Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
It’s great to be Up the Creek
This cool four-day festival near Swellendam has retained an intimate vibe over its 25 years
IT’S ALMOST time for what is widely considered to be one of, if not the, best little music festival in the country. Up The Creek 2015, presented by Jägermeister, takes place on the banks of the Breede River near Swellendam from January 29 until February 1.
The festival – which is popular not only for its lineup of bands but also for the beautiful river setting, which is the only way to keep cool during the blistering hot days, and its intimacy – is celebrating its silver anniversary this year, the first one having taken place in 1990 when Annie Sowden created the event as a surprise 40th birthday celebration for partner, Anthony Bumstead. The couple continue to organise the festival to this day.
For 25 years fans and musicians have been packing their lilos and guitars into their cars and making the trip for a weekend of fun in the sun. Both camps generally agree one of the best things about Up The Creek is that it is small: only 2 500 tickets are sold, and there’s no such thing as VIPs. Everyone hangs out with everyone else, and many of the musicians spend the whole weekend there rather than playing their set then leaving right afterwards.
The lineup this year – taking place on four stages with no overlapping sets – is as always a mixture of veterans and first-timers. Zebra & Giraffe, Taxi Violence, Beatenberg, AKING, Dave Ferguson, Bye Beneco, Shortstraw, Hot Water, The Black Cat Bones, The Kiffness, The Ballistics, Stoker, Red Huxley, Scicoustic, Piet Botha & The Lyzyrd Kyngs, Gerald Clark, Mean Black Mamba, Manny Walters, Basson Laubscher, John Wizards, Al Bairre, Christian Tiger School, Gateway Drugs, Manouche, Grassy Spark, Nomadic Orchestra, December Streets, Shaun Jacobs Band, Diamond Thug, Rubber Duc, Bandolero, Ozone, Naming James, Qadasi, Sawagi ( JPN) and Kite Rider represent a variety of genres which can be enjoyed on dry land and in the water.
“There is a very small group of regulars, people like Piet Botha and Dave Ferguson, who provide a versatile thread of solidarity and creativity,” says Bumstead.
“It is like going back to your favourite restaurant – reassuring. The ratio of new bands to old is in fact almost the same this year. About 50% of the bands on the lineup have never played Up The Creek before.”
David “Qadasi” Jenkins, who will be making his UTC debut with a unique fusion of upbeat traditional Maskandi and indie folk music which stems from the heart of Zululand, says: “I am incredibly excited for our debut at UTC. Not only will this be our first time at the festival, but also our first break into the Western Cape. That being said, we really look forward to seeing what festival life has to offer from that side of the country.”
The excitement and enthusiasm of playing Up The Creek is not limited to newbies. One of the biggest names in the country, Taxi Violence, will be making their eighth consecutive appearance.
“Up the Creek, without a doubt, is my favourite local music festival,” says guitarist Rian Zietsman. “There are many factors, so I will try to name a few. The river – floating down that river with a beer is one of the finer things in life. The audience – people are there for the music and not just there to get wasted. That happens too, obviously, but the music is why they are there. The fact that there is always only one performance at any given time is great. Who wants to have to choose?”
Up The Creek is four days jam packed with activities. This year the MK Jam Van is a new addition, which will lead Creekers down to the Sedgwicks river stage, back up to the Hunters stage and across to the Jagermeister main stage in the manner of the Pied Piper. There will be live performances on top of the van, DJs inside the van, and impromptu performances around the van from the likes of drag queen Mary Scary.
“This year we are having a late night dance stage with live bands which is something different to what we’ve offered punters in the past,” says Bumstead. “As more people are coming on the Thursday night, Friday now has full programme to offer everyone. We also have the new Sedgwicks Old Brown food court stage to entertain during those much needed caffeine induced mornings.”
While you’re at it, those farmers’ breakfasts are not to be missed and just the thing for the inevitable hangovers.
Another highlight is the “Anything That Floats” competition which has two categories this year. Float With the Mostest – the float with the most people on it – will win a cool blue Titanic drink for each floater, which is also an UTC legend and quite delicious, as far as blue drinks go. Then of course there is Best Float, which has become increasingly weird, wild, and wacky over the years. This is a serious competition with great prizes from the festival sponsors.
● Tickets are R750 from http:// utc. nutickets. co. za/ for whole weekend access only (from Thursday 3pm until Sunday). Bring camping gear, flotation devices, hats, and sunscreen. And cash of course, for the food and drink on sale. There are mobile ATMs but they are not always operational due to poor signal. Which also means your cellphone probably won’t work. No open fires are allowed, and neither are under- 18s. See www.upthecreek.co.za, and if you prefer to camp in style check out www.heartbreakmotel.co.za.