011 Festival: Celebrating Jozi underground skate and music culture, DIY style

The 011 Festival is going down at 011 Skatepark in Joburg on September 24. It’s a full-tilt celebration of Jozi’s soul, with a music lineup that punches hard, heavy hitting skateboarding, a handpicked market featuring local artists and makers, and a solid beer garden courtesy of Devil’s Peak and giveaways from blunt Magazine and Crispy Skateboards. bluntmagza caught up with the organisers Ric and Geoff to find out a bit more about the event…

Words: bluntmagza. Photos by Dean R Marais and 011 Skatepark.

Tell us a bit about your backgrounds. Who are the organisers behind the 011 Festival and what led you to this point?

The 011 Festival is being driven by a tight-knit crew of music lovers, skaters, and cultural catalysers — people who’ve lived and breathed the alternative scene for years. From underground radio to warehouse parties, punk gigs to community-led festivals, we’ve been in the trenches, both locally and globally. The collective includes promoters, producers, and creatives who’ve collaborated with venues, artists, and platforms like Dub Collective, Siyabonga, and Soundlanguage. What brought us together was a shared fire: a deep love for Johannesburg’s raw energy, and frustration at how little of that is reflected in the current scene. So we rolled up our sleeves and decided to channel that passion into something tangible.

011 Festival co-organiser Ric. Peace bra.

How did you come to create this event? What’s the motivation behind it? You talked about there not being enough going on in the alternative scene and so you decided to do something about it yourselves, in true DIY style?

Exactly that. It was one of those “screw it, let’s just make it happen” moments. We were venting about the fact that there’s an insane amount of talent across genres — from punk and ska to DnB, hip hop, and noise — but almost no platforms for them to share a stage, or connect with audiences. The energy’s there, the talent’s there, but the infrastructure’s missing. So we built our own. The DIY ethos runs deep in everything: we’re self-funding, borrowing gear, roping in friends, designing our own posters, and doing our own promo. It’s gritty and real, like the city itself. More than a festival, it’s a love letter to Jozi’s underground — music, art, skate culture, all under one sky.

Marcel De Andrade, heelflip, 011 skatepark. Photo by Dean R Marais.

Why do you think there’s not much happening in the skate/music/alternative scene in Jozi? It used to be so huge in the heyday of blunt, and there are so many more people involved now, but fewer events?

It’s not for lack of interest — people are hungry. When something genuine pops up, you can feel the excitement. But the reality is, we’ve lost a lot of key venues, production costs have skyrocketed, and most sponsors play it safe. A lot of expression has moved online, but that doesn’t replace sweaty mosh pits, crowded skate bowls, and conversations over beers. The community is alive — it just needs places to gather again. We want to be part of reawakening that, by giving people a reason to come out and connect in real life.

Geoff, 011 Festival co-organiser, DIY enthusiast.

What have been the challenges in putting on the event? It’s always a mission and a passion project/labour of love. What have been the obstacles, and how have you overcome them?

The biggest challenge? Money. We’re not backed by big brands — this is fully independent. That means every poster, every cable, every band needs to be accounted for. Getting people to believe in something that doesn’t exist yet is tough, especially when it sits outside the mainstream. But we’ve hustled — worn ten hats each, begged and borrowed, and leaned heavily on the strength of the community. The love we’ve already received — from artists, skaters, vendors, brands like Blunt and Crispy Skateboards — that’s what fuels us. It’s not easy, but it’s worth every sleepless night.

Bringing the noise, 011 style.

What can people expect at the event? You’ve got live music, DJs, an art market and skateboarding and a beer garden? Tell us about what people can expect from each of these elements? Why should people pull in?

It’s a full-tilt celebration of Jozi’s soul. We’ve curated a music lineup that punches hard — from ska-punk legends Fuzigish and rock staples Black Cat Bones, to the likes of Lefokolodi, Shameless, Stoney Maroney, and Clauds. On the skate side, expect live sessions from heavy hitters like Kelvin Vosloo and Blue from Alex, plus a few surprise guests. We’ve got a handpicked market featuring local artists and makers, and a solid beer garden courtesy of Devil’s Peak. Blunt Magazine and Crispy Skateboards are throwing in some giveaways too. It’s loud, it’s proud, it’s all-ages. Whether you’re coming for the mosh, the tricks, the tunes or just the vibe — this is where it’s at.

011 skate park shop.

Where can people get tickets and how much is a ticket?

Tickets are available now via Quicket.

Phase 1: R150

Prices rise as we get closer, so don’t wait.

Kids under 12 get in free — bring the whole fam.

bluntmagza will be sponsoring R500 at the Full Throttle skate jam comp, see you there!