South Africa’s largest music festival is in its tenth year! The annual celebration of music, youth and culture promises to be bigger than ever with some of South Africa’s finest acts from across the musical spectrum making their way to the Riversands farm for this years event. In addition, BMX riding, paintballing and several cool stalls guarantee a weekend to remember. What are you waiting for? Check the lineup and make your way to Woodstock 10.
Take a look at some of the awesome acts performing
There’s a gap the size of the Suez Canal stretching behind us. An invisible boundary seems to lie between the minions in the front row and the weary rockers 10 metres back. It’s Friday night and Mercury is celebrating 12 years of great South African bands. Since no one goes out before 10pm in the Mothercity, it was a tad irritating to find out that The Plastics had already packed up their gear before the clock struck 11. One wonders who they actually played to, as the turnout was dismal to say the least. But, as Bed on Bricks hit the stage, the crowd seem to warm up. A bit.
Despite the unique appeal to South Africans, Botswana’s Wrust were overshadowed by Carcass
I was in touching distance of one of the founding bands of death metal, and I honestly did not know what to do with myself. The band had just walked on stage with a presence that made you forget about your numb feet and hands from standing in the cold and just heat up instantaneously. With a songs from their third album Heartwork, like Buried Dreams and No Love Lost, the time that every serious metalhead in South Africa had travelled to see had arrived: Carcass.
George van der Spuy is running around like a blue-ass fly, trying to get everything organised for the big night ahead. Who can blame him? It?s time for George and co. to launch the Kill City Blues Rehearsal Studios at Mercury. Being a New Loud Rockets and an even bigger Taxi Violence fan, tonight is undeniably a great reason to get my gig on and I?m certainly not the only one who thinks so. You know you?re on the right track when it?s peeing with rain and there?s still a full house. One thing is for sure, the Mothercity rain won?t be hampering this night.
Images by Kristen Leigh Parris
A few complimentary gifts later, and it?s time for The Plastics a.k.a. the Arctic Africans. As said before, comparing bands is an unnecessary activity that should be avoided at all costs, however people cannot argue with the fact that The Plastics sound uncannily similar to the good old Arctic Monkeys. This is not to say that they aren?t good. The Plastics aren?t on the forefront of the indie rock scene for nothing. Front man Pascal Righini keeps the audience entertained while Sasha Righini beats the drums so hard; we think they might collapse into a heap. Something to take out of the night: look out for two tracks; the two that sound nothing like the Arctic Monkeys: Up The Downs and Jersey Girl blend a mix of rock ?n roll blues with an indie edge, making these songs equal winners.
New Loud Rockets, everybody?s favourite indie kids, hit the stage post-Plastics to a warmed up crowd. The Mercurians seemed a bit scared to move to the front during The Plastics? performance, but actually manage to come up to the stage to benefit from the Rockets? catchy songs. While their performance may be a little bit more subdued than normal, the majority still take the opportunity to sing 3 Days as loud as they possibly can. The great thing about New Loud Rockets is that their music always seems to get those Converse sneakers a-tapping, and once again, the skinny jeans of Mercury loved every second of it.
“The great thing about New Loud Rockets is that their music always seems to get those Converse sneakers a-tapping”
One thing is for sure, Taxi Violence gained a few more fans after Saturday night?s performance. When you arrive with two Taxi-virgins to one of the band?s Mercury gigs, you know that there is no way you?ll be seeing them leaving dissatisfied. With their heads banging in true rock style, they fitted right in with the rest of the Taxi Violence die-hards. The crowd was treated to two new TV-tracks as well as Bingo?s usual extravagant fiery act. Due to the fact that at one point he was wearing not-so-tightey-whiteys, some of us saw a little bit more than we bargained for. God help us. Besides that rather scary picture that is now looming in your head and won?t go away, be very bleak if you didn?t hit this party. When three of Cape Town?s raddest bands play Mercury, you go, no questions asked. Need I say more?
Picture a Korn-style mosh pit, clashing guitars, beating drums and the sounds of two of South Africa?s most talented front men and you have Saturday night at the Klein Libertas.
Images by Kristen Leigh Parris
Thank heavens this venue knows how to play host to the sounds of The Pretty Blue Guns, unlike the chaos that we witnessed at the Assembly a couple of weeks ago. Hometown fans were loving these Stellenbosch-based rockers and cries for more rang out after each song. Lead singer Andre Leo, who celebrated his 18th birthday on the night, really let it rip. Let?s put it this way: Pongr?cz, beer and a few boxes of Chatterbox red helped to get these boys going, giving the crowd a truly unforgettable night. Not that they needed the help. A band whose performances are way beyond their years, The Pretty Blue Guns certainly know how to deliver a show.
Taxi Violence was next, and once again, they rocked. Hard. I?ve only ever seen them perform badly once and, for that, there was good reason. When you?re about to start your pre-gig pep talk and the venue?s manager tells you that you?re not getting paid a cent, might leave even the most forgiving feeling a little bitter. But, it looks as though Stellenbosch brings out the best in yet another band as Taxi Violence deliver one more smashing performance.
“Pongr?cz, beer and a few boxes of Chatterbox red helped to get these boys going, giving the crowd a truly unforgettable night.”
While the sound might not have accentuated George van der Spuy?s voice at all times, the overall performance didn?t suffer. People were still screaming the words even when they couldn?t hear them being sung. The crowd was so riled that they probably didn?t notice the occasional sound issue. Standing in the front row with a tidal-wave-type mosh pit looming behind you, makes it important to concentrate on the band anyway. A few battle wounds later, and the show is over. Another Stellenbosch gig and another smile to show for it. What more can one say.
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