By now most of you may know that Fokofpolisiekar will be returning to the Oppikoppi stage in 2016 after a two year absence. Their set promises to be one of the highlights of For the lovely young taken to The Unsea and like many festival goers, I don’t intend to miss it at all. Being too drunk is not an excuse folks.

Fokofpolisiekar have been around for more than a decade. I’ve watched this band grow from a “protes orkes” (or protest orchestra) that made a lot of “geraas” (or noise) in small rock clubs (in the early to mid 2000’s) to a band that attracts thousands of fans at some of the biggest music festivals in the country (even though they have not released a new album in 10 years).

It must be amazing for Die Bende to hear every single fan sing along to most of their songs, because it most likely makes them realize just how much of an impact Fokofpolisiekar has made on the SA Music and South Africa as a whole over the years.

I recently had a chat to Fokofpolisiekar bassist Wynand Myburgh about Oppikoppi and a few other things. This is what he had to say:

When you think of Oppikoppi, what comes to mind?

Dust and lots of alcohol.

Your album “Swanesang” turns 10 years old this year. What do you think makes this album extra special?

I don’t think it is any more special than any of our other releases. It was our ‘last’ full length album to date, so I suppose there is something special about that. I personally love the album as a collective. It works.

What is your fondest / funniest / craziest Oppikoppi memory?

In 2005 we played two shows. An ‘acoustic’ set on the DJ stage and a rock set later that evening as a headliner. That was an epic day and one of the best shows we have ever played. There are plenty of funny, scary and crazy stories, but there is no way to tell them without embarrassing all of us 😉

You’ve played Oppikoppi multiple times, what advice can you offer bands who are playing the festival for the first time this year?

It is a great opportunity and a great platform to showcase what you are about and to be noticed. Take it seriously and give your best performance possible, thus don’t loose your voice or band members before the show, unless that is your vibe. When you get there the energy is massive and it is going to make you want to party. Stay focused on why you are there. Party your heart out after the show.

What can music fans expect from your set at Oppikoppi?

We are going all Swanesang. So there will be songs in the set that we have not played in 5 to 6 years. We have also commissioned Am I Collective to do crazy visuals. The combo of that and what we are going to bring to the stage should be our best Oppikoppi show to date.

I’d like thank Wynand and Fokofpolisiekar for this interview and I wish them all of the best with their set at Oppikoppi 2016.

If you’re going and your intent is to only watch ONE band the whole weekend, this should be the band you should watch.

General Admission tickets for Oppikoppi cost R850. Get yours now or you’ll be paying R950 for a late ticket.

Watch this space for regular updates in the Music and Interviews categories on Running Wolf’s Rant.