Each weekend this festive season seems bigger than the last, and the first-ever Hey Neighbour Festival proved this statement true. The one-of-a-kind 3-day music festival promised to turn strangers into neighbours, leaving you with unforgettable memories. This festival’s high anticipation clashed with our skepticism despite the prominence of the acts on the line-up. Also, I was unsure if Hey Neighbour could fill the Afropunk-sized hole in our hearts. Surprisingly, an off-roading adventure farm east of the nation’s capital still ignited the festive spirit we all know and love. Without a doubt, the Hey Neigbour festival will burn in the brain as much as it burned through your pockets.
The “neighbour” and “neighbourhood” themes conspired very well with the festival mood from start to finish. Howls of laughter and shouts of “Hey Neighbour” constructed the bridge between neighbour and stranger. Despite the dissatisfaction with the ticket pricing, each day welcomed new faces to the neighbourhood. It seems that the collective outrage masked the individual joyfulness of those with the means. Hey Neighbour was an applaudable reminder that people vote with their feet, not necessarily their words. Once you find your hood, you won’t need to be anywhere else.
The most redeeming items of the festival are the sound stages and their energetic acts. The Griffin Stage, home to exceptional sets from stars like DJ Kent, DBN Gogo, and DJ Leesoul, takes the cup. The other stages were packaged and presented for a live show. However, the Griffin Stage looked and felt like a party. The strobe lights, log drum, and bass made this stage the place to be, especially while you wait for your favourite to appear on the other stages.
The Makhe Stage hosted local acts exclusively. For those uninterested or unfamiliar, this stage showcased a calibre of South African talent across various genres. Black Motion, Jack Parrow, and Mafikizolo are some names that have a special place in South African hearts. Our cups overflow with passion for international acts. Nonetheless, singing nostalgically in your home language is an unmatched feeling.
The crowd-pulling Main Stage presented the event headliners in all their glory. The line-up covered many bases, from The Chainsmokers and Swedish House Mafia to H.E.R., Khalid, and Kendrick Lamar. The weather turned from sunny to rainy expeditiously. Yet, it didn’t stop us from elbowing each other to get the front-row experience. “South Africa might be my loudest crowd ever,” H.E.R. said during her set in the rain. Seeing an artist show gratitude through an amazing performance was incredibly fulfilling, and these headliners showed up.
Ultimately, whether you missed out or not, Hey Neighbour set a high standard for its inaugural exhibition. Four-hour deadlocked traffic and muddy Jordan Retro 5 sneakers were not part of the plan. Therefore, that is a great place to start when planning for the next festival. There is nothing better than singing a song with the thousands of people who streamed it as much as you did. If you don’t attend Hey Neighbour for anything else, attend it to connect with people who love music like you do.
