By Marley
Innibos Nasionale Kunstefees is back with bang in 2023! I haven’t seen the Lowveld this excited (and nervous) for a nearly 3 years. We went from speaking just about Innibos to “klein Innibos” and “groot Innibos”; the latter meaning THE festival we all came to love to see and hear in the June school holidays.
Innibos is returning from Thursday 29 June till Sunday 02 July 2023 and you if you are a regular reader of this blog you will notice that there is no Wednesday included in the itinerary of the festival. Well, a few things have changed after the Covid pandemic, including how some festivals operate. Another thing that I need to rip the band aid off is there is no rock stage. I repeat: no more rock stage. Sad, yes, but times move forward. You will, however, like the fact there is an alternative night on Saturday 01 July on the kykNET stage in the TWK-Bosmol featuring Loufi, Zaan Sonnekus, Rubber Duc and Vrede.
Followers of Afrikaans music will not be disappointed with loads of talent awaiting to entertain. From the rockers to the pop singers to the bands and more: Francois van Coke, Appel, Elandre, Riana Nel, Brendan Peyper, Riaan Benade, Dodo and Jo Black. There are of course many more over the 4-day festival that you can see on the Innibos social media pages. The artists we recommend not to be missed, are Sunset Sweatshop, Early B, Loufi, Droomsindroom and Spoegwolf.
But as always Innibos is not just about music. There are some fantastic theatre productions that you can enjoy. De Priester, De Slippers en De Gin is a production of a different note. Mixing the perfect balance between Jak de Priester (singer/songwriter), Bibi de Slippers (poet) and Lowveld brewed gin – it’s going to be taste sensation on Friday 30 June. Another one of note is Grensloos a production that was sold out in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Featuring two fantastic artists, Coenie de Villiers and Andre Swartz – a show that you won’t see again in the Lowveld soon. This is also on Friday 30 June at 18:00.
The festival terrain needs no introduction as it is filled to the brim with things to do, see and taste for the whole family. From the wonderful flavours of the food stalls to eating candy floss (when last did you eat spookasem?) to browsing the stalls that sell anything from handmade jewellery to clothes to toys to so much more. There will also be a little bit of the inWinelands in the Lowveld with a specially placed wine bar. The different bar spots will also help cool down in the Lowveld heat (we don’t have winter, right?) and keep warm during the cool evenings. Don’t forget about the Boma Kuierteater as the short productions, interviews on stage and a few more surprises are taking place.
If mom and dad need to entertain the little ones, they can drop them off at the Woelwaters – the ideal kid Utopia. From 11:00 till 17:00 over the 4 day festival its completely free for kids to come and enjoy themselves. Spar is the sponsor and they will provide some great activities for the kids like decorating cupcakes (who can say no to cupcakes?). Fun Galore will be there with the coolest of toys to play with. AKTV will also have some story time, tannie Tjommie and her friends will have all the kids singing and dancing. And don’t miss Felias and Pokkel! Woelwaters have a wonderful team of sitters to watch over the little ones. Plus kids of primary school age and younger have free entry to Innibos. Money saved.
Of course, we are all feeling our tight belts with everything going on in our economy. This is where the ticket price is actually truly an amazing thing. If you buy a week’s ticket for R600 you save at least some lunch money. Here are the different ticket festival terrain prices for 2023:
Thursday 29 June – R200 for adults, high school and university students. R100 for pensioners (only at Gate 1 and proof of ID). Free entry for primary school students and younger. If you want to be in the Golden Circle for the Thursday Huisgenoot show it will be an additional R250 on top of your R200 festival ticket. The show kicks off at 18:00
Friday 30 June – R225 for adults, high school and university students. R100 for pensioners (only at Gate 1 and proof of ID). Free entry for primary school students and younger. If you want to be in the Golden Circle for the Friday Jacaranda FM show it will be an additional R200 on top of your R225 festival ticket. The show kicks off at 18:00.
Saturday 01 July – R250 for adults, high school and university students. R100 for pensioners (only at Gate 1 and proof of ID). Free entry for primary school students and younger. If you want to be in the Golden Circle for the kykNET show it will be an additional R250 on top of your R250 festival ticket. The show kicks off at 18:00
Sunday 02 July – Free entry to the festival grounds but if you want to see the Loof Hom Innibos (the Christian music show) then you can head off to Church Unlimited on the R40 Barberton Road, just outside of Nelspruit. Featuring Jo Black; and is the perfect way to end off your week with praise and song.
Please note the following – no alcohol will be sold to under 18’s and please don’t buy under 18’s alcohol. Being in the white cheese van does not make you part of Fokofpolisiekar. Also the main festival terrain and beer tents are a smoke free zone (cigarettes, vapes, hubbly, cigars, pipe, 420). If you want to find out more about these two policies you can read up on them here.
We hope to see you there no matter your flavour, favourite or age. We are excited to shake our feathers ready for Innibos 2023.