The Up the Creek 2012 music festival lived up to its reputation and then some!

No more will I wonder why this festival has such a strong following, or why every year people travel from all over the world just to sit in the river and listen to some bands. This festival is truly something special. I may have been to quite a few music festivals in my day, but I can honestly say that this is the most chilled, superbly positive and accepting festival I have ever had the pleasure of attending.

What I really enjoyed was that the organisers managed to pull together a perfect mix of musical styles. It was also a great opportunity to see bands that don’t get nearly enough exposure compared to the usual commercial selection of bands.

I honestly don’t even know where to start when it comes to the bands. There was so much talent that it’s actually difficult to single out favourites. However, my ‘band of the festival’ and also a band I’ve been meaning to see for a frigging eon was Shadowclub. These guys are seriously good. They honestly have so much potential, solid lead vocals, inventive riffs and a driving energy. When Good Morning Killer came on the crowd went ballistic. To top it all off they even managed to get a little mini mosh-pit going at the front…which I attacked with much gusto. Who would have thought I would be moshing it up with a crowd that are famously laid back?

Perhaps the most ‘commercially well known’ band that played was the ever impressive Aking. Singing along to Safe as houses was so much fun…what a song, what a band! They rocked a pretty groovy gig, even considering that the lead vocals got a bit drowned by the instruments. Machinery had a similar problem, but in reverse, Sanni’s vocals were too loud and crushed Andre’s insane guitar work.

My worst moment of Up the Creek came when we realised that we wouldn’t make it in time for Jeremy Loop’s set on Friday night. We literally missed it by 30 minutes. I have been telling my girlfriend about Jeremy for ages and really wanted her to witness his musical genius. Luckily he joined Machinery on stage during their gig…however it was only for one song and he didn’t get to show off any of his looping skills, so sad!

It is always a pleasure when I hear a band and instantly connect with their sound. The Kongos blasted the crowd with a fresh infusion of rock, which really got the audience moving. Interestingly enough their musical back ground resonate with the South African crowd, because the four band members, who are also brothers, spent much of their childhood in SA. Their father, John Kongos, is a well respected South African musician who is entrenched in the SA rock scene. They are currently recording in Arizona, but who knows maybe we will be seeing even more of them in the near future. They are on tour in South Africa at the moment, so check their tour dates here. This is a band I will be writing a dedicated post about very soon!

Just when Up the Creek couldn’t get any more surprising the crowd received a wonderful uplifting announcement! Two long time Up the Creek festival goers, Blues Broers band member Rob Nagel and his partner Maggie Frost, were to hold a surprise wedding…right there on the river in front of the entire crowd. It was actually quite a moving little ceremony. Maggie was rowed down the river in a little kayak, smoothly navigating between the masses of inflatable crafts, where she met Rob on the banks of the river. They had a short exchange of vows, which was presided over by Piet Botha (another well know musician). They kissed and waved to the crowd and everybody cheered like crazy…loved it. Supposedly another couple also got married at Up the Creek 2011, but I hear this one was much better and also didn’t mess with the musical schedule. So happy for them they looked so sweet together, congratulations!

The organisers did a pretty good job of coordinating the event itself. Yes there were a few stuff-ups, but that’s the same with any festival. There will no doubt be plenty of people complaining out there, I’m sure of it. To be honest about the biggest mess-up was the mobile Standard Bank machine, which was out-of-order from early Saturday evening…ouch fail! Maybe go with FNB next time, lolz. Oh and the guys at the healthy option food stall ran out of Jalapeno poppers way too quickly, hehe. Ok, that’s all ;)
Let’s focus on the good stuff rather than the poofie shall we!

What is the true magic ingredient of Up the Creek? Yes it’s the music, the atmosphere and the breathtaking prime location, but there is something more. Perhaps it is the fact that there is no divisible line separating the revellers. Regardless of age, people of all persuasions came together and had a massive party. Everybody is respectful of each other and there is a genuine feeling of togetherness. Many people I spoke to referred to Up the Creek as a ‘hippy music festival’. Yes I agree to a certain extent, but there is definitely a very broad mix of personalities running around.

All I can say is that I am well and truly hooked! I have undoubtedly caught the Up the Creek 'bug' and will make the pilgrimage in 2013…I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Up the Creek 2012 was insanely fun and now sits firmly as my favourite South African music festival.
Let’s hope that the organisers keep the festival small and super intimate…its simply perfect as it is now!