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SLEEPING way past the alarm clock, this sleepy journalist quickly jumped out of bed - well, as quickly as a person half asleep can jump - and began preparing for the day ahead.

Comfortable shoes? Check!

Sun block? Check! Cash? Check!

Oh and, of course, that all important Golden Circle ticket - double check!

It was Monday, a public holiday and, more importantly, time once again for the most rocking event of the year: the My Coke Fest 2008 at Kenilworth Racecourse.

Last year's sizzling line-up did not disappoint, even in the absence of Axl Rose and those other ageing "rocker dudes".

But this year was set to be even hotter with a line-up that included the hugely famous (or infamous, as the case may be) Korn, Muse, Chris Cornell, Good Charlotte, Kaiser Chiefs and (my personal favourite) 30 Seconds to Mars - a great hit with the ladies, thanks to the delectable Jared Leto.

The organisers, clearly taking last year's complaints about traffic congestion into account, did a sterling job ensuring sufficient parking, police presence and smooth traffic flow - an important factor in any concert goer's experience, as proven with the recent Celine Dion traffic fiasco.

At the venue within minutes, and into a surprisingly fast moving queue, through the gate within seconds, I was admittedly surprised that everything was going so smoothly. One tends to expect the long wait, searing sun and all that pushing and shoving when attending a concert.

Inside thousands of people were already milling around, getting their spot ready for the show and filling up on one of the essential breakfast food groups available - a choice of hot dogs, burgers, hot chips and any other greasy thing you can imagine. Good for colon? Probably not. But an essential part at any great music festival nonetheless.

The show started off with a bang as local bands Van Coke Cartel and Prime Circle proved why South African musicians are making big waves internationally.

By the time the internationals graced the stage, the crowd was already revved up and salivating at the idea of what was to come.

And judging by the screaming and jumping, as well as the responses on several websites and radio stations later on, its was clear the fans had had a truly rocking experience.

Unfortunately the organiser, Big Concerts, has since announced it is unlikely that Coke Fest will happen again next year - at least not in Cape Town. Noise levels are apparently the main concern, despite advance warning to residents about the event.

That is why this reporter/Coke Fest fan thought it only fitting to let people in on the positive side of Coke Fest.

Even if one isn't a fan of any of these bands, or rock and metal just aren't one's thing, one has to consider that a band like Korn coming to South Africa is huge.

They are considered as leaders in their genre, inspiring many great bands since their inception in the early 1990s.

The fact that top earning international acts like Korn and many others are slowly beginning to consider South Africa as a popular pinpoint on their tour itinerary is a huge deal ? not only for the fans in attendance, but for the country as a whole.

Tourism, employment, international exposure for our local bands... these are but a few factors that should be considered.

Jared Leto himself said, through a microphone speaking out to a group of at least 20 000 festival goers, that he was happy that such events could take place so that people like him could see what a beautiful place South Africa is.

He also commented on how he had been blown away by the hospitality in South Africa.

Well, let's just hope Jared spreads the word a little before he finds out that there may not be a venue to play at the next time he decides to visit.

If this were indeed the last event of its kind at Kenilworth Racecourse, then this was probably just about the most fitting end the fans and organisers could have asked for.

Rock on, Coke Fest, rock on!

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