Therese Owen
Up the Creek has to be the most laid-back festival in the country. Keeping it tight at a few thousand people, this gentle festival is known for its high standard of music and a river running through the locale.
This weekend will be no exception. The event takes place from Thursday to Sunday on the Breede River in Swellendam.
The line-up is awesome. The forever fantastic bluesy metal sounds of Black Cat Bone will be a highlight. My darling Springbok Nude Girls will be yet another highlight. From Genie to Bubblegum on my Boots, these ageing rockers will certainly show the young ’uns a real rock-star party. Akkedis and Piet Botha are also on that older tip, but rock it much harder than most.
Jeremy Loops will be celebrating the imminent release of his latest album. Jozi’s Shortstraw are on their way up in the pop and rock music scene and are a band to look out for.
Cape Town favourite and music extraordinaire, the dark and magical Dave Ferguson, is also booked to play, as is Taxi Violence and Desmond and the Tutus.
Other Cape Town favourites include Naming James, Beach Party and Matthew Mole who is still in the Top 10 on iTunes.
Nineties folk rockers Bed on Bricks have made a return to the live music scene and it should be interesting to see how they have re-invented themselves. Dance fans can look forward to Das Kapital and Richard the Third.
Aside from the music there is that wonderful Breede River whose waters are probably the warmest in the Western Cape because, let’s face it, who’s been swimming in Camps Bay?
Also, it being Cape Town, the home of the hey shoo wows and Helen Zille, Up the Creek has teamed up with two “greening partners.”
They are Reliance Compost and Greenpop. These two partners say they are “enthusiastic to be involved again and hope to promote respect for the area as well as lots of green fun”. This will include a carbon footprint calculator app for partygoers to work out their footprint and get some green tips. Yay.
Greenpop will host a talent show on Saturday morning at the Greenpop parklet.
l For more information go to www.upthecreek.co.za.