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OPPIKOPPI 2002

As a Fountains Valley virgin and an absentee from the SA music scene for over a year it was with trepidation that I slunk into the new Pretoria venue - good mates in the car and good wine in the boot. I really had no idea what to expect - and kept telling myself: "Sam, don't expect anything…you will be disappointed".

I was a lot of things (awestruck, hysterical with laughter, drunk, humbled, happy and blown away) but disappointed I was not.

From humble beginnings in the dust and dorings of Northam this national music celebration has grown to become one of Southern Africa's most sought after music festivals - a canvas for music and cultural diversity that has no rival.

From Koos to Mandoza SA's music elite rocked Pretoria almost within an inch of its life. Short of writing a thesis there is no way to accurately set the scene - so I thought I'd give you a highlights package of this years innings... kind of like a Koppi- Grammy's:

Winning the newcomer's award this year is The Stokvel Crew - a Joberg based group of talent - whose song "Candyman" is still reverberating in my brain… A mixture of spoken word, song and impressive guitar work these guys are on the way up.

Selaelo Selota performance almost blew the tent pegs out of the Savanna Stage late on Saturday night wins award for pure and unadulterated vibe. The hairs on your body stood up and you couldn't help but dance.

What would Oppikoppi be without its regulars - the guys that created dust storms in Northam - and continue to rock the pants off Pretoria. Here the award must go, in equal measure to Koos Kombuis ("Die oke is soos die Jimi Hendricks van ons Afrikaners!), Valient Swart, (with signature cigarette stuck in his guitar strings) Battery 9 and the super funky Sons of Trout.

High up on the list at this years festival were bands of a foreign origin - part of Oppikoppi's thriving exchange programme. Belgium's Millionaire and Holland's Hip Hop act, Relax, both kept the crowds mesmerised, while De Heideroosjes - Dutch punk extraordinaires - gave such a kick ass performance the portaloo's vibrated. Best of the lot though, and winner of the award, goes to An Pierle - a Belgium sensation. Seated in fornt of her keyboard on a big bouncing ball this Belgium sensation makes me think of Tori Amos, Bjork and PJ Harvey all rolled into a one.

The award for just plain magic goes, without a doubt, to Albert Frost and the Blunted Stuntman - for a collaboration that just worked. Blues guitar fused with electronic beats and stylish mixing - into a sound and experience that left all that had stayed up to the wee hour of 3am screaming for more. This is what heaven must feel like.

Other collaborations that need to be mentioned - and are what the whole Oppikoppi experience is all about - are The Sandscapes Project, (a family of San people joined by a DJ and percussionist … interesting to say the least) Gito Baloi and Nibs van der Spuy (class with a capital C) as well as the lads at the African Dope Sound System.

But there was even more to Oppikoppi 2002 that music. Yes, really. From film, to random impromtu performance stuff and comedy there was enough to keep everyone busy. Pick of the comedy, and right out winners of the award, are Rob van Vuuren (as Twakkie) and Lowe Venter (as Corne) in "The Most Amazing Show". Their combonation of physical theathre, stand up comedy and caberat come together with a hilarious result. Throw in the ceremonious smashing of a pumpkin and a guitar as well as facial expressions that you would not believe possible - you have comedy that will make you choke on your savanna.

Last but not least in the line of awards - is the Lifetime Achievement Award. This is a very biased award - and I am sure that everyone out there who supports SA music has their own soul God. The person/people that demonstrate that music is religion. My award goes to the two men who personify this. The award belongs to Matthew van der Want and Chris Letcher. As the sun set on the last night of Oppikoppi and these two musical geniuses began to strum there stuff my mate next to me took a self portrait of himself with his camera. When I asked why he was doing so, he replied: "So I can remember the last time I was truly happy"

I'm out of space and haven't even begun to pay respect where it is due. Big thumbs up to Karen Zoid, Hog Hoggity Hog, Golliwog (check these funk masters out….it'll change your life) Kobus! (missed there set but am led to believe that some legendary drinking skills were on display here as well as their music .. nice), Godessa (nice one gals), Felix Leband, Frosted Orange(always an "electric trainride") and Ready D. And all the other SA talent that enable us to say we are "Proudly South African"

I left Pretoria on Sunday - hungover but happy. Good friends, good braais, good wine and, above all, good music. What more can a girl want?