SILVER MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2023

Join us for the annual SILVER MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL: 15 to 18 June

This year’s festival focuses on percussion music and the natural Rhythm of life. We will be joined by well-known musicians and speakers, who will connect us to nature in unique ways. Join us for a weekend of music and nature in the Grootvadersbosch Valley.

Musicians include the well-known classical marimbist - Magdalena de Vries - professional percussionist - Bryan Clarke - the energetic Empower Drumming Academy - the Ancient Voices, two young musicians: cellist - Ashlin Grobbelaar and violinist - Pieter Joubert – and finally – Richard Cock who will host the annual Shed concert that connects all the events together.
This year the festival is partnering with Struik Nature to bring renowned speakers together, who will take us on a journey through nature and help us discover new and old species.
 
The full programme is available here

The following events are linked to the ongoing work of conservation in the Grootvadersbosch area.

Friday June 16 10am: Music, Mindfulness and MCC in a forest, Strawberry Hill Farm

​Join us in the middle of the forest for a unique musical experience. Start the day with a glass of Lords MCC and then be guided into the trees by Prof Coert Geldenhuys, one of South Africa’s leading forest ecologist. Deep in the forest, you will focus your thoughts on your natural surroundings, while listening to the rhythm of your heartbeat. This will be a special exercise in relaxation and de-stressing….all in the heart of the Grootvadersbosch forest with Magdalena de Vries (marimba), Bridget Rennie-Salonen & Renée van den Berg (wellbeing facilitators), joined by Wessel van den Berg (didgeridoo). 

Friday June 16 3h00PM: Conservation and Agriculture in Harmony. Voorstekop Farm, Heidelberg 

​At the Voorstekop Farm, we are joined by the Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust who will share their knowledge on how conservation and agriculture have evolved – and still evolving – to live in harmony. Listen to leading ecologist, Dr Odette Curtis, and commercial farmer, Dirk van Papendorp to explain the importance of protecting the critically endangered renosterveld. The afternoon includes a farm tea.

SATURDAY June 17 10h30AM: Bringing New Species to Life, Joseph Barry Distillery, Barrydale

​In partnership with Struik Nature , we will be hosting a series of talks by leading naturalists. They will tell amazing stories of African species found in our country and in our hidden valley, including the: Grootvadersbosch Chameleon, Coelacanths and the Barrydale Redfin. This series of talks includes Prof Mike Bruton who focuses on fish the conservation of nocturnal coelacanths, said to come from the dinosaur eras. Prof Krystal Tolley, will discuss chameleons and the species found only in the Grootvadersbosch Forest. Finally, Johan Marais - world-known snake conservationist and CEO of the South African Snakebite Institute –will enlighten us on these beautiful and intriguing reptiles. 

SUNDAY June 18 10h00AM: A naturalist in swellendam, Bokmakiri Books, Swellendam

​Join us for a Clock Peaks cup-of-coffee, where naturalist - Roger Stewart – will take us back to the 18th century and will talk about William Burchell’s journey across Africa. This journey will be illustrated through ‘Burchell’s African Odyssey book’ which reveals the narrative and natural history discoveries of his unpublished return journey (1812-1815) from the south-eastern Kalahari to Cape Town via the mouth of the Great Fish River. On this journey he amassed an astonishing 63 000 specimens of plants, bulbs, insects, reptiles and mammals. His talk will include Burchell’s explorations in the greater Swellendam area.


​​All the natural history guides will be available for sale at Bokmakiri Books, Swellendam

SATURDAY June 17 3h30pm: curated art exhibition, strawberry hill farm

This year our programme includes a special curated art exhibition that will be part of the Richard Cøck and Friends Shed Concert on the 17th June 2023. The exhibition is inspired by water creatures and reptiles and is curated by the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve. Artists will include Ferdo Voigt, Niki Saunders, Nakita Joubert, Nadine Hansen and Merryn Carver. A portion of all art sales will be donated to support the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy and the Empower Drumming Academy.