Represent Review: A Wet and Splashy Fen 007
We know it’s late and often we are early (well compared to traditional media) but our dear Panda has spent weeks coming down from the Drakensburg Mountains where she found herself in hippy heaven and was very tempted not to return to the real world 🙂 Sharpile Panda as always. See our pics of Splashy Fen here.
There’s no better way to sample South African music than to attend a festival like Splashy Fen. Not only is there a wide variety of music and activities, it’s a great way to see that beautiful lush part of the world and catch up with long lost friends – and there’s no need for drinking and driving. Granted, not all South African music is represented and we didn’t have the biggest names in the business this time, but there’s enough music to keep your mind off any discomforts you might experience if you’re averse to mud.
If I have any advice to give when going to any festival, take gumboots. You will consistently have clean, warm feet and that is more important that anything at two in the morning in the rain when you can’t see what you’re walking in…and there was plenty of rain at Splashy Fen this year. Furthermore, a fabulous pair becomes an essential fashion accessory and I was delighted to see how many people went to extra lengths to make their’s the coolest. It certainly beat’s the “packet-tied-around-the-takkie-and-knotted-at-the-ankle” look.
Luckily my friends and I went up in a camper van, kindly sponsored by Maui Motorhome Rentals http://www.maui.co.za/ (thanks guys!). Hiring them isn’t as costly as you’d think either, if you compare it to other comfortable accommodation. There were times when I felt awful being so warm and dry and clean, sipping on a frosty drink from the fridge in a comfortable deck chair when a cold, filthy hapless festival goer, wobbled past our camp, slipping in their slops.
We arrived on Friday around mid-day and the sun was out but weakened by a few thin clouds. The first act we caught as we ambled into the Grant Erskine Marquee was Adrian Shannon’s acoustic set followed by Roly Struckmeyer’s gentle acoustic indie-style music.
When we felt like moving around, we strolled amongst the stalls which offered food to suit all tastes from boerie rolls and chips to fabulous falafels, smoothies and soups and clothes, accessories (for those who forgot gloves and scarves), beautiful jewelry, cheap trinkets and tie dye everything. There was even a tattoo parlour which, incidentally, was busy each time I walked past.
Later that evening, when we were well-wrapped, we watched Somebody’s Child featuring 14 year old Zoe Sturgeon. This young lady is an awesome performer, mature beyond her years and worth checking out if you get the chance. Tony Cox was next, a South African legend, performing with incredible dexterity, followed by JacSharp and Rory Elliot and The Reason who had a modern pop country vibe going on.
Next was Bed on Bricks who filled up the marquee followed by Tidal Waves, with their unique South African sound – “Original music for original people” as they put it. “Lekker lekker dans” they sang and we did.
On Saturday morning the Reds were playing the Sharks (whatever!) in the Black Label tent and it was packed. The biltong and beer set were treated to bagpipes from Craig and Vaughan’s Bagpipe Emporium to get them in the spirit and help shake the memories of the porta-loos.
The first band of the day was Duskant Ombliksem, a cool Afrikaans band, singing the songs in their hearts. The audience was animated and calling for more. I headed over to the freestage after that and caught a band from Richards Bay who had a good indie rock thing going on.
The Gloucester Blues Project was next, three guys with big hair and a great rhythm and blues set, singing “take it easy on yourself”. Great advice for anyone attending a four day music festival. Bursting onto the stage next was the Death Valley Blues Band opening with Craig and Vaughan’s bagpipes again. The energy of guitar and bagpipes together has to be seen to be believed. What a great way to kick off a Saturday night’s music feast!
Feeling energised, we ran over to the main marquee to catch Napalma, a band from Brazil and a hit at the festival. They also played in the teepee villiage on Sunday evening and closed the festival after Lark on Sunday night. They were followed by The Kiff, a five piece band from Durban, rocking Durban style.
Without a doubt the highlight for me was Japan and I. These fabulous sassy ladies from Jo’burg punk-rocked so hard before we knew it, we were singing “if you’re happy and you know it rock your head” and feeling cool doing it. “They’re like the Andrew Sisters meets Sex Pistols” my friend yelled at me over the roar of the crowd. Think Gwen Stefani in her No Doubt days times three, throw in a dose of Alice in Wonderland, enviable indie punk style and you’re almost there.
Later that night we caught Southern Gypsy Queen, the Shy Guevaras and the awesome DNA strings (thanks for the shirt guys) before retreating exhausted to the relative peace of what we called the “hippy tent” for some gluhwein and vegan cookies and then headed back to the camp to sit in deck chairs and chat to the stream of entertaining stragglers that came to warm themselves or pass out by our fire.
By Sunday morning, the sun had come out but many of the 10000 people who attended the festival had left, deterred by the rain and cold weather. I wandered around in the aftermath and investigated the children’s marquee, where parents could leave their precious charges in the capable hands of the child minders and entertainers, to ice biscuits, make easter baskets and play games. There were also horse rides, a foofie slide and bungee trampolines if dancing to the music or swimming in the river or beating on drums or playing with fire in the teepee village or traipsing back and forth from tent to marquee to foodstalls to bar to marquee to toilets to tent hadn’t worn you out.
First up on the Grant Erskine stage was a Maskanda band from Heimville’s energetic and colourful performance by far outstripped that of the sleepy morning audience. In the afternoon, we hauled our deck chairs to the marquee and settled down to watch Quark, an acoustic duo, and Syd Kitchen, a veteran Splashy entertainer who had the crowd clapping in unison and laughing along to songs like “Africa is Not for Sissies”.
For some, Sunday evening’s line up was the best. Harris Tweed were great as was Chris Chameleon, who was a highlight. If you are a fan of Boo!, you’ll know why. “Thank you”, he said to the crowd, “for entertaining me these last few days”. His vocal playfulness is brilliant and I will definitely seek him out on the local music scene for more. “Music heals the heart”, he sang. It certainly does.
Lark is one of my favorite acts and they did not disappoint. Beautiful, eclectic and sound, they unfortunately drew the dwindling Splashy crowd away from Organised Distortion, a rock band from Soweto who could have done with some support. When I looked in on them, they were entertaining a rather wobbly, drunk and disorderly bunch and a few people half asleep on their way to or back from the ablutions. Nevertheless, they played well and I hope to see them again.
I’d like to congratulate the organisers for a very well oiled 18th Splashy Fen. We had two medical emergencies in our camp and the medics, doctors and organisers were wonderful and efficient. It’s a great way to spend the easter weekend with some of South Africa’s best emerging and established talent and 10000 intrepid music lovers and a great place to start expanding your knowledge and extending your support of local music if you haven’t already.
