Taking place a few hours drive outside of Cape Town at the Matroosberg Nature Reserve, Southern Tipsy is an underground psytrance festival that has taken place for over a decade, primarily focused on enthusiast sub-genres such as darkpsy, forest, hi-tech and more.
Founded and organized by Brad, also known as his DJ alias Drifter, the event thrives on an intimate vibe, community, and a deep connection to the natural surroundings.
With only a few hundred attendees, it’s a far cry from the big-name festivals that dominate the scene—here, the focus is on the music and the people, creating an atmosphere that feels more like a family gathering than a typical rave.
The festival’s unique location, surrounded by mountain peaks, dense forests, and wide-open skies, provides an immersive backdrop for the genre’s hypnotic beats. Artists and attendees alike are drawn to the spiritual and transformative experience that psytrance offers. Unlike larger festivals, there are no commercial sponsors or big-name headliners—just carefully selected local and international DJs playing for a crowd that’s united by a love for the music and the escape it offers. The vibe is raw, authentic, and deeply connected to both the earth and the rhythm of the night.
Matroosberg Nature Reserve
Western Cape
Since 2010, we have been reporting on the global psychedelic trance scene.