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News - White Mountain Festival 2009
Strong line-up for acoustic White Mountain fest
White Mountain, KZN’s only acoustic music festival is coming up from September 24 to 27 at White Mountain Lodge near Giant’s Castle and is a rare opportunity to hear the ‘softer’ side of some of SA’s top rock and alternative artists.
One such act is Cito, the charismatic lead vocalist for hugely successful rock outfit, Wonderboom. Backed by a full band, Cito will perform an acoustic set featuring songs from his soon-to-be-released debut solo album.
Also on the bill is Rambling Bones, the alter ego of Jay Bones, frontman for popular ska/punk band Fuzigish. While touring with the band in 2007, Bones redeveloped his love for acoustic laid-back tunes. This set in motion the return to his roots and a stripped down style, characterized by skillfully arranged songs and soulful lyrics, all of which is showcased on his recently-released debut solo album ‘Watching & Waiting’. Says Bones: “Essentially, what I'm doing as Rambling Bones is exactly what I've always done with Fuzigish, just in an acoustic style.”
Sibling Rivalry frontman Matt Wilson will also show a different side with his separate acoustic project, The Car Boot Vendors. According to Wilson, who is renowned for his intense live shows with ska-reggae-hardcore-punk outfit Sibling Rivalry, The Car Boot Vendors is “an outlet for all the songs I’ve never had the chance to write until now”.
Another hard rock band to perform an acoustic set at White Mountain this year is Durban’s Habit To – a three-piece that breaks the mould with a female vocalist on lead guitar. Also not to be missed is a seldom-heard, raw, acoustic solo performance by Bertie Coetzee, lead vocalist for Zinkplaat, a Stellenbosch band that is one of the forerunners of original Afrikaans rock.
Other artists included in the line-up are Farryl Purkiss – in what will be his first big KZN show in two years, BellaV & Madala Kunene, Simon van Gend Band, Josie Field, Larry Amos, Gary Thomas, Laurie Levine, Redhand Blues Band, Joshua Grierson, Andra, Barry Thomson, Udumo Gospel Choir, Flowing Water Band, Peter Hoven, Syd Kitchen, Deep Fried Man, Shannon Hope and Catlike Thieves, to name a few.
Coinciding with Heritage Day and the start of the school holidays, White Mountain offers four days of acoustic music in a stunning setting, plus a wide choice of outdoor leisure activities, arts and crafts, a beer market and assorted food stalls. Festival-goers can also make full use of the lodge’s facilities, including a restaurant, pub, games room, swimming pool and satellite TV.
Tickets are available at Game stores (R400), Computicket (R450) and at the festival gate (R500). The price includes camping for the entire festival and children under 12 pay R50. People staying in the area, who’d like to spend a day at the festival without camping overnight, can get their day tripper tickets at the gate. These cost R150 on 24 and 25 September, and R200 on 26 September. Children under 12 pay R20.
For more information, browse the website or contact Pedro at 082 892 6176.