Expect more from Splashy
THIS Easter, the southern Drakensberg mountains will come alive with the sound of 7000 happy campers, a host of musical talent and family-friendly activities.
Last year saw the introduction of the festival’s first art installation, The Rising Earth Pod, a creation by Kwazulu-natal artist and sculptor Kim Goodwin. Kim created an impressive towering structure on the banks of the Splashy Fen River by weaving and manipulating Wattle, an invader plant material found in nature.
Having conceptualised and built structures at the wellknown Afrika Burn Festival in the Karoo, Goodwin says that this year, fans can look forward to something a little more interactive.
“We are building a slightly scaled down version of a piece we did in the Karoo recently. Because so much work, time and effort goes into creating one of these structures, we recreated it as a smaller version.”
By no means a small installation, the three-metre lookout temple that is near completion on the Splashy
Fen Farm, will offer Fenners a new perspective. Made in nature, using only nature as a primary building material, the temple showcases the beauty of the festival and its magical surroundings.
Art-go-round, a creative art concept, will give fans the chance to add their creative mark to a four-metre canvas throughout the festival. In addition, yoga sessions take place every morning at 9am.
Drumming sessions take place every morning and evening. There is belly dancing and Digeridoo workshops, fire breathing and dancing around the Acoustic Stage bonfire, a competition for the most creative camp site flag and, let us not forget, the Splashion Show with a prize to the Seychelles, courtesy of Air Seychelles and Eden Island.
A group of qualified professionals head up the Splashy Fen Kid Zone. Children of all ages can enjoy sensory, educational and fun activities such as reading, colouring, face painting, construction areas filled with building blocks, a game zone filled with play equipment like hula hoops, beanbags and balls and of course, a traditional Easter egg hunt.
More than 300 acts across five unique stages, and you’re bound to discover new favourites, enjoy old classics and get to know the great musical talent that South Africa has to offer.
The Steezies are an example of such talent, as a product of South Africa’s multicultural musical paradigm. Fans can catch them at 12pm on Saturday, March 31 at the Corona River Stage.
Other acts to appear on The Corona River Stage include Jerry and the Bandits, Mali Zulu, Georgetown and Easy Freaks on Friday, March 30, Gus Brown Band and a surprise set on the Saturday, March 31 and 4am, Stone Jets, Josh Wantie and Monark on Sunday,
April 1.
The Budweiser Main Stage will start on Friday, March 30 while the Acoustic Stage starts at 2pm, on Thursday afternoon through to late Sunday evening.
The Treehouse Stage has a jam-packed line-up that includes Gemma Early, Chadwick Jubber, Rusty Red, Martin Gill, Werner Bekker, Dawn Morey, Nish Pillay, Shannon Connolly, Zacas and more.
The Red Square Electric Boma is a music and dance treat for those who love to party. Catch it on April 1.
South Africa’s oldest music festival will take place from Thursday, March 29 to Monday, April 2.
Tickets are limited and still available at www. splashyfen.co.za.
For more information go to www.splashyfen.co.za.