Oppikoppi Sexy. Crooked. Teeth Festival: Part 1

My Friday started in the usual manner that it normally does, a Sociology 3B lecture. However, this time I was more distracted then usual, I was due to depart to South Africa's number one music festival Oppikoppi and I was focused on making sure that I was all kitted out for a weekend that would include copious amounts of dust, booze and good times. With all music festivals nothing ever goes completely according to plan and while I was still in my lecture barely being able to concentrate, I received a message informing me that I might have to find a last minute lift, due to the fact that my driver might have last minute work . After a bit of holding thumbs and asking around it turned out that that Nas Hoosen, my generous driving partner wiggled his way out of a weekend behind a computer. We were on our way, an hour later then expected, but on our way none the less.

If you have ever driven through to Northam in the Limpopo Province, you will be aware of the fact that very little changes in that side of the country. People still think P.W Botha  is President of South Africa and that Nelson Mandela is a terrorist and working hard behind bars on Robben Island. Apart from the odd mine on-route, there is very little to look at while driving along the R510.

We past the time with discussions about violent murders that could take part in the backward dorps, movies that had been shot in these parts, music and what debauchery waited ahead. By 8pm we were waiting to get our bangles and to let the fun begin.

After driving around the dark dusty streets of the Oppikoppi farm for far to long, we finally found our campsite, located on Freedom Road and the Jack Frost Freeway. Little did we know how vital these details would be as the festival progressed and our sobriety decreased . Past festival experience made setting up my tent a cinch.

We were now ready to join the hoards of drunken music fans that were here to enjoy some of the top South African bands. Upon arriving at the entertainment area with beers in hand and determined to have a good time, we were greeted by the tunes of Dance, you'reonfire. These 4 young men from Johannesburg have come a far way since 2007 when the band formed. After a few changes of members and sound, the band seems to be refining their sound rather well. Tom Manners has stepped up to the plate in the vocal department and the band has definitely improved drastically since I last saw them.

The Friday line-up had only one real highlight for me. Taxi Violence was set to take the James Phillips Main Stage and they were guaranteed to rock your already dirty sock off. We walked around the packed entertainment area passing time and admiring our surroundings. Music festivals are not something that can be easily explained, there is a completely unique vibe that accompanies these mass gatherings.


Photo by onesmallchange

After a Beer or two at the Bar and a few encounters with friendlies, we were ready to enjoy the mighty Taxi Violence. The 4 Men from Cape Town have been rocking South Africa's shores for a while now and have become an electric live act. George Van Der Spuy's vocal's enticed madness while Rian Zeitsman's devilish guitar riff's orchestrated it. The time spent touring oversea's and the constant gigging has paid off. Taxi Violence played a set that was of the highest quality, even though it was spoiled slightly by technical difficulties. Taxi Violence could stand on any stage anywhere in the World and hold their own against the best. The huge crowd was slapped around for an hour or so and was left panting once the Violence was done.

We decided to make our way to our tents, however this proved rather treacherous. The dark and dusty roads of the Oppikoppi farm turned into an unforgiving maze, where roads appear the same, streets go on for ages and people give you very bad directions. We wondered around for what felt like hours without a light and no clue where we were. However, we were not alone in our quest, as large squads of people were embarking on the same challenge as we were. We eventually returned to our campsite and let the night slip to an end with beers and a bonfire.