Soul Sessions SA

On Saturday,  31 October 2015, Camphill Village, hosted their annual Music Festival.  My initial experience of the festival,  happened last year. I have fond memories of last year. So the decision to go again, was a definite.

Beatenberg, Just Jinjer, Ottoman Slap, Bootleggers, Swallowers of Time and some young people from Vision Records were all part of the line up.

The MC for the day was none other than HemelBesem, who did a fine job of entertaining the crowd.

For those that have never heard of Camphill Village, check out their website for more details : http://www.camphill.org.za/

or give their Facebook page a like and stay up to date with events and news: https://www.facebook.com/CamphillVillageWestCoast/?fref=ts

What truly impacted my life from the very beginning, was the love and commitment of the staff. The residents feel loved and accepted, but it doesn’t end there – each resident physically works on the farm and is filled with pride and purpose for their contribution. It is such a warm feeling to visit the monthly markets and see how proudly each resident market their products. To me, visiting Camphill Village as an outsider, has opened my eyes to people that are mentally challenged. Often, a person has pre-conceived ideas or notions before experiencing something new or different. At Camphill each person gets the opportunity to work in either the dairy, the bakery or the herbal shop. Each and every person adds a valuable contribution. The beauty for me, is that they live together in little groups as a family with a house mom. So the family unit is strong.

What awaited me, however, was greater than my small mind could ever comprehend. From the moment I arrived, peace filled me, as I took in the surroundings and met the staff and some of the residents.  From the  jersey cows to the donkeys and the pretty little homes with their veggie patches, the  yummy fresh bread, yoghurt from their dairy and the lovely herbal products – the farm feels like a little piece of paradise – an escape from the outside world -. a place of safety, for those who are in need. I think this sums it up in a nutshell. When looking at the resident’s faces, you see contentment and fulfilment and this is what Camphill Village is all about.

So, as my friends and I approached Camphill last Saturday, I reminisced on last year’s experience and couldn’t wait to be part of it all over again.

Traders lined the lawns with food wagons displaying every imaginable tasty delight to tempt the taste buds. From savoury to sweet they didn’t fail to impress. A colourful lady painted faces with beautiful artwork.

People gathered under the sun on picnic blankets. A feeling of contentment and excitement was evident and happy giggles filled the air as children rang around freely. I have yet to find a child who does not enjoy the freedom that comes from being on a farm.

Swallowers of Time did a fine job of kicking off  the afternoon. Vibrant and energetic, are two words to describe their style.

Urshula, brought a certain flair with her belly dancing moves – all eyes were riveted on her . To find out more, check out her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/natrajfusion/?fref=ts

To stay up to date with upcoming events, follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SwallowersofTime/timeline

Vision Records is an Independent Record Label, signing new upcoming artists and producing music.  What a superb job they have done with these young people.
Here is a little bit about them –

A young group of dancers called HTS Behaviour Dance Crew took to the stage and the energetic presence washed over everyone present. Check out their page – https://www.facebook.com/HTS-Behavior-DANCE-CREW-1636403826631526/timeline

Che-V once again blew me away with her beautiful voice and powerful lyrics. Sillyboi and Che-V are a great duo and it is always fun to see them perform ‘Love Meets War‘ – be on the look out for the video, which is soon to be released.

Follow Che-V : https://www.facebook.com/chev.vmr/timeline

Follow Sillyboi: https://www.facebook.com/sillyboi.vmr/timeline

Tashna performed on Hectic 9 recently. Her song, ‘No More Running‘ is making waves. View it here – https://youtu.be/lIEN-CXSfMY – it was great to see her on stage again.  Check her out – https://www.facebook.com/TashnaB.vmr/timeline

Ceejay is another artist under Vision Records and he has a distinctive voice that touches the heart – download his song on the link:

Download Ceejay’s song ‘You and I’,here: https://www.facebook.com/ceejay.vmr/?sk=app_2405167945

Things were heating up pretty nicely. The Bootleggers took to the stage with gusto and you could see the people were in the groove. This band, has a strong blues feel, yet the tunes are fun and make you want to jump up and dance. I remember them wowing the crowd last year.

Since then, they have a new addition to the band- Marguerita Freeks, who spiced things up pretty nicely. This band is ideal for your office party or an event. To find out more about the band, follow them on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/The-Bootleggers-118488291532043/timeline

Ottoman Slap, is a band that literally knocked my breath away at the Grahamstown Arts Festival. The band came back with a Standard Bank Ovation Award. No surprises there!, When you sit under their music, your mind seems to escape reality and for those moments you forget all your worries and cares, as they gently soothe your soul with beautiful melodies. Their genre is distinctively Eastern/Balkan. The album features a whole host of instruments, including the saxophone, trumpet, mandolin, accordion, castanets and more. This speaks highly, of the multi talented musicians, that make up the band. Their debut album has been released and all I can say is, watch this space, as this band takes South Africa by storm.

A special mention must be made of the lovely Marissa, who enchanted everyone with her graceful dance moves. Her unique style,  forms an integral part of  the band. All in all, this is a band that is a definite must, when it comes to choosing a night out for entertainment!

Check them out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ottomanslapband/timeline

The crowd were truly on a high after this and when Just Jinjer stepped onto the stage, there was an electrifying vibe in the air.  As friends and familyl joined hands, or linked arms and danced around, singing all the words of their familiar songs, there was a wonderful spirit of unity present.  Ard Matthews did a superb job of engaging the audience. Just Jinjer, are renowned for being one of S.A.’s favourite bands of all time. Having performed before 1000s, for more years than I can remember, Just Jinjer has a strong rock edge, but do not lose their  personal touch with their fans.  To find out more about their events, follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justjinjer/?fref=ts

Beatenberg ended off the day with their funky tunes – tunes that are popular among the younger generation. The band has a strong pop feel and their sound has hit South Africa with a bang. The crowd gathered closer and closer and the expression on their faces told the story.

To find out more about them and events, check them out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Beatenberg/timeline

I would like to say a big thank you to Camphill Village for an incredible day out. Not only were the bands superb, but lives were touched. Camphill Village rubs off on you and you cannot help, but feel enriched after each visit. Camphill Village is truly an example of what giving is all about.  Without a vision, people perish and I can honestly say that Camphill Village is alive!

If you have never visited Camphill, come through on the 1st Sunday of every month from 10am to 2pm. Live entertainment and wonderful fresh product is on sale every month. Don’t miss out, but come and experience something that may just be the best experience of your life.