Get your Blues on in Knysna & Plett

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - After two sold-out shows in 2015 and 2016, the Knysna Blues Festival returns with the strongest line-up of SA musicians to date, followed closely by the Plettenberg Bay event.

Performing in December at Mitchell's Brewery (Saturday 16) and Plett's Barnyard Theatre (Sunday 17) will be seven of the country's top blues artists, who are all headliners in their own right.

With the likes of Crimson House (returning for the third time due to demand), The Black Cat Bones (voted South Africa's best live act at the prestigious MK Awards), the critically acclaimed Basson Laubscher and the Violent Free Peace, Gerald Clark, "Lonesome Dave" Ferguson, The Kevin Floyd Project (Knysna only), Ann Jangle, and Mel Botes (Plett only), the concerts are set to be among most diverse and impressive live blues music events in the country.

"We are fortunate to have fantastic relationships with these bands," says organiser Jackie Barham.

"We look after the bands during the year while they are on tour, finding them venues, marketing their shows and organising accommodation.

"For many of them, making the trip down during their busiest time of year is their way of saying thank you."

Barham adds that they are extremely grateful to have Riaan Smit (frontman of Crimson House) committed to performing after a serious attack while filming a music video in the desert outside Windhoek, Namibia.

"We were all shocked when we heard the news, and very concerned," she says. Smit has undergone surgeries on his jaw and skull and has been deemed fit to perform in Knysna and Plett.

The Knysna event, hosted at the Mitchell's Tap Room, will have seating for up to 280 people, a new dedicated event menu, wine, spirits and their great craft beer.

The Barnyard will host up to 230 people, have cash bars and allow attendees to bring their own snacks into the venue.

The Knysna Blues Festival (in its third year) and Plett Blues Festival (in its second) have proven that quality artists are welcome in the Garden Route.

Says co-organiser Dominic Morel, "We wanted to get these events 'on the music map' of South Africa before growing the event to a full-blown multiday festival.

"Next year (2018) will see us grow the festivities to encompass a longer period, as well as include more Garden Route towns and venues.

"We're excited about the avenues opening up – especially for the musicians."

The festivals also continue to offer outstanding value.

"With tickets at just R250 for seven acts, the cost per band comes in at just under R36 – keeping in mind you'd pay around R150 to see many of these fine performers on their own, " adds Morel.