First Park Acoustics of 2014: A Photo Album

It’s time for another edition of Phototastic Thursday on Running Wolf’s Rant. I have to admit that I missed this section last week, but I’m very determined to make up for it this week.

On Sunday I made my way to the first edition of Park Acoustics for 2014. It was a fun-filled affair choc-a-bloc full of awesome vibes, awesome people and excellent tunes. @fergoboy and I arrived at the Voortrekker Monument just after 10:30 AM and made our way up the hill to Fort Schanskop on foot (getting some exercise for a change). Sadly there was an issue with the Tshwane Metro buses not arriving on time at the venue, but it was quickly resolved, by the time we had made it up the hill, they were already starting to transport people like they normally do.

Tickets sold out almost a week before the event, leaving some music fans angry that the organizers were not selling tickets at the gate. Really? Fort Schanskop has room for 2,000 people, no more. It’s simply logic – if you want to go, make sure that you buy your tickets online early, when they are made available for sale to avoid disappointment.

First up were Flint, Meet Spark. They set the mood for the day, playing some laid-back acoustics tunes. Next up were Pretoria band Late Night Fox. They picked up the pace with their blend of what could be described as “eclectic rock”. Next up were Jozi folk legends Naming James. They got the capacity crowd into a bit of a party mood. It was also awesome to see them doing a song with SA folk queen Shotgun Tori. Next up were Rambling Bones. They picked the pace even more with their blend of “ska / slight-punkish rock” before it was time for the main act, Fokofpolisiekar to play on the Park Acoustics stage.

I have to admit that this was one of the best Fokofpolisiekar shows that I’ve seen in recent times. The Bellville boys had the crowd singing along to every single tune in no time, and mini mosh pits, crowd surfing and headbanging started being the norm. I was particularly impressed with the band’s stage presence and performance skills. You could definitely sense that these boys have been around for 10 years and still one best live acts to watch in South Africa. Just ask my good friend Evelien (who is from Belgium) who saw them live for the first time on Sunday.

After the tunes it was time to swing a bit to the sounds of DJ Michael Lesar and laugh our asses off at the Sunset Comedy Stage. It was a great start for the 2014 Park Acoustics season.

Here are 12 photos that I took on the day. You can check out more photos on the Henno Kruger Photography page on Facebook.

Kudos to Neil, Henk, Willie and everyone else who was involved in organizing this edition of Park Acoustics. The next edition of Park Acoustics takes place on the 23rd of February and will feature Shortstraw, Vuvuvultures (from the UK), Beatenberg and more. Check out the Event Page on Facebook for more info.

Take note that the organizers of Park Acoustics have changed the rules a bit. No under 18’s will be allowed at the event anymore. Children under 12 years old are allowed to attend if they’re accompanied by an adult.

Were you at the Voortrekker Monument on Sunday? Did you enjoy Park Acoustics or didn’t you? Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Feedback is appreciated and welcome here. If you’ve enjoyed reading about my experience and enjoyed viewing the photos, feel free to share this article with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Remember: Sharing is Caring.

Watch this space for regular updates in the Photography category on Running Wolf’s Rant.