Top names and fun activities at the Dullstroom Winter Festival

Arno Carstens is known for both his career as the lead singer of Springbok Nude Girls as well for his solo career, in which he has recorded several albums, topped the singles charts 20 times, and won five South African Music Awards.

Dan Platlansky is a legendary blues rock guitarist whose debut album earned him the title of "Best Blues Guitarist in southern Africa". He has recorded and released five albums, the latest of which "Wooden Thoughts" (2013), he is currently performing through South Africa and internationally.

Radio Kalahari Orkes' music is unique and proudly South African, with influences from all the cultures and music genres: ghoema to rock, kwaito to Boeremusiek. The band profile includes guitars, harmonica, kazoo, penny whistle, fiddle, drums, accordion, bass, castanets and not forgetting the beautiful Krummelpoppie voice.

Laurie Levine is a prolific songwriter who has a soulful voice that breathes life into her songs and embodies the emotional core of her lyrics. Since beginning in 2007, she has been nominated for two South African Music Awards and her album "Six Winters" won the award for Best Producer. She has graced the charts with a top-10 album for 2009 (The Sunday Times), and won a Standard Bank Silver Ovation award in 2011 at the Grahamstown Arts Festival.

Naming James is a regular on the Gauteng music scene. This singer/songwriter/string breaker offers a diverse collection of finely crafted songs that stand alone in originality and imagination.

Matthew Mole is not known for being the best speaker; however, give him a guitar and a microphone and it's completely different. Music is his drive, it's his passion, it's what defines Matthew Mole. In a short time, he has made a name for himself as a folk musician who is inspired by electronica, as he put it's, it's the backbones. His influences range from household names, Mumford & Sons through to underground artists Gold Panda.

The Runaway Train Cult are a fully acoustic band, featuring violin, guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukelele, sax, upright bass, baritone guitar and autoharp. The band of full-time musicians draws influence from their other bands, including Radio Kalahari Orkes and Karma, while banjo player Dan Roberts is an award-winning producer (Laurie Levine, Six Winters). The band covers a variety of music styles including Appalachian, bluegrass, gypsy jazz, as well their own interpretations of contemporary and past song from high-energy hoedown to chilled jazzier moods.

For every member of The Howlin' Shibanski, you could say that the blues travelled silently through the night and nested in each of them once it found them. It found Midiane The Stranger in a study in Pretoria in July 2010. He opened his mouth and the fire, darkness and bile he was carrying came out, strewn through the prism of the blues. When demos started going out on the Internet, through social media, and being pushed into the inboxes of editors and journalists, the verdict was unanimous: "It's rough, hard-hitting, unpolished, but something's there."

The Hinds Brothers Band are an acoustic folk rock country indie group fronted by singer/songwriter brothers Aden and Wren Hinds. Born and raised on the KZN South Coast, the music of The Hinds Brothers portrays the tranquil beauty of these surrounds, but much more than that, they bring to the art of melody and lyric music written, sung, and played from the heart for the heart.

Friday, 5 July

• Cherry Grove: Naming James, 8pm
  
• Cherry Grove: Laurie Levine, 9pm
  
• Cherry Grove: Arno Carstens, 10pm

Saturday, 6 July

• Wild About Whisky: Naming James, 1pm
  
• Dullstroom Grill: The Howlin' Shibanski, 3pm
  
• Dullstroom Grill: The Hinds Brothers, 4pm
  
• Dullstroom Grill: Matthew Mole, 5pm
  
• Cherry Grove: Runaway Train Cult Collective, 8.30pm
  
• Cherry Grove: Dan Platlansky, 9.30pm
  
• Cherry Grove: Radio Kalahari Orkes, 10.30pm

Sunday, 7 July

• Dullstroom Grill: The Howlin' Shibanski, 12pm
  
• Dullstroom Grill: The Hinds Brothers, 1pm

Other activities

The Bain's Cape Mountain Whisky Dullstroom Winter Festival is more than just a music festival, with a number of family activities taking place during the weekend to participate in.

The festival will once again host three top-class sporting competitions: The Dullstroom Winter Family Fly Fishing Event, a 7km and 14km trail run, and the Dunkeld Thin Air Mountain Bike race.

The Family Flyfishing event takes place on Saturday, 6 July afternoon at the Dullstroom Nature Reserve. Very kid friendly and regardless of your skill level, this competition is open to everyone. Novices will get an extra helping hand from Mavungana Fly Fishing, where you can loan fishing equipment and guides will be at the Dullstroom Dam. Teams of two family members (or "distant relatives" are permitted to enter. Entry to the competition is R390 per team and each member will receive a goodie bag and the chance to win fabulous prizes for the Heaviest Bag (two fish) per team. Prizes include Stealth fishing gear, a weekend away at The Red Barn, Highland Gate Golf vouchers, Shautany Chocolatier hampers and more.

For runners, the festival will host a 7km and 14km Trail Run on Saturday morning. Both races explore the outskirts of Dullstroom with the 14km runners heading up Grootsuikerboschkop to the peak at 2000m above sea level. Both races will start and finish at the historical Dullstroom Inn Hotel in town. Registration for the races takes place on Friday evening at the Dullstroom Inn Hotel. Entry fees are R80 and R100, respectively, and are limited to the first 200 entries. All entrants will received a medal and the top athletes will win weekends away in Dullstroom, gift hampers or shopping vouchers.

The Dunkeld Thin Air Mountain Bike Race will test cyclists on this single track with hand-built bridges that stretch over the Dullstroom countryside. Custom trails in the thin mountain air offer cyclists the best trails while experiencing the beautiful scenery of Mpumalanga. There are three races to take part in. Cyclists have a choice of races: 8km, 15km and a 30km with winners in each category receiving holidays in Dullstroom. All participants will receive a medal. Entry fee is R120 for adults, R60 for kids under 12.

Entries for the Dunkfeld Thin Air Mountain Bike Race and Dullstroom Winter Festival Family Fly Fishing competition and Trail Run are now open online at www.dullstroomwinterfestival.co.za.

For those who choose to relax while in Dullstroom, activities include Bain's Cape Mountain Whisky tastings, a Vintage Car Expo and parade through town at 1pm, a Saturday morning Village Market at Broekie Lace Barn offering locally grown and home-baked goods. For children under 12, a Christmas Wonderland tent with loads of competitions and prizes, games and face painters will be set up at the Meander Centre.

Entry to all the daytime activities is free. Remember the R10 Hop on/Hop off service by the Buddy Bus, which will run up and down the Main Road from 9am to 6pm. The Buddy Bus will pick up and drop you off between 6pm and 2am for R20. Booking is essential for group and out-of-town bookings. Mail az.oc.liamkrow@tropsnartesamokam now for a quote.

Tickets are now on sale for R150 an evening at the Cherry Grove venue, online at www.ticketbreak.co.za. One ticket will get you into all the venues while all other activities including entry forms for the Fly Fishing, Mountain Bike Race and Trail Run can be completed online at www.dullstroomwinterfestival.com.