Check out Smoking Dragon Music Festival line-up

THE annual Smoking Dragon Music Festival promises to set the Northern Drakensberg afire once again from 29 to 31 December with its rich array of music and a colourful crowd of interesting creative, artistic and fascinating festival-goers.

At the foot of the iconic Amphitheatre, in the KZN Northern Drakensberg and a mere three hours drive from Durban and Johannesburg, Smoking Dragon takes place at one of the country’s most popular travel destinations, Amphitheatre Backpackers, a beautifully creative eco-lodge that attracts a diverse range of people from across the globe.

Also read: Fun in the Sun outdoor electronic music festival

Musicians, bands and DJ’s featured at this year’s event include Nonku Phiri, Moonchild Sanelly, Holly, Lo-Ghost, Chiano Sky and others on the Smoking Diva stage on 29 December.

Then on 30 and 31 December good vibes continue which includes Desmond & the Tutus, The Kiffness, Bombshelter Beast, Southern Wild, Retro Dizzy, PHFAT, Haezer, Bittereinder, BCUC , Leeu and Weston & Engine, Hezron Chetty and the Zugzway, Funk the DJ and more.

Of particular interest this years is the Pink Tent.

“This is a space where it goes without saying that, all sexual preferences, genders and orientations are welcome. A space to remind all of the need for inclusivity and honouring. We are particularly delighted to have Nakhane perform for us, as not only is he an extraordinarily talented singer and performer who is very vocal about LGBTQIA rights, but we are also holding thumbs that the film Inxeba (The Wound) in which he stars, will be nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film in the 2018 Oscars. There will also be DJ’s like Simstar, Miss Li▲ng and Kim-E.” said one of the organisers, Ilsa Roberts.

Also read: Don’t miss the four-day Michaelhouse Music Festival

Curator of the Pink Tent Taya Heath said, “With the divide between the heteronormative world and the LGBTQIA community ever-widening, it seems, with many incidents of abuse being reported, even in the supposedly “liberal” environment of a music festival, there is a need to remind people, that we all have a right to dignity, respect and security no matter our personal viewpoints.”

The festival is a project of the Non Profit Company R.A.I.S.E, which is involved in workshops and THETA learnership programmes that support families in need, sponsoring school children, building schools as well as generating income for musicians and artists through Smoking Dragon.

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