DEF Day 1

Discussion panel at DEF U day 1.
Photo: Russell Grant 

Today sees the start of the second half of the Durban Electronic Festival and if you aren’t there yet then I suggest you put on some sneakers and get the fuck out of the house right now.

The first half of DEF has to be one of the most exciting things I have seen on the Durban electro circuit for a while.  Yesterday was the start of the annual Durban Electro Universities, a series of free demonstrations and talks from industry professionals. What I saw was a group of likeminded people coming together to share and talk about their experiences in the industry. For a person like myself who is starting out in the industry, the lessons I learned were invaluable and I am so excited for the next instalment.

Nick Matthews aka. DJ Invizabel
giving a demonstration at DEF U.
Photo: Russell Grant

The evening ended on a wonderfully high note with a DEF U after party where I got to see first hands some of the tricks I had learned. A highlight was watching The RA Project and DJ Invizable doing their thang onstage.

Today’s event takes place across the Origin complex, where the event will take place in three stages.  You can enjoy a street party stage, Block party, live art, Winston beer garden/sports bar with live visuals of (Sharks/Chelsea/Liverpool games) and a VIP stage area set in Origin's balcony area.

Impressionable youths and industry kids watching a demonstration at DEF U.
Photo: Russell Grant

So if you haven’t got up yet, please get your shit together and go, gates opened at 12pm already! Tickets are: R100 (computicket ) / R120 at the gate (street party only) general access.
http://online.computicket.com/web/event/def_street_party/763230629
Or  combo tickets R130 (Computicket) / R150 (at the door) Day street party and includes entrance to Origin after party : limited to 400 tickets)
http://online.computicket.com/web/event/def_combo/763231441
Or R300 VIP : covers FRIDAY + SATURDAY Day street party and Origin after party ) limited to 200 : Computicket only *
http://online.computicket.com/web/event/def_vip_access/763231487

The K-Bomb performing at DEF day 1.
Photo: Russell Grant

The lineup:
DEF 2 - STREET STAGE
12:00 - 13:00 - FUNKY G 
13:00 - 14:00 - DJ FEEL 
14:00 - 15:00 - RICHARD THE THIRD (CT)
15:00 - 16:00 - NIGHT VISION 
16:00 - 17:00 - PH FAT (CT)
17:00 - 18:00 - VERANDA PANDA 
18:00 - 19:00 - NISKERONE (CT)
19:00 - 20:00 - BLUNT B (AUS)
20:00 - 21:00- JAMIE SAINT (CT)

DEF 1 - ENGINE ROOM PARK STAGE
12:30 - 13:30 - ICARUS 
13:30 - 14:30 - REBEL CLEF 
14:30 - 15:30 - CHRISTIAN TIGER SCHOOL (CT)
15:30 - 16:30 - DYNASTY (JHB)
16:30 - 17:30 - Bhashkar 
17:30 - 18:30 - Amigo
18:30 - 19:30 - FUNKY B 
19:30 - 20:30 - BRENT CRUDE 
20:30 - 21:30 - MARK E MARK 


STAGE 3 - RED BULL TRUCK (WINSTON BEER GARDEN)
14:00 - 16:00 - RENAUD 5 
16:00 - 17:00 - TOUCH OF SOUL 
17:00 - 18:00 - DJ RANGS
18:00 - 19:00 - GATORWADE (GMT)

Durban Day 2013

I recall a little tiff I had with an East Coast Radio presenter over a previous article I wrote which painted the ECR organisation in a bad light. He mentioned that his team had a meeting after reading my post, but decided not to persue the matter because I had paid for my ticket. He felt that if I had paid then I must have wanted to go, and that was all that mattered. I pointed out that I had paid for my ticket, but that I would not do so again.

I went against my own feelings and attended another ECR event: Durban Day. I know there have been a lot of write-ups about the event and I know that this post is after the fact. So, instead of writing about my feelings, I will stick to the events of the day.

I arrived at the stadium to a huge crowd of what I was told was about 12000 people. I don't know the exact number or if this is correct, but what I saw was a sea of white faces and a few dots of colour. I had not read the rules which stated that although you were allowed to bring a picnic, beverages were prohibited. This is my own fault, and so I cannot complain that I had my sealed plastic bottle of water confiscated. My friends were allowed to take their glass bottles of alcohol onto the premises. Perhaps security had not seen the alcohol bottles among the Nicknacks. 

I paid R150 entrance to celebrate Durban, but listened to bands from outside the province instead - although Toya Delazy did mention she was from Berea. Perhaps next time we could paid some local artists to perform at a day which honours their city. 

The day ended late and I drove home feeling like I had waisted my time. I wish I had spent my R150 on a local gig instead, that would have honoured Durban.

And now I will say again that, unless things change, I don’t ever want to attend another ECR function again.