Wicked weekender

Unwind in style on the Olifants with techno, electronica and heavy bass, writes Bianca Coleman

THE Wolfkop Weekender Lilo River Flow is a festival aimed at the older, more discerning music lover. It takes place from January 19 to 23 on the banks of the Olifants River in Citrusdal, a two-hour drive from Cape Town.

“It’s not your usual main-stage gambit – the music by day is deep house and down-tempo electronic with a distinctly laid-back feel, best enjoyed from a lilo on the river. And at night things kick off a bit as the music bumps deep into the night across techno, electronica and more bass-heavy soundscapes,” say the organisers.

For the event they have booked an all-star South African line-up, curated by Richard Marshall. The three days of music is bookended by camping, making up the full fiveday adventure.

“After what was a stand-out year in 2016 for the little festival that can, we look forward to whipping your senses with a sonic feast of unparalleled proportions in January, and letting Mother Nature do the rest!” add the organisers. “As always we have one or two surprises up our sleeves, and things aren’t quite what they seem…”

Activities include floating down the Lilo Highway, high tea on Saturday, spit braai on Sunday, food vendors, bars, pop-up craft stalls, land and nature artworks, adventure by day and dancing by night, and general all-round chilling with your besties under the sun and stars.

Resident DJ, the legendary Bruno Morphet, has this to say about the festival: “Wolfkop enriches its participants on so many different levels. Curated around the beautiful environment it calls home – a citrus orchard on the banks of the Olifants River – the soundtrack is an expertly curated anti-genre cornucopia of live electronic and dance-floor orien- tated energies.

“There’s such a large area to explore, you are free to express yourself in any way you see fit, with the mountains and the water as your backdrop.” BYO Camping Pass includes a festival pass, four nights accommoda- tion in the BYO Camping village where there are two sections: BYO1 is in the lush forest grove, and BYO2 offers quieter quarters further down river. Bring your own camping gear. There are power points. Price R950 a person.

Comfy Camping Village includes a festival pass, four nights accommodation in a Comfort Camping Village which includes arriving to a set-up tent with two mattresses and bedding, under a bedouin marquee. This is a great option for larger groups – there are four dome tents per village, with lights and power points. No frills. Tickets are sold in pairs for R2 900.

LUX Camping Village includes a festival pass and four nights accommodation in a LUX Camping Village which includes arriving to a set-up tent with two mattresses and bedding, under a bedouin marquee and a fully kitted camping village with camping chairs, table, toaster, kettle, cutlery, crockery and a braai. Each village has lights and power points. Tickets are sold in pairs for R3 700. Website: www.wolfkopweekender. co.za Tickets: wolfkopweekender. nutickets.co.za/LRF2017 Facebook: www.facebook.com/ wolfkopweekender/?fref=nf Twitter: twitter.com/WolfkopWeekend Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/ wolfkop-weekender