This blog was first posted on the Lake Umuzi Website by Lize van Niekerk
With the one-month countdown to our first day right around the corner, it is time to take a look at our third and final artist announcement. We are projected to kick off our mystical weekend at 17:00 on Friday, April 26th. Starting the festival with a bang is After Wonderland, with their first-ever Misty Waters performance. They are followed by Highway Apostles, Glaskas, Albert Frost, and Fuzigish, and ending the first day on a rocking note is Crash and the Void.
Before we provide the full line-up, let’s dive into our final artists to feature on our line-up. In no particular order, we’ll divulge what makes these 8 bands truly special.
The Black Cat Bones
Formed in Silverton, Pretoria on June 1st, 2007 The Black Cat Bones has easily rose to be one of the top performing acts in South Africa. The founding members consist of the late Kobus de Kock jr, Andre Kriel, Chris vd Walt and Jason Oosthuizen. Unfortunately, the band is returning to the Misty Waters stage without Kobus for the first time. However, we are quite eager to experience the band and its fresh energy with new frontman, Gareth Wilson.
Fuzigish
You can expect a high-energy performance from these punk rock reggae misfits. Since their inception in 1997, they’ve released five full-length albums and one compilation.
During this period the band released the How Rude! E.P. containing the songs “Louise”, “How Rude!”, “Drivin’” & “No.17” amongst others. After headlining at Oppikoppi in 1998 the band decided to bid farewell to South Africa for a while and toured through Europe and Australia in 2003.
Bad Peter
This folk-pop and rock duo formed in 2014, and established themselves the old-fashioned way, by playing pubs and clubs night after night. In 2015 they released their debut single “Month of May” and secured themselves a spot on the South African iTunes Top 40. Before they knew it, we all knew who Bad Peter was and they featured at every major festival in South Africa.
They had their break out year in 2022 when they opened for The Lumineers. With a high intensity energy and rich vocals, the Stupid on a Sunday duo is guaranteed to get the crowd grooving, jiving and bopping about in front of the stage.
Indie Dog is a South African alternative band with eclectic influences ranging from 70’s classic rock, the 90’s grunge and funk rock movements, to modern indie, pop and rock bands. A personal favourite is “Rock City,” with a gradual slow start that reels in the listener. The music is created with a message in mind. Every instrument, every lyric, every note is placed with the intention of getting that message to the listener. We’re pretty sure everyone in South Africa who listens to the radio has heard an Indie Dog song, considering that they are getting regular airplay on radio stations across the world.
Tidal Waves
First off, we’d like to thank Tidal Waves for loving our festival so much that they keep on coming back. Tidal Waves has not missed one Misty Waters and we plan on keeping it that way. With almost 100 performances every year, they are known as the hardest working Reggae band in the South African music industry. The band writes and performs original reggae music with blues, mbaqanga and rock influences. Tidal Waves is a Yeoville-based South African band playing an eclectic blend of “Afro-roots-rock-dub-reggae”.
“It’s just not possible to criticise a band that can make you sing along in more than three languages. What other band do you know that can do that? Especially so when you consider how many of their songs are about political and social issues.” – Mique van der Merwe – Rock out Radio
VaalTaki
VaalTaki was formed in 2020 when Allen Mouton, Nico Shevron and Charlie Brummer joined forces. They are a folk rock band with a chilled melodic vibe. This dynamic South African band, captivates audiences with a fusion of traditional rhythms and modern melodies, delivering a unique musical experience that transcends genres. They have shared the stage with the likes of the Black Cat Bones, Boet Faber and Bacchus Nel.
They launched their EP in 2023, which is available on all major streaming platforms. Do yourself and your ears a favour and listen to their feel-good and eclectic EP.
Hollowbody
We first came across Hollowbody when we were searching for bands to perform at our 2023 Fringe Festival and are we glad we found them! They were such a hit with the locals we had to have them again. Whether you’re a fan, know of them, or have never heard of Hollowbody, this four-piece band featuring a cello and a cowbell will have you tapping your toes and singing along after a few seconds.
Meel Vignetting
Meel Vignetting is a four-piece, South African, alternative indie rock band from Gauteng. The band formed in 2020 as a collection of music lovers who met at random through mutual friends. Their influences include Wolf Alice, Incubus, Foo Fighters, and The Cranberries. Meel Vignetting’s single “Empty Forever” charted #1 for two weeks in Denmark and was greatly received by radio stations globally.
The rest of the line-up includes blues king, Dan Patlansky, Spoegwolf, carnival inspired Dukes of Note, Black Heidi, Worsie van Wyk, Basson Laas, Native Young, Painted Flowers, and Ann Jangle. There truly is a show for every type of person. Whether you enjoy slow and relaxing music or prefer a faster, high energy show, you will find all of that and more on one stage at Misty Waters. Read more about the other 14 bands here.
Purchase your festival ticket to experience one of South Africa’s most respected rock festivals and witness 22 awe-inspiring musical wizards and witches perform their magic on our stage. The festival grounds are located at Lake Umuzi, a waterfront development boasting several hotels, restaurants, bars, a wellness spa and even rock climbing facilities. Book your accommodation today and enjoy all the pleasures Lake Umuzi has to offer. Your Misty Waters ticket is complimentary with your booked accommodation at Umuzi Lodge, The Merchant and InnGreen Hotel. Included in your festival ticket is access to open camping, which is located on a lush green open space behind the beer stalls at the festival ground.
