Up the Creek is part of a growing trend: rock festivals aimed at those of the X generation yearning to relive the raw rock authenticity of their youth.
Like international megaÂfestivals Coachella and Lollapalooza, it recognises that the thirtysomething audience has a disposable income and sophisticated tastes. With that in mind, the festival offers a selection of blues, folk, rock and world music from some of South Africa’s biggest bands. Friday’s main stage performance boasts blues-rock guitarist Albert Frost Âjamming with the Blues Broers, indie pop pin-ups aKing, Machineri and classic rockers Taxi Violence. Saturday features alt-rock poster boys Shadowclub, American rockers Kongos, Karen Zoid and funky Afro-pop fusionists Hot Water.
Breede River, February 3 to 5 at 4pm. Entrance is R500 for a Âweekend pass, R400 for Saturday and Sunday, and R150 for Sunday alone. Website: upthecreek.co.za.
? Guitarist Derek Gripper has dedicated his career to creating new musical cross-connections, combing the jazz-inflected sounds of the Cape music tradition with Western classic music.
More recently Gripper has expanded his songbook to include compositions from the rest of Africa. For his performance at the Darling Music Experience he brings together Baroque and African classical music traditions to demonstrate the similarities — and differences — in intellect, emotion, rhythm and melody. Focusing on works by two giants, Johann Sebastian Bach and Toumani Diabate, he creates a new world music.
Maritz Studio Gallery, 5 ÂNemesia Street, Darling, on February 5 at 5pm. Entrance is R100. Website: darlingmusic.org.