It’s no secret that I heart music festivals. It’s also no secret that since my interesting tent-pooh and swakka incident of circa 2006, I’ve been totally put off by the idea of them.
But then, then there’s Rocking The Daisies.
Dominating Cloof Wine Estate from the 9th to 11th October this year, I spent the time of last year’s festival wistfully dreaming I was there.
But, this year, this year I will be and I will dominating the Daisies. Will you be?
Oh, let me guess – you’re nowhere near Cape Town? Okay then, how would Rocking The Gardens suit you better?
But really, what’s so different about the Rocking The Daisies phenomenon?
It’s summed up simply with the festival’s mission statement:
Play Hard, Tread Lightly.
The truth is that the RTD awesome organisers and team really give a shit about the impact a festival can have on its environment. Everyone who’s ever been to Splashy has seen the pile of pile of cups and rubbish left behind once main stage has been vacated for the night and the audience wandered off to light a fire made with the toilet door (true story, actually).
RTD isn’t just about the party, the jamming and the busking under the stars. It’s about an eco-friendly lifestyle that is more than just a fashionable concept – it’s about caring where you are, what you’re doing and how it affects the world around you. I mean, if you can remember to clean up after yourself at a music festival, then you’re not going to be throwing your sauce-filled serviette out of the car window again, are you? (oh, and if you do that, you are a douchebag and I hope the serviette flies back in your face and ruins your suit)
Rocking The Daisies also isn’t just for the rockers. RTD is for families too. Yeah, I hear you sneer – parents who take their kids to a rock festival! Truth is, I thought about it too this year but, Cam said she wants five days with her granny so she’s not coming with me. But, if she were, and wasn’t too keen on coming with me to watch 340ML on Sunday, then I know there’s a brilliant daycare facility for her, at the festival. Also, dedicated girlie loo and showers, dudettes! The Daisy Den! Hell yes!
So why am I going?
I’m going to see a few bands I have been waiting to see for a while. Goldfish, AKing, The Black Hotels and Ashtray Electric among them.
I’m going to see some friends, hang out under the stars and, for the first time since 1999 I think, get some fresh air and disconnect from the world. Away from my inbox, away from the traffic noise that sometimes keeps me up at night and away from the things that sometimes mean I forget what makes the world tick in reality.
It’s not really about the music I listened to today or will tomorrow.
It’s not about whether or not I wrote this. It’s not about whether or not we exist at all.
It’s about the fact that none of this would exist if we didn’t have Mother Earth looking after all of us.
So let’s start respecting that, and celebrating that.
Starting with Rocking The Daisies 2009.
For more information on this brilliant festival, visit the official website here
If you’re thinking of hitting up Rocking The Gardens at Emmarentia Dam, then visit their website here