Van Coke, Kitshoff and Dobbo walk into a bar
This festival is loosely geared around the theme 'The Art of...', with a host of talented South Africans hitting the road to Barrydale in aid of a good cause.
The weekend kicks off on Friday night with an intimate concert in the hotel's gallery theater by Francois van Coke for 'The Art of Music'. Rugby takes center stage on Saturday with 'The Art of Rugby – Insight & Analysis', a more informal 'fireside chat' on professional rugby preparation with John Dobson, head coach of the DHL Stormers, and Steven Kitshoff, Springbok stalwart and scrummaging master. Leading the conversation will be CapeTalk host John Maytham.
On Saturday evening, guests will also gather to watch the Springboks take on Georgia, with commentary, banter and braai flavor in full supply.
Other highlights include 'The Art of Magic', with comedic illusionist Peter G, and 'The Art of Beer', hosted by Kitshoff; co-founder of Bomb Squad beer. Expect tastings, tales, and a celebration of South Africa's craft beer culture.
But the weekend is about more than entertainment. It's become an important community upliftment initiative, supporting local rugby clubs The Stryders and Flying Eagles, who celebrate their 75th anniversary this year. With over 60 percent unemployment in the area, sport is a powerful force for good, and thanks to proceeds from past events, the teams now have new kit, improved facilities, and a growing youth program. This year's goal: new boots and more equipment.
Along with Dobson and Co. contributing their time and talent, the weekend is made possible by Rick and Sue Melville, owners of the Karoo Art Hotel, whose deep local ties and commitment to Barrydale help drive the weekend's fundraising efforts.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey charged with raping two women
The Metropolitan Police said the midfielder faces five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault following alleged offences between 2021 and 2022. Partey's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire said he 'denies all the charges against him', adding: 'He now welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name.' The Ghanaian international was charged four days after leaving the North London club. The sexual assault allegation relates to a third woman, police added. Partey is accused of two counts of rape against one woman and three counts of rape against another. The force said it first received reports of an allegation of rape in February 2022. Ms Wiltshire said the 32-year-old has 'fully co-operated with the police and CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) throughout their three-year investigation'. Partey, of Hertfordshire, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 5. Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, whose team is leading the investigation, said: 'Our priority remains providing support to the women who have come forward. 'We would ask anyone who has been impacted by this case, or anyone who has information, to speak with our team. 'You can contact detectives about this investigation by emailing CIT@ Partey joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 in a transfer worth around £45 million. The defensive midfielder signed for the Spanish club in 2012 and made 188 appearances – as well as going out on loan to Mallorca and Leganes. He played 35 games for the north London club in the Premier League last season, scoring four goals. Partey has also made more than 50 appearances for Ghana – including at the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. He left Arsenal following the expiry of his contract on Monday.
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Leah Williamson relieved to let go of anxiety ahead of England's Euro opener
The Arsenal defender was forced to miss England's first run to a Women's World Cup final two summers ago in Australia after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury and she is now relishing the opportunity to lead the Lionesses in another major tournament after captaining them to European glory in 2022. England boss Sarina Wiegman, meanwhile, hinted Chelsea forward Lauren James could be more involved against France after marking her comeback from a long hamstring-related absence with an assist in her 30-minute second-half cameo in their Jamaica send-off friendly. 'I've probably held some anxiety, I suppose, up until this moment,' said Williamson, when asked if missing the World Cup and her recovery had given her a new appreciation for this opportunity. Our opener awaits 👊#Lionesses | @NuffieldHealth — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 3, 2025 'Just because I wanted to be here and I wanted to be with the team, I wanted to be here with the team, I wanted to experience another tournament for England, and being away from home is special. 'When you come to another country to represent your country and just take everything in. It's a bit different to England in 2022, so I'm just taking everything in. I'm very excited. Obviously so much has changed, so I'm intrigued to come back and enjoy that tournament football.' Wiegman and her team have embraced the mantra of this being a 'new England', with seven fresh faces in this 23-player squad featuring in their first major tournament and many of her returnees from the 2022 triumph playing much bigger roles. 'It's a new territory, and we're not necessarily looking at it as a defence, but a new challenge and an opportunity to do something new,' added Williamson. Williamson does not take the travelling English fan support, who have come out in big numbers, for granted. She added: 'I think when they look at us they see a team that would give everything for them, and I think they keep coming back for that reason. I hope that continues.' Wiegman said that while the team will 'never forget' the 'lifetime experience' of lifting the trophy at Wembley: 'You have to move on, and you have to be on top of it. Things are changing very quickly, so we have to do it too. 'We came together in February, and we came to this, saying it's a new challenge. The approach was there anyway, but we called it a new England.' Focused. ➡️ — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 3, 2025 Wiegman confirmed James, who scored three goals and added as many assists at the World Cup, was in a 'good place'. The 23-year-old was out of action for three months before making her long-awaited return in the 63rd minute against Jamaica last Sunday. Asked if James was fit to start, Wiegman replied: 'We're not going to give you the line-up, but she played 30 minutes last week, so she can play more than that. I think that will say enough.'
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
How ‘Mr Doodle' artist went from earning millions to being sectioned in psychiatric ward & thinking mum was Nigel Farage
FOR most people, doodling is a harmless distraction. But for Sam Cox it became a dangerous obsession that led him to believe Donald Trump wished he'd graffiti his 'big, beautiful wall.' 6 6 The Kent artist became a worldwide sensation in 2017 when a video of him using a marker pen to draw over a shop gained 46 million views in a week on social media. Soon Sam's doodles were selling for a million dollars and big name brands such as Adidas and Samsung commissioned him. That provided the funds to buy a £1.35million mansion, which the 31-year-old compulsive creator wanted to draw all over. Working for 36 hours without sleep, though, sparked a major mental health breakdown in which he believed he was his alter ego Mr Doodle. Sam thought his mum was Nigel Farage and that US President Trump asked him to doodle all over the planned 2,000 mile wall between Mexico and the USA. A new documentary on Channel 4 reveals how he had to be held down by six burly nurses after being sectioned in late February 2020. His delusions included fearing the doctors were trying to poison him and that his parents were trying to kill him. Sam, who has now recovered, tells The Sun: 'I think in black and white. 'I felt I had to be the character. 'It was becoming more 100 percent or nothing. Artist at war with council over plan to build seaside home laser cut with DOODLES in 'Britain's only desert' 'When I was sectioned it was really frightening. 'In my mind it was like being in the Truman Show. 'I thought everyone was conspiring against me. 'I felt like I was in a game. 'You think health professionals and even family and friends are trying to hurt you. 'Donald Trump or other celebrities took the place of other patients in the hospital for me. 'I remember thinking my mum was like Nigel Farage.' Thankfully, after six weeks in hospital he was able to return home and is now fully recovered. The documentary titled The Trouble With Mr Doodle, which airs on Wednesday, allows Sam to figure out how he got into such an altered state. His parents Andrea and Neill knew early on that Sam was different to other children. Growing up in picturesque Tenterden, Kent, he showed no interest in outdoor pursuits. Instead, Sam just wanted to draw all day long, even doing so under his bed covers when he was supposed to be asleep. 6 6 Andrea says in the documentary: 'You don't want to think there is anything wrong with your child. 'It did cross my mind that there might be something different about him.' It was while studying illustration at the University of the West of England, Bristol, that his distinctive style started to develop. One day he turned up to class in a white suit and fedora hat with black marker pen scribblings all over them and his lecturer nicknamed him the 'Doodle Man.' But getting other people enthused about his art was not so easy. Dressed as Mr Doodle he found few customers willing to buy his A4 sized individual sketches for one pound each. Gradually, though, he started to earn money by having his creations on clothes and buildings. It was a video of his doodling on a pop up shop in Old Street in east London in 2017 that skyrocketed his reputation. Images of his work also attracted the attention of Ukrainian artist Alena and they started chatting online. Sam, whose mum thought he was so obsessed with his art that he'd never get married, kissed his love interest as soon as they met up for the first time in Berlin, Germany. He recalls: 'It was one of the first times I wasn't really drawing and it felt like a good experience.' It was the purchase of a 12-room house near his childhood home in December 2019 with the sole aim of doodling all over the Georgian style property that was to push Sam beyond his limits. 6 6 With a builder uncle having painted and tiled the whole house white, Sam quickly started to feel mentally unwell as he started drawing on it in February 2020. This was the time that Covid 19 was sweeping across much of the world and having travelled extensively to the Far East, Sam did wonder if it was connected. He smiles: 'It was so weird. 'Covid hadn't really reached the UK entirely then and I had spoken about my work a lot as a Doodle virus. 'When it reached the UK was when I went into hospital.' Suddenly, everything spiraled out of control. It was clear that this was something other than a virus. Hallucinations and panic attacks put him in fear for his life. When his dad Neill turned up, Sam told him 'I love you but you are trying to kill me.' When I was sectioned it was really frightening. I thought everyone was conspiring against me...I remember thinking my mum was like Nigel Farage Sam Cox Sam also told Alena that he didn't love her and loved someone else, which wasn't true. A psychiatrist told the family that Sam had to be sectioned for his own safety. But he only pretended to take his medication once on the secure ward, so half a dozen nurses had to hold him down while it was injected. Sam says: 'Your mind goes into a dream or nightmare state and your mind can't grasp what reality is until you've recovered from it. 'I couldn't even watch television without thinking it was talking to me.' Sam spent six weeks on a psychiatric ward in Canterbury, Kent, being treated for psychosis. Understandably, his parents didn't want Sam to return to his Doodle house once he had left the hospital. His mum says: 'I hated that character he created. 'I just wanted him to go away.' Sam also considered killing off Mr Doodle, but then decided this character had brought him some of the best things in his life such as Alena who he married after recovering from his illness. He has found a safer half way approach allowing time for both Sam and Mr Doodle. Sam explains: 'I realised there was room for grey areas and for colour in my life. 'It doesn't have to be so extreme.' On September 18 2020 he began drawing on the mansion again and completed the project 743 days later on October 1 2022. We love the house. It has never triggered anything since what happened. I live there with my wife and my son and our dog. It doesn't make us dizzy like people think Sam Cox His home gives a whole new meaning to drawing the curtains, because not only are the drapes covered in doodles, so are the bedsheets, the towels and everything else you can think of. That includes the toaster, the toilet, 2,000 bathroom tiles, the window panes and his Tesla car. Most people can't believe that Sam actually lives in such a visually stimulating environment, but he insists that he loves it. Sam says: 'We love the house. 'It has never triggered anything since what happened. 'I live there with my wife and my son and our dog. 'It doesn't make us dizzy or give us headaches like people think. 'It is busy but it doesn't feel like that when you are there.' The problem is that his two year-old son Alfie has started to colour in the walls. Sam says: 'He draws on the characters and I don't have the heart to tell him not to because I feel it is too ironic to tell him not to draw everywhere. 'The difficult thing is when we take him to restaurants and they give him crayons and he doesn't realise they want it to just be on the colouring in sheet.' His next major project is in Dungeness on the Kent coast, where he has received planning permission to construct a Doodle house. There are other ideas in the pipeline and he says: 'It's always about making it bigger or more walls and things. 'I love kind of big, endurance-based doodle activities like making a really big doodle.' But with Sam insisting on drawing everything himself, rather than roping in assistants like some artists do, it will all take years to complete. There has been snobbery in the art world about Mr Doodle, whose work is yet to be shown in a famous gallery. The always polite Sam says: 'It would be amazing to be exhibited in the Tate, but the thing for me is that someone who never goes into a museum and sees my art on the way to work is equal to someone who goes to a gallery.' It is remarkable to think that Sam ever had a dark moment, considering how upbeat he is during our interview. This is an artist whose intention is to make the world smile. He concludes: 'There is no hidden message. It is what you see, it is happy faces and doodles. 'I proudly say how my art doesn't have a social message. 'I like it when people smile about it.'
