The day I set foot into Hey Neighbour was like stepping into a whirlwind of excitement and surprises. Before I even got there, I did my homework—scanning social media for tips and relying on friends’ stories. They all warned me about one thing: the place was massive, which meant lots of walking. My Fitbit and I were ready! I’m also not the fussiest when it comes to festival outfits. Comfort is key, right? So, I settled on my trusted Converse platforms and oversized tee, ripped jeans, and a cute little Mr Price backpack stuffed with all the must-haves: a power bank, charging cables, a hand fan, bathroom stuff, and a raincoat just in case.
Getting there was a bit of a journey itself. We drove to Centurion and then took an Uber to the festival. Ticket lines weren’t too bad going in but the food queues were a whole different story- won’t get too much in that but sadly I missed out on some cool performances I wanted to see during the day… thank goodness the likhwa lines were smooth sailing otherwise yeeeiii lol! Once we were inside properly, it was all vibes. The Play Energy Drink stage was my favorite because it was pumping with high spirits. Shera The DJ rocked her set so much that it even inspired me to finish up my Gqom playlist that I have been trying to cook. Then came the Netflix House, a total trip showcasing the different shows they’ve had throughout the year. From Queen Charlotte to “Young, Famous & African,” it was a brand takeover done right, complete with stunning photos as well – shoutout to the photographers.
Claiming a spot to watch Kendrick’s performance was like planning a military operation. We had strategies—Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C—all to nab that spot in front. But let me tell you, everyone had the same idea – so we only ended up on the right side of the stage almost close to the center which was good enough considering all the pushing and shoving that was already happening. It was a friendly battle for the best view, I guess! Kendrick’s performance obviously stole the show for my whole experience. He gave us all the hits I love, including the South African favorite “Alright”. It felt like a dream come true, and I secretly hope it sparked some inspiration again for his next album, the way it did for To Pimp A Butterfly – maybe a Dance album coz we told Kendrick we want to party lol.
Looking back, the festival was a blast, especially with all those international acts, but there were some things I could’ve considered to make the experience smoother. Camping would’ve been awesome to keep the party going after the last act – the hours spent at the parking could’ve been spent wisely inside the festival coz also some of us were not ready to sleep. And also, proper planning would have helped – I knew who I wanted to see but formalizing it would have helped a lot more so I could also check out other activations in between my music fillers. Hopefully, they have an app to plan your weekend next year and avoid us running around indecisively.
It was also quite dusty I wish I had something to cover my eyes and nose with – I kept thinking about those protective glasses we had during lockdown, they were needed. I also need something to cover my drink from the dust. If you are a one-day ticket holder, definitely opt to take the park-and-ride option and have something to eat before going en route or schedule Uber Eats in advance – avoid being hangry.
Overall, Hey Neighbour was an adventure! Can’t wait to see what next year’s festival brings!
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