MARIE-CLAIRE DE VILLIERS catches an earful of what’s blowing up at this weekend’s Oppikoppi Festival.
ASK South Africans about Oppikoppi, and they’ll tell you: “It’s the dirtiest festival. You have to be pretty hardcore to survive and enjoy Oppikoppi!” Or, “not for the faint-hearted. I was exhausted by the time I’d partied all the way there on the train with those brethren’s”. Or maybe, “expect to become the mud”. But also: “It’s the most epic of all our country’s festivals. It’s the biggest, ‘baddest’ festival in this country and really it’s the most real”. But, as many a wise man has said of festivals, it’s what you make it. So, as most of us agree, you and your crew can make it your own experience – so don’t worry if you’re a little more on the tender side of the Harley Davidson Vikings who may roam the stages and the food stalls.
Besides, there are plenty of pickings to choose from tastewise, by this I mean in music, although food does play a powerful role. As you can see, this is already my second mention of delectables.
Hard rock visits us at Oppikoppi from around the globe with solid hooks and beautiful diversity in acts, such as The Circle View from Chicago, who have a reputation for anthemic rock, extraordinary performances and influences from Foo Fighters to Prince.
New York’s rather big act Brand New offers hard punk rock before their newest album release.
Their tagline, “wake up, wake up, you’re going to die!”, somehow seems like the right motto to take with you to Oppikoppi.
There is exceptional talent coming out of South Africa in the progressive rock field, with bands like the hard-hitting, Chris Cornell-type voice of Filth, the Motorhead-inspired Slashdogs, the psychedelic crossover of Black Math, and melodic rock outfit State Society (but I beg you to consult the full list).
How about a little ska/Balkan/ world punk? Go, Gogol Bordello (US). Watching their videos I can’t help feeling they may become family immediately when you hear/see them (you’ll hear them first, I assure you). Their fans around the world are surely like family, and in some cases may well be, as the band members hail from all over the globe.
These guys are trailblazers with their epic live shows and impressive output. Joining their ranks on the Balkan side of rhythm will be South African Balkan supergroup Nomadic Orchestra, while closer to Africa, Hot Water, pulls in the African punk flavour.
If you were one of those 90’s kids who survived on pop punk, check out legends of the House Party song fame, Tweak, making a comeback. “Schizophrenic fun factory with no regard for the rules of music”, – their quote, not mine. Some interesting, (scary?), crowd diving has come before and will come again.
“We have a ridiculous show planned. If I tried to explain to you what we have planned, you would think I was joking. It’s either going to go down in history as one of the greatest live performances of all time… or it will crash harder than the Hindenburg.
Either way, this is a once-off affair, we have nothing to lose… we’re not holding back one iota!”.
Indie rockers will be fed with our own hot lineup, as well as the nourishment of UK rockers The Curious Incident, whose happy go lucky sound is rather infectious.
If you’re looking for Afro-jazzy vibes and fresh live performance, check out acts like the politically-fuelled and rhythm-busting Nomisupa.
They describe themselves as “Superheroes on a quest to rule the world through music”.
They see Oppikoppi as “the perfect place to launch our master plan!”. Other acts among the many which incorporate jazz and eclecticism are Go Barefoot, Nonku Phiri and Planet Lindela.
For that fix of electronica, catch dance acts like grime hop PH Fat, house’s “best kept secret” Jazzuelle, DrumeticBoyz’ – a South African flavoured DJ-producer duo, dirty grooving Jakobsnake, drum and bass Junglist godfather Hyphen, and the inimitable papa of Afro house Black Coffee.
Folk can guide you too with the likes of Albert Frost and Robin Auld, among a long list of strong standing and upcoming folk acts from around the country.
For adventurous ears there are also acts like GSAND, Card on Spokes and Felix Laband, which push aural boundaries and make for unusual and enlightening listening.
This year’s festival introduces a new parade for those who are too scared to do the annual naked run. People get a chance to finally show off their outfits to the full.
Otherwise, get involved in the couch competition using your mom’s best furniture, or audition for the Northam Uitgewasde Seunskoor vir Mans en Vrouens.
If all else fails, go glamping – that’s glamourous camping for those of you still catching on – just please, please don’t miss the music on account of the dust.
l Oppikoppi runs from Friday to Sunday at Northam, outside Pretoria. Tickets: Plankton Mobi. www.oppikoppi.co.za