Littlegig Festival 2017: The Curated Journey of Musical Experiences!

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Design News in Lifestyle

Littlegig, the world’s first 24-hour, curated, “all-included” festival, returns to Cape Town in 2017 with an eclectic line-up of international talent in music, food and design. Taking place at Wiesenhof farm in Stellenbosch from 28-29 January 2017, Littlegig’s music lineup is headlined by DJ Culoe de Song, an internationally-acclaimed proponent of African House; German electronic DJ/violinist, Seth Schwarz; Los Angeles-based DJ/producer Captain Planet; and award-winning local singer/songwriter Nakhane Touré. In addition, there is a host of talented acts that fill the festival programme.

Johannesburg-based international DJ/producer Culoe de Song’s music has been described as ‘epic African house with a strange touch.’ His international success over the past few years is testament to his ability to segue international and African sounds, mixing the best beats from both worlds. A protégé of Black Coffee, Culoe now releases globally with German label Innervisions and has played at top tier parties including the coveted DC-10 Circo Loco in Ibiza, Watergate and Fabric. Culoe will be playing a 3-hour back-to back sundowner DJ set with executive producer Strat3gy (who is also a partner at House Afrika record label and Black Coffee’s Africa Rising).

Seth Schwarz is the headline DJ for Littlegig’s Night Stage, held on Wiesenhof’s old basketball court. A classically trained violinist, Schwarz has become known for his highly crafted merging of the analogue world of the violin with the digital bass lines of house and techno. He is a fixture on the underground electronic music scene, playing at festivals around Europe and events such as Burning Man in the US.

L.A. DJ/producer Captain Planet (Charlie B. Wilder) has a trademark sound that breaks boundaries between genres and bridges continents through rhythm. He has released 3 successful full-length albums, and collaborated with artists from around the world. Founder of music blog Mixtaperiot.com (popular go-to for DJ’s, tastemakers and underground music lovers worldwide), Captain Planet is headlining Littlegig’s Tropical Bass Tent.

Nakhane Touré is a singer/songwriter whose debut album Brave Confusion won a SAMA for the Best Alternative Album. He took the name Touré in homage to his idol Ali Farka Touré though he is as likely to cite Morrissey, Nina Simone or Radiohead as influences. Multi-talented Touré’s debut novel Piggy Boy’s Blues was long-listed for the Sunday Times Barry Ronge Fiction Award in 2016, and he has recently played the lead in his debut feature film. Touré will headline the daytime Forest Stage.

While the festival is proud to present such an incredible line-up, the Littlegig experience is not about relying on big headline acts to draw crowds. Instead it is all about appreciating a curated collection of performances taking place in tailored environments that have been specially created to enhance them.

There are no stages in the traditional sense, but seven distinct areas that pop up and close as the festival journey progresses. Littlegig has added many new features for 2017, giving festivalgoers a wide range of unusual experiences from which to choose.

The island on the venue’s lake will host a Tropical Bass Bar playing rare African vinyl music. A DJ Art Car will play the sundowner set on the island, with the vehicle moving to a secret forest location after midnight. There’ll be a raspy-voiced blues-rock songstress belting it out in a late-night gin speakeasy; an identically-styled female trio DJ’ing a vintage set in the festival fashion concept store; a high energy 14-piece reggae band in the forest; a classical flautist playing to Motown vinyl in the hair and make-up salon; an international violinist/producer/DJ on a basketball court; a set by a world music legend at the Tropical Bass Bar; and so on…

The different performance locations (“stages”) are as follows: