Call all Hippies – SPLASHY FEN 2006 is up!

Posted on Mar 30, 2006

You’ll remember that last year we encouraged all local musos to put themselves forward for the Splashy Fen music festival… well the names have been drawn, the teepees are being erected, the crops have been ploughed and the Drakensburg valley is getting ready to rumble.

Neat and tidy it is not, but fun and crazy it most certainly is. By the way – for all aspiring muso’s – if you didn’t get on the line up but still want to be heard, there’s the famous “Free stage” where you get put your name on the list and get heard…
Just gimme the light and pass the… OB Sherry. Click here for the site.

Here’s the fully hey shoo wow bru:

SPLASHY FEN – FULL SPEED AHEAD!
Tickets for Splashy Fen Music Festival in Underberg 13 – 17 April are flying out of selling points at a record rate and indications are that this year’s gathering will set new levels of attendance.

Top Sounds
Some of the alternative/indie groups from Cape Town, Jozi and other far-flung quarters will perhaps be unfamiliar to Durban gig-goers but they were chosen not only because they pull big crowds in their home towns but also on account of the fact that they’re really HOT – these are the outfits that everyone will be soon be talking about everywhere! Of the main-stage household names, Prime Circle are currently generating a high profile among CD-buyers thanks to an aggressive marketing campaign for their recently released album, while Polisiekar (censored) have been cultivating their ‘bad boys’ image via on-and off-stage antics with accompanying media frenzy.

Music lovers whose memories can be measured in decades have made gigs by The Song Riders among Durban’s most well-attended events and their line-up for Splashy 06 so far includes Ken E Henson, Roger Lucey, Wendy Oldfield, Dan Chiorboli and Douglas Bean. The much-anticipated Blunt Magazine evening is yet another peak focal point of the moment.

Regarding the folk, pop and avant-garde artists of the Grant Erskine Marquee – formerly the Bamboo Stage – Los Angeles based Ben Lee will provide some international flair, fans of this year’s showcase singer-songwriter Fiona Tozer are eagerly awaiting her latest output, last year’s featured artist Richard Walne is always good for a musical surprise and long-time favourite Syd Kitchen has an ever-growing legion of devoted supporters. Blues-rockers Dan Patlansky and The Mississippi Muthers plus Splashy veterans Bobby and The Dynamites have each in recent months enjoyed enthusiastic turn-outs at shows up north and by the seaside.

Future Hitmakers
On the SAMRO Free Stage – this year to be held in the main marquee during daylight hours – not only will there be the chance to see tomorrow’s stars in their formative days, but World Music train-spotters will also be able to boast having caught the first-ever festival appearance of the Msunduzi Music Centre. A recent interest-generating addition to the roster is a contest for up-and-coming bass guitarists with the prize an instrument and amp combo. Word has it that more would-be performers than ever before are going to be queuing each morning for a spot on the SAMRO Free Stage, so with competition for the limited number of openings guaranteed to be extra tight – remember to get in line early! It’s perhaps worth a reminder that the best will go forward to a final on Sunday night where the winner will be offered a main marquee bill at next year’s festival.

Attracting Everyone
Splashy 06 will for the first time witness a dedicated Drum Village – to be hosted in one of the SAB marquees by a more than 30-strong Talking Drums & Friends ensemble – and some 120 percussion instruments will be available for festival-goers to discover their inner rhythms. In addition to interactive-sessions and FyreStorm dance performances will be face-, body- and fabric-painting workshops. Teepees will this year have a different, sunnier layout with higher public profile and organisers say that an appealing array of complementary therapists and alternative lifestyle practitioners will be found within their boundaries.

The African Rainbow settlement – complete with a multicoloured ‘cave’ and all manner of attractions – will provide food and interactive entertainment for all ages day and night. Adventure-seekers are gearing up for river rafting, hiking and horseback trails plus camel rides, while the local tourism office is fully equipped to provide keys to this area’s noted cultural excursions, particularly those to the Southern Berg’s world-famous rock-art sites. Rugby fanatics, fear not – in keeping with Splashy’s all-inclusive approach the Sharks versus Cats Super 14 clash will have a plasma screens showing on Saturday evening in the Carling Black Label’s “Chuck Valley”

For the youngsters – and don’t forget that entrance for under-12s is free – Ocean View Montessori School will yet again ensure that the Splashy Fen Music Festival is fun- and magic-filled time, while also providing a child minding service between 7 and 10 each evening. Kids will during the day be in safe hands and kept amused with plays, Talking Drum workshops and all manner of edutainment sure to guarantee a memorable and rewarding long-weekend.

Discounted tickets – while they last – are available at Game Stores and Shoprite & Checkers. For festival details please visit www.splashyfen.co.za and for enquiries regarding the Craft Market or The African Rainbow please phone Di Sanders on 084 588 0149.

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2005
So if you’re wanting to do the Easter Festival circuit next year, make sure to get your demo off to Pedro from Splashy:

ARTIST SUBMISSIONS

Now entering its 17th year, the Splashy Fen Music Festival has become something of a legend, not only in KwaZulu-Natal but all over South Africa.

Each year more and more music lovers travel from far and wide to be part of the Splashy Fen experience. Held on a farm some 18km from Underberg, in the scenic Southern Drakensberg, the festival offers city dwellers a chance to unwind and enjoy the beauty of the mountains. This year’s event attracted more than 9000 visitors.

What began as a small get together for a group of friends has developed into one of the major showcase events for South African music, with over 80 live music performances appearing this year.

The festival organisers firmly believe in the enhancement and enrichment of South African music of all cultural origins, and their unique relationship with the music industry countrywide ensures participation by a wide range of SA talent.

The closing date for artist submissions is Monday 12 December 2005.

Please visit the website (CLICK HERE) and on the left menu click – artist submissions – you will find all the necessary info that you need to submit.

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Our legendary Splashy attendee Linny was there to check it all out – we’ll be running a whole lotta articles on the bands that she caught but in the meantime let’s hear how the festival went down:

It was with a sudden shock that I realised that it had been nearly 10 years (that’s almost a decade folks) since last I had been to Splashy Fen. Back then my hippy ‘varsity friends and I all piled into a few skedonks and headed for the mountains. The Campfires, Old Brown Sherry and some classic conversations has left its indelible mark on my ‘varsity memory. Anyone who has been knows how epic Splashy can be and the “splashy stories” are long (and getting longer) in the telling for years after the actual thing.
Having had a definite image in my head of what it “used to be like” Splashy 2005 did come as a bit of a shock… The festival has evolved from a world music/folky vibe to a rock vibe with a harder edge than before. The music ranged from way out there Punk/ska to hip hop and then all the way through to more mainstream rock. The music was impressive and what made Splashy particularly noteworthy was the fact that this was an all South African line up. It sounds twee to say it but it really did showcase the best of what South African music has to offer and the future looks bright&
The days saw everyone down by the river braving the freezing cold in search of the mythical Splashy (head in the river) hangover cure. Basking in the sun for a few hours or perhaps heading up into the hills for a quiet commune with nature.
The music got started at about 5 o’clock every night. There were two tents – a Heineken sponsored tent and then the large “Main stage”. Both were packed with festival goers from the kick off. The organisation and the sound was slick and it looked like everything went off without a hitch. The organisers estimate that there were approximately 8500 people in attendance which is pretty impressive.
Like any festival there was a quite a lot of hard partying going on with the usual high jinks that come with there being lots of mud, boys and booze in the same place at the same time. The sound of ‘first timers’ shrieking with horror in the portaloos never stopped being funny and my friend pointed out that on the roof of the shower building it actual says “HOT SHOWER” and not “HOT SHOWERS” which would explain the glacial quality of the water – there was much speculation about this “bonanza shower” with one chap suggesting that perhaps it was like the golden ticket in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! On the second night my friend and I conducted what we dubbed “The Grand Tour” staggering from campsite to campsite meeting the folk and tapping the vibe – Splashy may be on the surface a very different place but even so I still walked away firmly convinced of the old adage “the more things change – the more they stay the same” – Splashy is still an epic four days – where partying limits are stretched, memories are forged and those Splashy stories will still be long (and getting longer) in the telling for years to come…

Pic courtesy of Nanette du Rand