THINK of a band or solo performer that instantly brings to mind a personal highlight from the memorable history of SA’s longest-running music festival and chances are they’ll be on the roster at Splashy Fen in Underberg this Easter weekend, 9 - 13 April.
The idea of a grand showcase was born when festival organisers set about planning the Big 20th Splash – a celebration of the landmark 20th festival. They agreed that it would be only fitting to honour those artists whose performances are so fondly remembered and have made their mark on countless throngs of festival-goers over the years.
“We recognise that these acts are in one way or another the ‘legends’ of Splashy Fen,” said farm owner and festival director Peter Ferraz. “This inspired us to feature as many of them as possible during the four days of the festival.”
According to Ferraz, some of the highly popular, featured artists have the distinction of having been invited back again and again over the years, while others have delivered legendary performances and simply “hit the spot” for audiences and organisers alike.
“It was only when we started working on the line-up that we realised just how many truly special performers we’ve been privileged to host at the past 19 festivals,” added Ferraz. “Given that there are only a limited number of slots available, this made our task extremely difficult but hopefully festival-goers will be as pleased with the end result as we are.”
THE 'LEGENDS' LINE-UP
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Syd Kitchen is perhaps the most recognisable of all contemporary local musicians, plus he hasn’t missed a single Splashy Fen since the first, pioneering gathering in October 1990.
Describing the sense of great occasion that he feels about being part of the Big 20th Splash, he said: “As the only human being alive to have played every single Splashy festival, being honoured as a ‘legend’ at the birthday special is momentous in all senses of the word.”
“I’ve performed at festivals right across the globe, but the uniqueness of Splashy always makes me feel like I’m back home – they even have a road at the festival named after me – and if it ever happens that I’m not invited to play, I’ll be really, really upset!”
Tony Cox is also a veteran of the inaugural festival in 1990 and played three more times during that decade before returning in 2007. He said that even though the interceding years had “gone by in a blinding flash”, he still clearly remembered his first Splashy performance.
“On that first, very cloudy day, the sun came through just as I played and illuminated the stage. So if it rains this year, let’s hope the sun does that same trick again! Splashy certainly has come a long way and I wish it many more years of even greater success.”
Nibs van der Spuy is another maestro with deep Splashy roots, who has performed at an amazing 11 festivals thus far, either in a solo capacity or as an integral part of former bands, Plagal Cadence and Landscape Prayers. He described the idea of sharing a stage with other pioneering musicians, many of whom he hasn’t seen in a long time:
“… It makes me feel that the Big 20th Splash symbolises the festival going back to its roots…completing a full circle, if you will, which is really fantastic!”
Miriam Backhouse harks back to the earliest days and has played at over 10 festivals since then. The former is an icon of the UK’s folk renaissance during the early 70s, whose enduring popularity led in recent years to the CD release of her ultra-rare first album, supported by regular UK tours and opening doors to a whole new audience.
Fiona Tozer - a featured artist honoree at Splashy Fen in 2006, is synonymous with the local folk movement and, over the years, has appeared in solo mode plus with collaborative endeavours Bona Fide, Odyssey and Quark.
Shawn Phillips will be gracing the Splashy stage for the second time. The 66-year-old Texan globetrotter who currently lives near Port Elizabeth has accumulated an enormous worldwide fan-base and catalogue of albums since releasing his first long-player in 1965.
He described his 1994 debut Splashy appearance as
“the start of my lifelong love for South Africa…I feel immensely honoured to have been invited to play at the Big 20th Splash and to appear with such outstanding musicians.”
Chris Chameleon takes to the Splashy stage for the fifth time – three of which were with the colourful and entertaining Boo!
OTHER BIG NAME BANDS
Other acts to look out for include The Rudimentals, Dan Patlansky, The Hairy legged lentil Eaters, Heather Mac and The Brills, Brendan Jury, Tim Parr, Avatar with Steve and Tara Fataar, Madlala Kunene, Ilan Lax and Friends, Squeal and Sugardrive.
Add to that the likes of Watershed, Hot Water, Goldfish, City Bowl Mizers and Habit To, and you’ve got a well-balanced, 90-strong line-up second to none.
THIS YEARS' MC
MC-in-chief will be the somewhat outlandish Dorien du Toit, who stamped his particular brand of humour on the festival and will be remembered by many Splashy veterans for his eight stints during the 90s.
Describing his style as “off-the-wall, keep-sanity-at-bay”, he said that showcasing the legends of Splashy Fen was a “lovely and symbolic gesture…a salute to people who have played a big part in making Splashy what it is today.”
TICKET PRICES
Tickets are available at selected Game stores (R400), Computicket (R450) and at the festival gate (R500). Children under 12 pay R50 – tickets at the gate only. The price includes camping for the entire long weekend.
For more information and the latest festival news, visit www.splashyfen.co.za or contact Pedro on 082 892 6176.
Click here to watch videos of last years' festival
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