Search Festival makes their long awaited return and reveals the full line up for 2022 

Search is a 3-day music festival that ushers in the New Year with world-class explorations in sound, visuals, sculpture, sustainability and friendship. Returning to the beautiful cradle that is Utopia farm near the picturesque village of Swellendam, Search Festival have announced their full lineup for 2022, and it’s looking stronger than ever. Over the course of eight years, Search has shaped itself around independent music culture, creating an empowering environment founded on DIY principles and volunteer participation. The aim is always to create a safe, ecologically sustainable and socially conscious space for all to flourish in and an unfaltering association with only the most exciting and innovative voices in music. This is what sets us apart: connecting talent, scenes and genres in a way that always feels honest and surprisingly organic. The festival’s love for experimental and innovative sounds (and for artists that have been making an impact in the South African and international music scenes), are showcased in full force this year. 

Taking place on December 30th through January 1st across three stages, Search shares a programme of forward-thinking legends with emerging local, regional and international talent to soundtrack your New Year’s, including Nabihah Iqbal, Charles Webster, Surreal Sessions, Omagoqa, SENHORÂ, Xuzi Xafa Xafa, Stiff Pap, KDOLLAHZ and Rose Bonica, among many others. 

Nabihah Iqbal and Charles Webster, two integral artists from the UK music scene, are included as headliners for the festival. Nabihah Iqbal is a highly regarded multidisciplinary artist, researcher and digger known for her NTS and BBC Radio shows and her recordings for Ninja Tune Records. Charles Webster, accomplished DJ and producer, is an important figure in electronic music, creating and curating multi-genre sounds hovering between House, Downtempo and Jazz, with releases spanning over three decades. Both these artists have lived in South Africa and have shown a keen interest in its music scene and culture.

The line up also aims to showcase acts who share and create distinct South African sounds. Heavy Gqom sounds from Surreal Sessions (playing at Boiler Room Festival next year) and Omagoqa (booked for Sonar Barcelona 2023). SENHORÂ, who has been pushing the best in local SA dance music as well as KDOLLAHZ who has been an advocate for Yaadt remixes, synonymous with Cape Town culture. Live act, electronic music duo, Stiff Pap have also been included in this year’s line up, known for their experimental fusion of Gqom and Kwaito and vernacular rap. 

Furthermore on the live front will be the debut of Xuzi Xafa Xafa, a new alias from the renowned Nonku Phiri bringing to life her new electronic focused persona, while the synthwave sounds of  Blu Flame (made up of Hlasko and SunSunSun) and the electronic-classical hybrid of Haiku Haiku, round out this year’s powerful list of first-time appearances. 

The festival has also brought in some of the deepest diggers to explore the sounds of Jazz, Funk, Soul, Disco, Experimental and indigenous music from across the globe channeled to the soundsystem by Sound Of Xee, Fly Machine Sessions, Hypocrite & DJ Okapi – and to celebrate, some of the best DJs and Producers in House & Techno will be performing. Artists who’ve been keeping the city moving throughout the year, ready to propel us into the 2023, including Kyle Russouw, re.dah & Thor Rixon (Live), Biodive, Mandy Alexander, Ray Bennett, Rose Bonica and too many more to mention. 

In addition to the eclectic line up programmed by Aaron Peters (The Other Records and The Other Radio), Search has invited Tamzyn Botha, curator of Shade Brixton and Brixton Light Festival, as the Site Creative Director. Her work focuses on collectively workshopping and individually upcycling unwanted items to create memorable and highly imaginative art pieces and spaces. Her exciting take on the discarded is surely going to bring something uniquely unforgettable to each of the Search stages and hidden spaces as well gearing a sustainability focus for the festival. 

Purchase tickets HERE

For more info visit www.searchfestival.co.za

Published: 15 December 2022

For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za