alt.SA Issue 4 | Page 28

THE biggest metal festival South Africa, no wait, Africa has ever seen has come and gone but the memories are still fresh - so fresh you can smell the sweat, beer and blood in the pit!

Metalheads put on their favourite band t-shirts and headed for Newtown in Johies over Easter.

They were ready for a weekend of music, beer and hanging with kindred brothers and sisters.

Some came with their camping gear and pitched their tents in town - yet another first for sunny South Africa.

The message was: metal is alive in this country and there's little anyone can do to stop it.

This was made clear by the uphill battle Witchdoctor Productions had to fight and won, in the end making the dreams of metal lovers across Africa come true.

Together they showed the finger to those who tried to throw a spanner in the works. Witchdoctor Productions left fans speechless with the line-

up of Witchfest 2015, seeing

the likes of Decapitated, Hatebreed, Cannibal Corpse, Fleshgod Apocalypse and many more international and local

acts grace the stage of The Bassline.

We barely had time to wash off the dust before they hit us straight in the gut by announcing Behemoth, Konkhra, Origin, Rotting Christ and Cattle Decapitation as some of the international acts for 2016.

We can only wait in anticipation for what is to come!

Till then, here are some photos, all taken by the talented Henry Engelbrecht, for you to look at and reminisce.

See you at Witchfest 2016!

WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED.

Witchdoctor Productions had a dream to bring a Metal Festival to our country.

An opportunity to grow the already thriving scene; create jobs, give our own metal bands a much needed platform, and share our beautiful country and love for music with some of the world’s biggest names in metal.

We have been bullied, terrorised and attacked. Our shows have been cancelled. Our venues closed down.

This year, our venue was shut down three times. Which has had a massive impact on us financially, as we have no sponsors willing to associate their brand with metal. And while we refuse to be intimidated, and have fought with every strength to continue with this project, we really need help to ensure that we can make WItchfest Festival an annual event within the budget of the fans.

We are looking to raise around $100 000 to recover the money that was lost due to all the venue moves, deposits, advertising, re- branding.

Our goal is to make it a bigger and better experience than the last. Any money raised over and above the amount needed will go towards reducing the ticket prices for 2016, legal fee's and getting the festival into other African countries.

Witchdoctor Productions have a proven track record when it comes to breaking new ground in the South African metal scener. By contributing to the campaign you’ll be a big part of this, helping to unite 1st and 3rd world metals fans.