One of South Africa's longest-running music festivals is getting ready to welcome Creekers back to the Breede River, with Up The Creek 2027 taking place from 11 to 14 February.
Image supplied.
Now in its fourth decade, the festival has become something of a summer tradition for music lovers looking for a long weekend that combines live music with camping, river swims, good food and plenty of time outdoors.
After another edition in 2026, the 2027 festival is set to feature more than 50 artists across four days and four stages, with the first names already announced.
The first acts are in
South African rock favourite Arno Carstens leads the first artist announcement, joined by:
- Aking
- Barto
- BCUC
- Booshle G
- Dierbaar
- Georgetown
- Keanan Eksteen
- Magé
- MaxX & Love
- Pedro Barbosa
- Sugarbird
That's only the first wave, with more artists and festival surprises still to be announced ahead of February.
With more than 50 acts planned across the four-day programme, the line-up is set to bring together a mix of South African sounds and artists, with plenty more to come.
More than just a music festival
The music might be at the heart of Up The Creek, but anyone who's been will know that the festival experience extends well beyond the stages.
Set along the Breede River, the festival brings together camping, outdoor adventures, food, live music and, of course, the opportunity to spend a few days floating around on the river with your friends.
It's also the kind of festival where traditions have a habit of forming. Friends return year after year, new festival-goers become regular Creekers and the river becomes as much a part of the experience as the music itself.
Festival director Caitlin Lotter says the aim each year is to keep the familiar spirit of Up The Creek while still giving people something new to discover.
“Although live music is our core identity, Up The Creek has always been about so much more than just the music,” she says, pointing to the sense of community, discovery and disconnecting from everyday life that has become part of the festival.
A summer tradition on the Breede
Up The Creek has called the Breede River home since 1990, giving it more than three decades to build a reputation as one of South Africa's most distinctive outdoor festivals.
Its setting is a big part of that identity. Rather than simply providing a backdrop to the performances, the river and surrounding landscape are woven into the festival itself.
For returning Creekers, that means revisiting familiar traditions, while first-timers can expect a festival experience that feels a little different from the usual city-based music weekend.
Tickets are already on sale
The first Early Creeker Tickets are now available through Howler, offering festival-goers the chance to secure the full four-day experience at the early ticket price.
Up The Creek 2027 will run from Thursday, 11 February to Sunday, 14 February 2027.
With more than 50 acts still to be revealed and summer waiting on the other side, the Breede River is already starting to look like a pretty good place to spend a long weekend.
