This September, why not escape to White Mountain for a four-day festival featuring acoustic performances by some of the country’s finest established artists and promising newcomers to the music scene?

An ideal getaway, the White Mountain Folk Festival takes place over the Heritage Day long weekend (22 - 25 September 2006) at White Mountain Lodge in the Central Drakensberg, only 34 km from Estcourt on tarred roads and just 200 km from Durban and 430 km from Johannesburg.

The music kicks off at 6 pm on Friday, 22 September and first up in the festival marquee – situated literally a few metres from the water’s edge – are Clock-Struck June, Starplayer, Thirty Three, Movie55 and SpoonFeedas.

Movie 55On Saturday, the programme starts at 12 noon and includes performances by Fox Fyre, Zoe, Fiona Tozer, Laurie Levine, Msunduzi Music Centre, Guy Buttery, Shomon, Nibs van der Spuy, Farryl Purkiss, Rory Eliot (Plush) and Jim Neversink.

Sunday will see Krane, Richard Haslop, Jason Glover, Melody Kaye (Even Flow), Cubic Inch, Quark, Ménage à Trois, Sitter and Karen Zoid taking to the stage, ending the festival on what is sure to be a high note.

Aside from the great music on offer, there will be plenty else to see and do, like hiking, boating or bass fishing in either of the lodge’s two dams. For the more adventurous, there’s abseiling down a 45 m cliff face on White Mountain or a fuffi slide across a nearby 100 m-wide gorge, with rafting on the Bushman’s River also available if the weather permits. Alternatively you can just relax outdoors and soak up the peaceful beauty of one of the most idyllic spots in the Berg.

SitterOther attractions include a novel ‘beer market’, as well as an arts and crafts market and a variety of handpicked food and drinks stalls. In a nutshell, the White Mountain Folk Festival offers something for everyone – and a whole lot more! For more information, contact Pedro at 082 892 6176 or visit www.whitemountain.co.za for all the latest news.

Tickets are on sale at Shoprite Checkers outlets around the country and can also be bought online at www.ticketshop.co.za or www.goingplacessa.com. The cost is R300 per person for the entire long weekend, which includes free access to the festival camping ground. Children under 12 years of age pay R50.

Melody KayeSave big with promotional offer! A limited number of discounted tickets are now also on sale for only R250 at Music Inc (The Square, Umhlanga Rocks) and Marshall Music (Quarry Centre, Hilton and Heritage Market, Hillcrest). If you’re in one of these areas, make sure you get your tickets before they’re all sold out.

In addition to the free festival campsite, White Mountain Lodge is also offering affordable all-inclusive accommodation packages for the festival weekend. Unfortunately the chalets are already fully booked but there’s still space available in the caravan park, which offers campers and caravanners electrified sites, ablution blocks and use of the lodge's facilities. To make a booking, call 036 353 3437 or e-mail reservations@whitemountain.co.za.

Crafters who are interested in trading at the festival can contact Toni D’amant at 082 735 9084 or toni.damant@absamail.co.za.