Rock Me Africa: Krank’d Up Music Festival 2014

Krank’d Up Music Festival 2014 – Do you even metal bro?

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So this past Saturday, 27 September 2014, will definitely be one Saturday that many people will not forget for the rest of their lives. Why you ask? Because it was Krank’d Up 2014!

The day started at 1PM, in the blazing sun, as the entertainment went underway at 1:30PM. The entire day was packed with the incredible talent of our very own local bands. Some of the bands that played deserve special mention. Bands like Freedom for Your Life who had the powerful Brad Morrison, ex A Fate like Yours vocalist, take over front man duties and powerhouse through the FFYL set.

The amazing Red Helen, which played their first show since their return from Germany and playing the mighty Wacken Open Air Festival, had one incredible set filled with energy and having the crowd pumped for what was still to come.

Deity’s Muse was a definite one to remember, playing their first show with their new line-up. Introducing Yokim Pillay on guitars gave the band a whole new dynamic and was such a pleasure to see these guys perform.

Poverty of Ideals never ceases to impress us with their amazing musicianship and talent. These guys know how to be progressive in every sense of the word. They shred, slap the bass and beat those drums the way some musicians only wish they knew how.

Fan favorites, Facing the Gallows, had one special show as it was a show to bid farewell to one of their founding member’s Ricki. He recently moved down to Cape Town and has now parted ways with the band he has been in for the past 7 years. And what a sendoff did Krank’d Up give him. FTG came in and played one thunderous set. The crowd were singing, screaming and moshing along to all their favorite FTG songs.

For those of you whom have been in the scene for a long time, will remember Underbelly and how energetic all their shows were. Their reputation most definitely precedes them as they delivered one incredible set as did Newtown Knife Gang on the main stage as they opened up for the international acts.

For many years, we have been listening to Protest the Hero and to see these guys perform live was a dream come true! Their crazy skills on their string instruments and powerful lead of vocals from Rody Walker gives Protest the Hero a distinct sound among the usual metal bands that are out there.

They came on stage and were welcomed by the Sundowners audience with a massive shout and applause. The guys thundered through their set playing all the fan favorites and getting the crowd so psyched that a few mosh pits came about. The band from Canada had a really tight set and showed SA why they are where they are. For musicians, and looking across the crowd during their set, it seemed as they were dumbfounded by the intense skill of Protest the Hero’s string men which we are sure have now inspired a whole of kids to go home and practice more and more until they are as good as Tim Millar and Luke Hoskin.

Next up were metalcore giants, Unearth. They were joined on stage by Matt Devries, best known as guitarist of Chimaira, whom played the bass guitar and is currently their touring bass guitarist. Unearth are considered the fathers of the metalcore genre and when they played, it is evident to see why.

For us at Rock Me Africa, we’ve been listening to this band for more than 10 years and to see them live on our own home soil was more than a dream coming true. They played one monstrous set filled with metal mayhem. They were the highlight for us at this year’s Krank’d Up festival.

What surprised us the most was that the crowd finally gave in and had multiple circle pits during Unearth’s set. If you spend a lot of time on YouTube, you will know what circle pits look like at metal fests and to finally see them happening in SA, people are finally learning to not just try and punch the dude next to them in a pit.

All in all, Krank’d Up 2014 was a major success and to see the support all our local boys had gave us hope that our scene is growing and will flourish with more amazing local bands coming out and stepping up to the plate to promote the scene as a whole. We would also like to thank Turning Tricks Entertainment, Duncan, Wayne, Warren, Plug Music PR, Spencer, Sundowners, Jagermeister and Music Connection for always bringing the best of SA together. With all this being said, we cannot wait to see what Krank’d Up 2015 will have in store for us.

What was your favorite moment of Krank’d Up 2014?