BAR-HP

In my defence the moon was full and I was left unsupervised

Astarless, moonlit weekend. Two stages blasting techno music. Camper vans, tents and fairy lights. Rose-tinted sunglasses, sequins and feathers. Technicolour lights projected onto smiling faces through the billowing clouds of a smoke machine. All nestled in the balmy hug of massive granite boulders. Between a Rock and a Hard Place (BAR-HP) 2023 was pure magic.

On a Friday afternoon in the desert, as the sun sank into Spitzkoppe’s peak, a familiar buzz of excitement filled the air. Returning festival goers, who had made the unforgettable journey last year, knew that they simply could not miss out on this year’s edition. And many fresh faces were undoubtedly lured here by the FOMO factor. An impressively diverse crowd pulled up for this year’s event, from the die-hard techno heads to visiting tourists and everyone in between.

Having attended last year’s festival, I vowed to return. And I can say with utmost confidence that BAR-HP 2023 did not come to play. Upping the ante tenfold, this time around the festival boasted not one, but two music stages. The centrepiece of the festival grounds was a massive hexagonal tent, a bespoke creation commissioned all the way from South Africa, which took four days to erect. Its design allowed festival goers to enter seamlessly from all sides, creating a sense of unity and connection as they ventured inside, exploring the sonic wonderland that awaited.

And then there was Paradise – the second, smaller stage that pulled a crowd of deep-house and afrotech lovers. Here, local boys Sxdated and YD Fresh played a duo set on Friday evening that truly set the tone for the weekend, proving that local DJ’s can hold their own amongst the international jockeys that later took to the stage.

DJs from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Germany stepped up to the plate in the late hours, when everyone at the festival was stomping up a dust cloud under the watchful gaze of a near full moon. These international artists play their part in placing BAR-HP in the big league, but truly, it is the organising of this event that sets it apart.

The masterminds behind Between a Rock and a Hard Place draw inspiration from world-class events to pull this one together. “Our aim is to curate a music experience that not only provides a platform for local artists but also attracts esteemed international talent to Namibia,” says Eloise Sitler from the BAR-HP team. Ample bathrooms and showers, stellar security, brilliant decor, top-notch bar and food services, fantastic music – all these make for a seamless experience. A few of my seasoned festival-going friends were quoted as saying this might be one of the best and wellorganised festivals they have ever been to.

But BAR-HP 2023 was more than just a well-orchestrated festival. It was a sanctuary for weary souls. Many spoke of burnout and a dire need to break away from the rat race. In truth, we were all craving a temporary utopia to reboot our systems, seeking solace in this desert haven, where the music reverberated through our beings. It was a celebration of both unity and individual expression, a transcendence beyond the mundane. While sleep deprivation and hangovers were inevitable, BAR-HP nourished the soul in ways that lasted long after the last beat dropped.

Sunday morning was filled with promises to return, reminiscing over the weekend that was. And as the gravel road unfolded on the journey home, the anticipation for the next adventure simmered within – a reminder that the magic of BAR-HP would continue to inspire and ignite the spirits of all who dared to immerse themselves in its euphoria, and those who have yet to attend.

Charene Labuschagne

What festival goers said about BAR-HP 2023:

“A soul-freeing, de-programming and unwinding experience.” - Monique

“I have never been to a festival in Namibia where I felt so free and welcomed. BAR-HP = Safe Space.” - Omar

“We came to take things with us – the music, the connection, the beautiful night sky, the peace of the desert. And we came to leave things – broken hearts, trauma and fear for what the future might hold. BAR-HP was not just a festival for us. It was a sacred space of healing.” - Alacia

“BAR-HP has reserved a special place in my heart. Friends became family, my spirit felt fiery and our feet stomped to the endless beats bouncing through the desert.” - Lenana