Rocking the Daisies

Rocking the Daisies is a Cape Town music and lifestyle festival which has made a name for itself as one of the greener events on the calendar. In 2011, Rocking the Daisies won a Climate Change Leadership Award for the second year in a row. A first in South Africa, the programme recognises and reward those who voluntarily implement activities to combat climate change.

Besides its recycling efforts during the festival, Rocking the Daisies buys all its electricity from the Darling Wind Farm, South Africa's very first farm of this nature.

Rocking the Daisies is not just a music event, but offers a diverse line-up from stand-up comedy to gumboot dancing.

Rocking the Daisies is preceded by a curtain raiser, Sowing the Seeds, which took place in February. The main event is set to take place in October 2012.

Earthdance

The annual Earthdance is a little different, and coincides with the international version. This event is aimed at bringing about peace and unity through group consciousness.

Since its inception, Earthdance has been held annually in over 500 locations in 80 countries and is a regular event on the South African calendar.

While some of the Earthdance festivals are more esoteric than others, Earthdance Johannesburg will this year be more commercial in nature, but the essential message of peace and sustainable living remains, the organisers confirm.

"We want to create an event for all people and for all ages with all kinds of music to listen to."

Earthdance will take place on 22 September at venues still to be confirmed in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.

AfrikaBurn

In a similar vein, an alternative festival called AfrikaBurn, entirely set up and run by volunteers, takes place in the Tankwa Karoo every year.

The AfrikaBurn experience is unique in that it focuses strongly on self-expression, whether in the form of art, music or performance. Expect to be surprised as attendees are encouraged to "go ahead and do it", with few limitations on creativity other than respecting others and adhering to safety rules.

As forum member Travis puts it: "We do not determine what is going to be played – you do! And no one genre of music dominates this festival. We also don’t determine how it is going to be played."

AfrikaBurn's theme for 2012 is Mirage. It takes place from 25-30 April 2012.