(This is a bit of cheating - as it's the poster from the 1999 Festival)
The Hangklip Rock Festival - a wedding fundraiser
5 November 2012
It can be said that I’ve had a
rather “unconventional” childhood. I
suppose, it started with my conception when my Mom was a mere 17 years
old. She was 18 and my dad was 19 when I
was born – barely more than kids themselves, yet they loved each other with a
passion (I suppose I’m proof positive) and decided to get married. My grandparents bravely offered to adopt the
baby (yip, that would be me), but my folks were adamant that they wanted to get
married and be a family. And boy were we
a family. A few years down the line I
first gained a brother and then a sister and I can truly say that I had the
happiest of childhoods.
My folks were loving, fair,
honest, young, wacky and fun. They literally
grew up with us kids and my mom always said that I was the only adult in the
house. I remember being eight years old
when we lived in a little town called Clanwilliam. I used to wake up in the morning before
everyone else, put Jungle Oats on the stove for breakfast for us kids, put the
percolator on for coffee for my folks, wake the little kids up for school when
breakfast was ready and then my folks with coffee in bed. Apparently when I was seven years old, I used
to get up for my baby sister in the middle of the night, change her nappy and
give her a bottle. I’ve obviously not
trained my own kids very well.
I give this little background,
not to blow my own horn, but to give you a bit of perspective and insight. We were taught to be independent and lots of
free-thinking was allowed and even encouraged.
As a teenager my parents had a way more active social life than me. They were very involved with the Blues Broers
and the music scene - gigging in Cape Town a few nights a week. They knew all the hot spots and frequented
them, well frequently. They used to hang
out at the Waterfront, The Brass Bell, The Green Dolphin, Bertie’s Landing, The
Crow Bar, The Pumphouse as well as many other trendy night spots. Where I spent nights in relative studious
boredom, first finishing my schooling and then during varsity, they painted the
town red. And had a marvellous time
doing so.
Hanging out with them was always
awesome and we used to have loads of raucous fun jolling together. They were quirky and hip and just so with
it. We kuier’d together. I remember the four of us deciding to go to
the Michael Jackson concert in Cape Town one night. Despite not having tickets, my dad was
convinced that we’d be able to get four off a ticket scalp with not too much
hassle. But despite our best intentions
and deep seated desire, we couldn’t find affordable tickets at all. So, instead we stood outside the stadium
enjoying the music a bit and then giving up and deciding that standing outside
was far too mundane, we made off for a few clubs and pubs and had our very own
party instead.
When Grant and I decided to tie the
knot the dilemma of the cost of a wedding was raised. And though I wanted to wear a great Aunt’s beautiful
wedding dress, saving costs in the process, as well as host the ceremony and
reception at my grandparents’ house Cloetenberg, a wedding still cost a pretty
pot of money. We had a big family and
lots of friends, so a small wedding would simply not do. Added to that I was the eldest child as well
as the eldest grandchild on both sides of the family, so really, small just
would not work. People would need to be
fed. We’d need odds and ends. Drinks, the cost of a minister, invitations,
tables and chairs to be rented, etc. etc. etc.
So, we put our heads together and
a marvellous and ingenuous plot was hatched.
A rock/blues music concert would be hosted to raise some funds. Excitement built fast and plans were set in
motion. Hangklip Hotel was chosen as the
venue and the date was set for the 6th of January 1996. A mere three months away from our wedding
date. A sponsor was obviously needed, so
our friend Edgar, from Martell was contacted.
He came to the party so to speak, and was on board for our do. Bands were recruited, security staff
assembled. Advertising kicked into high
gear. Stage, sound crew, the odd radio
celeb. Lights, stallers selling food,
door staff and the like. The Lombards
pitched in like one man. Posters were
put up, t-shirts and sweaters were printed, numerous meetings were held,
accommodation for band members as well as the myriad other details involved
with a festival of this nature.
Luckily the experience was there,
after arranging numerous Martell Blues Rock festivals, so resources were
pooled. Musicians were friends and had
all gone through this process before. Contracts
were signed, fingers were crossed and the big day arrived. And amidst dust, lots of drinking and loads
of loud music, the masses arrived and our gig was a success. The line-up included the Blues Broers of
course, Squeal, Urban Creep, The Springbok Nude Girls, Just Ginger, Koos
Kombuis and many more.
We miraculously reached our goal
target of R10 000 after expenses. A
joyous occasion indeed. And in order to
celebrate our unparalleled success, with giddy relief, we spent a night in
celebratory splendour at a local pub, toasting our good fortune with the liqueur/shooter
of the moment. A particularly vile
concoction called Pampelmoes – a drink none of us enjoyed forever more after
that evening again.
Our wedding was perfect and our
costs were covered. I suspect not many
can tell a similar tale. For how many
others do you know who organised a rock concert in order to raise funds to get
married? I salute my entrepreneurial
parents for their masterful plan. For pulling
it off and making an adventure out of possible adversity. I long cherish the memory of all the planning
it took. The excitement and joy in
pulling it off. The immense feeling of
pride in a successful and unique festival.
It set the stage so to speak for a formula that was repeated for years
thereafter. The Hangklip Rock Festival
even became a bit of an institution.
Yip, my parents sure were one of
a kind. And I thank my lucky stars for
them every single day.
I shall do a bit of hunting about
as I know I’ve got some pics of the day and I’ll upload these, hopefully soon.
Awesome !! U have a strange but wonderfully fun life !! A
ReplyDeleteI was there Helene,you could by chocolate brownies,or chocolate greenies with extra herbs.
ReplyDeleteWhat a jol ???
Steve
I was definitely at one of them, but I think it may have been the 1999 one.... Yes, definitely, because Not My Dog was the loudest act I had ever heard in my life. Ahhh, those were the days of our lives! :)
ReplyDelete