MUSIC FESTIVAL
AQUIET weekend away in the central Drakensberg, enjoying a view of mountains over a dam, led to a light-bulb moment for Durban concert promoter Pedro Carlo.
He suggested to the owners of the White Mountain Lodge in the foothills of the Giant’s Castle Nature Reserve that their sprawling grounds would make a great spot for a musical festival.
That was all it took to create a popular event that is to celebrate its 10th anniversary when it runs from September 24 to 27.
The White Mountain Festival is a collaboration between the lodge and Carlo’s C-Weed Entertainment Promotions.
This year it offers a sparkling line-up that includes Matthew Mole, Rowan Stuart, Rubber Duc, Al Bairre, Margaret’s Daughter, Howie Combrink and Connecting Stars.
Also on the bill are Holly and The Woods, Shomon, Tuin, Bad Peter, Majozi, Gugz and the Bam Bam, Early Hours, as well as international duo Jamie MacDowell and Tom Thum.
“White Mountain Lodge truly offers a gem of a festival,” says Carlo.
“From its idyllic setting overlooking a dam and wetland, to its intimate, relaxed vibe, plentiful amenities, great line-up, and added bonus of being just 25km off the N3 on tarred roads, it is the perfect weekend getaway for the whole family.”
From the start, the plan was to keep the festival intimate and relaxed, and to create an event where people could genuinely get away from it all and enjoy great live music in an awesome setting, he adds.
“The line-up each year also reflects this, being mostly acousticdriven. Even the more mainstream rock acts perform acoustic sets, which means people get to hear their softer, stripped-down sides.
“We pretty much started the way we meant to carry on – and any increase in the number of acts performing each year depends more on the length of the festival (to coincide with the Heritage Day public holiday) rather than on a desire to actually grow the number of performers.”
Carlo says he has realised that as much as people like to see top established artists, they also like to be surprised by the lesser-known acts, which often make the biggest impression and become the “finds” of the festival.
“Audiences are exposed to new music, and artists are exposed to new fans, which is great.”
Carlo is excited about this year’s line-up and, when pushed to highlight acts he is personally most looking forward to this year, points to an Australian duo.
“Talented singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist Jamie MacDowell and world-renowned beatboxer Tom Thum are such a unique combination and I think they’re going to blow people away.”
Besides the music, the festival also offers colourful arts and crafts, a wide variety of food and drink outlets and much for the adventurous – including abseiling, a 100m zip-line, paintball or standup paddleboarding on the dam.
Also, if you’re feeling really energetic, this year sees the introduction of a trail run on Saturday, September 26.
LoveTrail, as it is known, offers a 15km mountain run or 7km run/walk. Product samples and prizes are to be won.
“Less strenuous options include leisurely walks or guided hikes to the nearby Pigeon Pools, a game of volleyball with friends, bass fishing (bring your own rods and tackle), plus a range of supervised activities for the kids.
“Or you can blow up those lilos and tubes and hit the water.”
Tickets for the festival are available at Computicket outlets or the festival gate, and include camping.
For the full programme and other festival information, visit www.c-weed.com/wmf or call 031 563 0824.