Music festival hot, say fans of Anibrandfees

UITENHAGE'S renowned Afrikaans music festival – Anibrandfees – saw thousands of fans turn up to enjoy festivities at the weekend.

They arrived in droves to see musicians Die Campbells, Kurt Darren, DJ Ossewa, Steve Hofmeyr, Juanita du Plessis, Theuns Jordaan and Karlien van Jaarsveld.

Organiser Karen Basson hailed the festival as a huge success despite Friday's wet weather.

"Friday was a little disappointing with the rain keeping most visitors away. But Saturday it was all systems go as the festival filled up fast," Basson said.

"We won't have the actual figures of [the number of] people until later in the week but Saturday alone there were thousands. We kept our artists very mainline and provided more than 150 stalls from all over the country."

Craft stall owner Arnold Vos, who was attending his fourth Anibrandfees, said he would definitely be returning next year.

"I travel from the Western Cape every year for this festival and others all over the country. But I must say in terms of an Afrikaans music festivals you will not find any better than Anibrandfees," the Mossel Bay resident said.

"The atmosphere here is great, the people have that small-town friendliness and sales are always good at this festival. The event is very well organised which is one of the reasons it's so successful."

Former Brandwag pupil Alrisha Fernando said she looked forward to the festival every year.

"How can I miss it? I have been coming to Anibrandfees for six years and each year it just seems to get better."