June was an extremely busy month with not only Blue Moon but also that big ass festival named Innibos having hit Nelsparta again. It was also my birthday and the blog got a new editor forthwith known as Mister Bean on account of his funny appearance. Welcome, dude.
Let's rewind back to June 1. It was the last weekend hanging out with locals No One's Arc. They went looking for greener pastures in the Mother City. They were joined by the Michael Stry Trio, Newton's 2nd Law and City of Heroes at The Free Concert that was hosted by Blue Moon and Riverside Mall. I missed Michael, but managed to catch a bit of Newton's 2nd Law, and I can definitely vouch for them. Keep an eye out. Meanwhile bright fairy lights and little stalls kept people busy. Coke was also handing out soft-drink vouchers. Meanwhile patrons of Spur and Mediterrean got a free show. City of Heroes are not only handsome, but throw together some decent in-your-face rock too, which is needed sometimes. Needless to say NOA had the crowd going, jumping up and down to stay warm and party like Armageddon was coming at dawn.
The after party happened at Jock and my memory gets a bit foggy after that round, but Simi managed to drive us home and took a welcome crash on my pillows.
The next day my partner in crime informed me that she was not able to drive with me up to Hazyview for the Summerhill 4x4 Day anymore, so I started scrambling for a lift. Finally MB came through as my saviour and I had the honour to drive up with the guys of NOA. It was my first time at Summerhill and of course the atmosphere was very Lowveld. A trip to the bar revealed a good stock of wine and a bottle was shared between myself and the Captain. On the bill were Quintero, My Aching Monotone and, off course, No One's Arc. At first I didn't think that rugby jocks were going to stick around for them but they proved me wrong and the crowd had an awesome time.
In between that weekend and the time rolling up to Innibos and By Die Maan, gigs were few and far between, and humble in attendance. I stayed true to the Sunday Pappa's Pizza tradition now and my only weekend off was with my birthday where we partied like pirates. I took me a whole week to recover. Good
memories.
By Die Maan was where it was happening the weekend of 29 June. The line-up at Innibos's MK Stage was not so lekker but Blue Moon however threw together a show which kicked dust in their eyes. With the likes of Shadowclub, The December Streets, The Black Cat Bones (with surprise guest Gareth Wilson of
Southern Gypsey Queen), City of Heroes, City Bowl Mizers, Saintfearless and many more, there was simply no other place to be.
Personally, I was excited about seeing two long-lost seerowers who I were with on Avontoer. Off course, seeing the guys of December Streets and BCB was wonderful too. The Moon looked awesome with 4th Street Wines being one of the biggest sponsors. And the electrying atmoshpere promised a good show ahead.
The December Streets were one of the bands that were first timers at Blue Moon (although not the first time dealing with us crazies of BM). Their set was amazing, they played some of their new tunes of their new album (which is avalible online and soon in the shops). Poor Waldo (trumpet player) was
fighting a bad flu but he pulled through. The Black Cat Bones, off course, was off the wall and everyone joined in that party. I did see some of our new bar staff thinking it was one of the wierdest bunch of people they have ever laid eyes on. Well, you can't please everyone all the time. Saintfearless struck me
like a lighting bolt. I saw them at the Groot Gees Rock Fees in Stilbaai on 31 December 2011 and, man, were they good.
The party lasted till the early hours of the morning and I managed to sleep in my car for about two and half hours. The breakfast rush was up and running with most bands making an early start back to Gauteng and the Western Cape. Duty calls. In the Blue Moon kitchen it felt like Sunday morning and the second
breath of the weekend hit when we realised it was only Saturday. We had one more party night ahead.
After a shower and a fresh set of clothes at home it was already after 1pm. The orginal plan was to take a chill for the afternoon and then join the rest of the province at Innibos, I really wanted to see Die Tuindwergies and Heuwels Fantasties. After a quick trip to a mall to get some snacks and supplies to go
over to our good friends Damian, Linda and the Captain (who were leaving for Cape Town that Monday) it turned into a bull-blast party.
The sun set, Innibos's power tripped a couple of times and we managed to braai and throw back a few OBS shots. But Innibos never saw me on the Saturday night. Saturday night I was kissing my bed hallo after a full week of partying, art competitions, rubbing shoulders with celebs, seerowers, fair-wells, stinky dogs
and classical music being blasted at 6AM. Yup, sleep was quite welcome.
Sunday was a lazy day of recovery and Pappas was dead so just this once I broke tradition and went to a mate instead to watch the Sunday night movie. June flew past, it was on of those months that I will always remember and it was a month that felt it should have never ended.
So far in July I went to Dullstroom for the first time in my life for the Winterfest. I won't write too much about it, but what I will say is that I want to make the whole weekend next year. I managed to get caught up with the whole SGQ band and a very old familiar face to the Blue Moon family, Albert Frost.
Thanks again to Pedro Barbosa of Mrs. B who hosted two rockers for dinner, let us sleep on the floor of his rented B andB room and showing us an amazing time in Dullstroom.
If you are in Cape Town on 20 July get your sexy ass over to Zula Bar in Long Street for No One's Arc first gig as a Capetonian band with Captain Stu (That'll be going down in the record book of epic parties, for sure). In Nelspruit Glaskas is returning to have another party, yes the boys from Pretoria will be releasing their brand new album on the 27th of July at Owersig Hall in Nelsparta (it's close to that place we "shall-not-name"), you can call Niel on 072 117 6477 for more info.
In the month of August keep an eye out for that dude in the long hat wat van hard partytjie hou - Jack Parow. He'll be performing with Gazelle and RadioKalahari Orkes at Blue Moon on the 3rd of August (tickets on sale right now at Look & Listen Nelspruit in Riverside Mall, Grove Superspar and www.ticketbreak.co.za). Then on the 9th of August (yes it's a public
holiday) Blue Moon presents The Parlatones in their Picnic in the Garden series with supporting acts Saarkie and Ice Project, tickets are on sale right now at Look and Listen Nelspruit in Riverside Mall, The Grove Superspar and on www.ticketbreak.co.za. This will be a great event in celebrating all our beautiful woman from South Africa with a little sunshine, a little good music and most importantly family time.
And for what its worth I don't think there will be any problems with the sound this round, if it there is I will drink 30 shots of tequila...over the course of an evening.
If you live close to Graskop or you are in the mood for a different party then get up to Camibiro restaurant for some tequila, rock and roll and good quility people. Sundays in Kaapchehoop provide acoustic music from local muso's (R 25 entrance fee) at Bohemia Groove Cafe. Pappa's Pizza in Nelpsruit on Sundays,
off course, still provides free live music and it seems this is getting more popular everytime I go there. Kokkepelli's in White River also offers live music on Sundays (they have good red wine). AgterStoep have small gigs in the form of Open Mic nights and live music Friday nights and a great atmosphere.
So don't tell me after reading that line-up you don't have anything to do in the area.
Speak to you soon, rockers!
Peace
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