Rock in 2014 in the mountains

SMOKING Dragon is once again the place to be for those who love the combination of nature and music. This festival takes place in the astonishing beauty of the Drakensberg’s Amphitheatre. Smoking Dragon takes place from Sunday to Tuesday and features a combination of young and established bands.

The festival organisers say they will open a day earlier as they had such a demand by bands to get in on the fledgling festival because it is an amazing way to see in the new year.

There is the peace of the mountains by day and great music by night.

Headlining the festival will be Bittereinde who have announced that they are very excited to be playing the event for the first time.

Other artists will include Black Math ( pictured), The Dolphins and Shortstraw as well as Cortina Whiplash and the Slash Dogs.

The festival is essentially a boutique festival which means that there is one stage so the all of the bands get to play the main stage and have the same audience.

It also means that the audience is much smaller with a maximum of 1 500 people in attendance.

Aside from the great music, the aim of the festival is to make sure that every person who is camping has access to well-run toilets and hot showers.

There will be food and drink stands available. The festival is varied and attracts everyone from students to middle-aged rockers with children.

There will also be entertainment for children and a family zone located near the bathrooms. There wil be coummunal kitchens as well as a bar and restaurant.

Situated on the amazing land of the Drakensberg Backpackers, Smoking Dragon is exactly 250km from both Durban and Joburg.

Smoking Dragon is the only festival of its kind over New Year.

For more information on this event go to www.smokingdragon.co.za.