... As promised..here's your Ruby fest update.

RUBY FEST
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY

As most of you proberbly know by now... In the world of Ruby ( and most everyone, I'm sure).. The struggle has been realer than real. And the recent car accident hasn't helped one little bit. It has only managed to set things back even more. But as you also must know by now... Ruby = resilience... And rebellion... And so, with a rebellious resolve to not give up ( and trust me.. The temptation has been great), I've decided to now only push forward and make Ruby fest happen (as it should) but also, doing so in the hopes of instilling a profound sense on ownership in every muso reading this. 

Due to too many hiccups and seamingly impossiblities, the thought of cancelling the fest did occur to me. But it's with thanks to a great number of you, my friends and fellow nut jobs, and your genuine excitement about the festival, I've managed to start finding some of my mojo again.... Thank you... 

I am still waiting for final confirmation on the nitty grittys...from the venue owner... But as things stand, 

Ruby fest will happen this year...and It will be fantastic... 

It just won't be as big as what we we wanted and initially planned for. However... 

The big show stopper extravaganza IS still on the cards, but for next year ( makes sense... 7 being a lucky number and what not). ....

I have be wrecking my brain to find a way to accommodate everyones (my own included) enthusiasm and expectations. 

Our challenges this year : 

■ Bad news is : We started approaching sponsors too late in the year... 

Good news is : we are ahead of that part of the game for next year 

■ Financial challenges are a very real deal... Not just on my side... But for alot of businesses... The venue included and there is A LOT of structural changes needed to facilitate the masses... Yes.... There will be masses ( just watch this space) 

■ Time: time is never enough... And with everyones hectic schedules... Not to mention... 

■ My car accident which had me confined to bed rest for just over a month.... And now that I can get physically manage to get around... I still can't get around as transportation is the next challenge.... Have you seen the prices of Uber /bolt!?!? 

■ There are even more challenges I could proberbly list here... But I'm not going to.. I've decided to look at things differently.... Creatively... 

So this is what we gonna do. 

We going home grown style. Remember what is written on your info pack at the top, it says... A celebration of LOCAL LIVE MUSIC. By local musos... For local musos.... It's about celebrating community. So let's celebrate community. 

Dates... Venue...and bands (mostly) stay as is.... (so far) However.... There will only be one stage. Impossible to do if you take into account the number of bands /acts we have.... Except I don'tbelieve In impossible... Thankfully neither do my friends who gave me these epic suggestions. 

So I want you to think back to your school days... Do you remember 'stay awakes' and all night dance marathons? You remember house parties? 

Well, we are going to relive that! We going Back to basics.... A live music marathon... On one stage.. The main stage. Nonstop live music by 40 acts over 40 hours.... 

We will start on the Friday at 6pm and end on Sunday at 12pm. 

This means we'll have bands at all hours some at 7am.. some at 3am... 5pm...  11pm...all the am and pm's!  But time will stand still for us on that weekend... I do believe that it could only be huge amounts of fun.

Ruby fest will be collaborating with the Tiny Soapbox ( info to follow) and we will be raising funds for a charity. There are a few charity options that we are looking at... They are all music related ngo's... Will update you soonest.

In terms of camping : The grounds are still there.... Lots of wide vast space... But this year... As it is still in developmental stages... Will be rustic camping... Glamping is for geeks anyway... We are musos... We know how to rough.. Right!? 

The stage : we will still have a full back line... Sound engineers and more than adequate sound. 

All proceeds made will be from festival ticket sales and will go towards the following : 

■ A large percentage towards the charity we decide on

■ Sound, stage and lighting 

■ Sound engeneers

■ The Venue hire 

■ staff helpers and medics

■ Extra ablution etc 

■ And unforseen odds and ends if needed 

**No one will be making money from this festival ... Except maybe the vendors and service delivery departments. **

If you can help out in any way or sponsor anything you feel the fest needs.... 

Please reach out to Anusha at : 071 125 4336

What we do need: 

■ We need vendors selling food 

■ We need mobile bars selling booze 

■ We need photographers 

■ We need videoograpgers 

■ We need staff

■ We need stage hands

■ We need a chill area

■ We need EXCITMENT and community spirit.... RUBY FEST isn't and never was my festival... Nor was it ever about me...contrary to popular belief... . RUBY FEST IS about building community... In Support of each other... Building growing and having fun together. Ruby fest is OURS. 

This can be a memorable moment for the books IF we can all work together with one goal in mind.... CELEBRATING COMMUNITY.... THE LOCAL LIVE MUSIC COMMUNITY. 

I will be needing everyones help in promoting and assisting with this new PASSION drive in the form of our local festival.... It CAN be and grow into something incredible... 

If you have questions. Please feel free to ask 

If you have ideas suggestions etc... Please share... you can pop me an email : events.with.ruby@gmail.com

Thank you for hearing me out.... For reading this very long update... For your friendship... ongoing support and mostly.... For dreaming the dream With me!