aim to please the hordes of fans that they have amassed since 1997.
Officially starting at 9am, there will be food stalls that specialise in cuisine curated from some of the most sought-after food and design markets. However, an hour before then, there will be a light yoga session which will be hosted by the Rise and Shine Festival’s own yogi, Karen.
Where else can you get your namaste, nom-nom and beautiful noise on one day? If attendees park at Nelson Mandela Square and Sandton City, a flat rate of R10 can be paid for parking. So don’t miss this eco-friendly feast of music and food.
l The Rise and Shine Festival, Sandton Central Park, Saturday. To book tickets, visit www.riseshinefest.co.za.