Upon entering, the outside world begins to fade. Dirt roads wind through the hills, tyres kicking up dust as cars crawl toward a field filled with tents, colour, and distant basslines. Phones lose signal, conversations replace notifications, and suddenly the only thing that matters is the music. Even small moments feel amplified: a stranger offering coffee one morning, a shared laugh with someone beautiful while waiting in line for a shower, fleeting connections that make the festival feel alive in ways beyond sound and light.
This three-day festival was a kaleidoscope of sound and light, a place where time seemed to bend. I wished I could slip between stages like a traveller hopping through portals into galactic madness, but I was merely mortal. Still, here’s a glimpse of the acts I actually caught on my trippy adventure in the majestic hills of Mpumalanga.
Beyond the main stages, Mieliepop became a playground: a hidden cave pulsed with electronic beats until sunrise, the Fruity Forest glowed under coloured lights, and the silent disco turned strangers into synchronized dancers beneath the stars.
Thursday: Opening Doors to Other Dimensions
Thursday began with one of Jozi’s most underrated gems, Dynasty House. Made up of Lucy, Allana, Dean, and Kate, the group’s performance washed over the crowd like a wave of pure fuzz and nostalgia, making it feel as though you were drifting through a dream you never wanted to wake from. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any stranger, a dancing guy in a traffic cone appeared, and the woozy welcome turned downright surreal.
Crash and the Void brought gothic visuals and heavy alt-rock energy, their set offering not just an auditory escape to another dimension but a fully immersive experience, with stunning visuals creating a visceral sensory impact. Stereoclub followed, proving that indie is alive and kicking. Fun, funky, and impossible to stand still to, their infectious energy had hips moving across the hillside. There’s something undeniably feel-good about losing yourself in their music while being part of the crowd.
Then came an act so daring, so fast, so dirty and freaky—Worms. An exhilarating performance where being shouted at felt, oddly, pleasurable. A Johannesburg punk project, their set was equal parts energy, wit, and rawness. One to add to your bucket list, without question.
Sisters — the highlight of Thursday — delivered a mind-altering, noisy set that felt like witnessing the world being reborn in sound, filled with screeching guitars, jagged feedback, and relentless drums. Their chaotic, hypnotic energy was unforgettable, swallowing the stage and everything around it whole. Reflecting back, I feel like a piece of myself was absorbed into that maelstrom of glorious, violent noise and I have no intention of ever getting it back.
Die Gemeente closed out my night with an epic set. A relatively new metal band in South Africa, they’ve already built an incredible following. Their performance was elevated by guest appearances from Marius of Crash and the Void and Christine of All This for Nothing, adding even more intensity. The set unfolded as a thrilling, energy-filled experience, accompanied by striking visuals and haunting silhouettes projected across the stage, a fitting climax to the evening.
Friday: Raves, Rhythms, and Revelry
By Friday, the dust had settled and the rhythm of the festival had taken hold. The day opened with Kayla the Crow, a technically brilliant vocalist whose performance held the crowd spellbound, from the front row to the farthest tents. Bathed in a sonic introspection, her voice wove through the air like a story you couldn’t stop listening to.
Caught between the Rave Cave and the main stages, electronic maestro Sharky had the crowd moving non-stop. As part of Cape Town’s Nice Nice culture collective, his set still thumps in my chest, a reminder of the festival’s relentless energy.
Fuzigush followed, bringing the funk and ska legacy to life, making the crowd grin and move with pure joy. Followed by USA act Ignite, holding a powerful strum and message throughout their performance.
And if Sisters weren’t enough, Tyla and Cameron returned with Callula—also of post-punk outfit The Medicine Dolls—on drums for another cathartic onslaught as Black Math. The mosh pit surged like a living wave of chaos, every note smashing through the crowd. What makes this performance stand out is that their sonic assault doesn’t just overwhelm, it warps your sense of reality. Yet on stage, their dynamic carries a surprisingly dry, almost offhand humour, cutting clean through the crushing weight of their sound. It offers a strange kind of comfort amidst the smacking, sliding, and full body collision of it all.
Saturday: Pulse of the People
By Saturday, the festival was in full swing. My day was mostly spent nestled in the sun by the lake, sharing space with beautiful people and groovy tunes drifting in from artists like the Black Labone House Band in the background, amplifying the calm euphoria I felt throughout the entire weekend. It all felt like something out of a fantasy. The nature surrounding you, people adorned in glitter, the sound carrying effortlessly through it all. Even in the unexpected moments, the Mieliepop team made a clear effort to keep the energy high. In between great songs, singing with strangers, falling in love, and feeling free, everything seemed to blur into something dreamlike.
Archi, an indie producer and artist from Jozi, delivered an intimate set that revealed a talent to watch. With a subtle funk running throughout, he definitely got me off my feet and grooving on the dance floor. Later, VOLK followed, exuding swagger, sexiness, and flawless sound—a performance that was consistently electric.
BCUC transformed the crowd into one unified voice with their powerful, message-driven performance. Their music brought me to tears, a reminder of how profoundly healing and communal live music can be. In today’s world, where isolation and alienation often define our experience, sharing that spectacle with the crowd reminded me of the simple, electrifying joy of being alive — right here, right now.
Sossi, the electro-pop princess hailing from the 011, brought endless fun, blending beats and dance moves that felt like a playful dream. Wherever Sossi is, you can be sure a party is bound to be banging. All sparkle and force, she’s a rhinestone titan of the stage.
Taxi Violence delivered a head-banging set, while drum and bass artists at the Fruity Forest stage — Amseth, Kiefke, TarrynTino, and Immortal Burrito, Amseth, Kiefke, left me wired for days, a testament to the festival’s musical diversity and stamina-testing lineup.
By Sunday morning, tired bodies pack up tents while the remnants of the festival’s vibrations still hum through the air. Mieliepop is more than a lineup, it’s a world, an escape where music, strangers, and muddy shoes come together, creating a space for a few days filled with movement, love, and a true sense of community.
All images are provided by Matthew Edge
Words by Bodene Mckibbin
