Churn Festival celebrates underground electronic music

Churn takes place from noon on Saturday to 4pm on Sunday at Tweefontein Melkery in Kempton Park, 30 minutes east of Johannesburg. The festival is sonically curated by the brains behind Braamfontein bar Kitchener’s (Broaden A New Sound and Andrew The DJ) in collaboration with Braam Wednesday night favourites BeatNN and experimental event curators Hadedah.

“The music comes first at Churn,” clarifies Andrew the DJ of Field Marshal Records. “We’ve unhinged our jaws to spit a jam-packed line up of our favourite cutting-edge live electronic acts and DJs.” 

Danger Ingozi of Broaden A New Sound wants people to “Expect the unexpected. Embrace your discomfort zone, your new favourite song, your new favourite feeling.”

His partner on the decks, Rosie Parade, suggests people “Leave the city behind for one hot night of elevation. Camp out on the meadows under the Kempton Park stars or party through the full line-up. Two cozy inside locations are perfect for naps and low-key cuddles when your dancing shoes need a break.”

“Unlike the chaos of bigger festivals, Churn provides a boutique beats experience,” explains Temba Middelmann of BeatNN. “Tickets are strictly limited to 500. The lineup is distilled to a single, perfectly curated shaded outdoor stage that will run from noon on Saturday to 4pm on Sunday without giving the five-star sound system a break.”

Hadedah’s Polarimpala promises an extraordinary visual feast: "We will be bringing out the kitsch in Kempton Park, giving eyes to the sound. We are pulling references from all things shriney, golden and worth bowing down too. We are creating a realm of worship, roaming deities and far-out tweaked euphoria.”

Camping areas with access to ablutions and hot showers are available on site. Delicious hot food and drinks on sale, but you’re welcome to bring in your own booze and food. Tickets are on sale for R250 from Quicket.