Arts writer
SET in a stunning location, the Weekender Arniston will feature top comedians, music, family-oriented activities, a local produce market, heritage site walks, coastal cave tours and more.
Africa’s most southern festival takes place in the small seaside town of Arniston for three days from Friday to Sunday. Organised by Out the Box Productions and presented by the Kaggen Film and Music Trust, the event was developed as a social enterprise model in association with the Cape Agulhas Municipality.
“This festival aims to increase tourism to the Arniston/Waenhuiskrans and Kassiesbaai areas and will bring the communities of these areas into the fold,” says organiser Christopher de Vries. “The area has an amazing heritage legacy, and the festival will build on that by offering heritage tours, by locals. It’s going to be good, fun for the whole family, and the range of activities and content is going to blow your mind.”
The music and comedy stage will feature diverse music genres – jazz, pop, indie rock, soul and folk bands, DJs, local bands, school choirs and comedians and not forgetting the collaborative performance project with local youth musically directed by Camillo Lombard.
Entertainment includes comedian Marc Lottering, rising star of comedy; Schalk Bezuidenhout; Melt Sieberhagen – one of a new breed of comedians described as a “slightly angry teddy” and “a really funny Dutchman”; Dugald Pieterse, who performs “observational comedy” in English and Afrikaans; Bredasdorp-born Francois van As; self-confessed “farm boy” Carl Weber has been honing his comedic skills on the Cape Town comedy circuit since 2010; and Hannes Brümmer’s comedic style is highly energetic - he likes to rant about his Afrikaans heritage, the influence of the media on society and the ever raging battle of the sexes. Brümmer’s is also one of Die Flying Dutchmen, an Afrikaans comedy duo with Sieberhagen, who have proved themselves leading exponents of Afrikaans stand-up. In 2008 and 2009 he was a finalist in the Jozi Comedy Showdown.
This launch festival will also include artists from Swaziland, London and Nairobi – including Auriol Hays, Karin Kortje, Nancy G, Jonathan Rubain, The Pedestrians, Top Dog, Silas Miami, Gracetown, Elginairs and more. Sunday has been dubbed Lazy Sunday with jazz and chilled music onstage as the festival winds up. Music headliner is indie rock muso Majozi. Two years ago, Durban-based Majozi made it to Number 9 on the South Africa iTunes chart with his album Marvellous Light. Bassist Jonathan Rubain will play gospel and jazz, then there’s Swazi-born guitarist, songwriter and pioneer of African gypsy rock, Nancy G. Camillo Lombard will front Top Dog.
Camp at the historical Waenhuiskrans camp site or opt for self-catering options in Arniston. A market will give producers from the Napier, Bredasdorp and surrounding areas the opportunity to show off food and beverages such as baked goods, fresh fish and craft beer.
l Tickets: Webtickets. www.week enderfestival.com See the festival’s Facebook page (Weekender Arniston) and Twitter & Instagram (weekender_fest). Book your self catering accommodation: 028 424 2584, e-mail info@discovercapeagul has.co.za