South Africa’s international blues maestro, Dan Patlansky, always credits Splashy Fen with helping launch his career. He calls his debut at Splashy in 2002 his first "really big gig" and one that opened doors to more bookings.
Says festival organiser, Pedro Carlo: "As one of the premier live music showcases in the country, Splashy is obviously a great way for up-and-coming artists to share their music with larger audiences, and we’re passionate about giving them that opportunity."
He continues: "Of course it’s great to have top established artists in the line-up but it’s often the lesser-known names that make the biggest impression and become the ‘finds’ of the festival. For us, a successful line-up is one that includes a balanced mix of new and established artists."
Last year’s winner of Splashy Fen’s prestigious battle of the bands was Mickey Burns. The Durban five-piece opened the festival in 2014, which in itself is a huge accolade for any aspiring young band, gaining them invaluable experience on a big festival stage as well as wide media exposure.
The band then went on to record their debut single Recovery, which is currently receiving airplay and climbing the charts on radio stations around the country. ickey Burns will be back at Splashy this year and are set to bring the house down with their brand new material and energetic live show.
Some other new acts to look out for are: Howie Combrink, Die Wolwedans and Moonchild Sanelly.
Howie Combrink
Eat It While It’s Hot is Howie Combrink’s debut solo album, and what an album it is. Not only did he play all the instruments on each of the 11 tracks, but he also wrote, recorded and produced the entire album. Having just recently bagged two nominations for the 2015 South African Music Awards, in the categories Best Newcomer of the Year and Best Adult Contemporary Album, Combrink is certainly hot right now.
His pedigree speaks for itself. He has played with a number of top bands including One Day Remains and Gang of Instrumentals. He was also a member of New Academics and Watershed and currently plays in Craig Hinds’ solo band.
Based in Johannesburg, Combrink describes his music as "acoustic funk reggae folk" and there is also a strong pop sensibility deeply entwined in his song writing. One of South African music’s best-kept secrets until now, he is sure to put a smile on the faces of many new fans at Splashy Fen.
Die Wolwedans
Arising from the ashes of The AK Massive, Die Wolwedans has been around for six months. Lead singer and guitarist, Mark McMahon, says the four-piece band was formed because they all missed the live music scene. The AK Massive proved hugely popular and the same is expected of Die Wolwedans.
Explaining the name, McMahon says: "It is taken from a cult 1970s Afrikaans radio show, Wolwedans in die Skemer. Wolwedans translates into ‘The Wolf’s Dance’ which is the perfect South African hipster rock n roll name."
Moonchild Sanelly
If a sexy underground take on a fusion of jazz, R&B, pop, rock and poetry sounds good, then the gorgeous Moonchild Sanelly is the lady to listen to. Recording and performing with a five piece band, this unconventional young artist honed her skills on the Durban music scene. She has since relocated to Johannesburg and is now ready to explode on the main stage at Splashy Fen.
About Splashy Fen
Held on a farm near Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal, the Splashy Fen Music Festival is coming up over the Easter long-weekend from Thursday 2 to Monday, 6 April and will offer a line-up of more than 80 of the country’s hottest acts. Also included on the bill are the likes of Matthew Mole, Shortstraw, aKING, The Muffinz, Taxi Violence, KAHN (frontman for The Parlotones), MonArk, Beast, Dan Patlansky, Hot Water, Urban Creep, The Anti Retro Vinyls, Nakhane Toure, Majozi, Reburn, Veranda Panda, The Kiffness, Pascal & Pearce and 5FM DJ Catherine Grenfell, among many others.
Visitors can look forward to multiple stages, a new EDM marquee featuring more than 30 DJs, as well as a craft beer arena, drum village, loads of food and drink outlets, plus a colourful craft market and retail zone. For the more energetic, there will also be bag jumping, dirt boarding and a fun trail run presented by TRAIL Magazine.
Camping for the entire four-night, five-day festival is included in the ticket price. Another option is a new on-site ‘tent motel’ offering a comfortable and hassle-free camping experience. There is also a separate family campsite, or one can choose from a wide range of accommodation in the area.
Sponsored by Tourism KZN, Splashy Fen has been going strong since 1990 and is South Africa’s longest-running annual music festival. With its spectacular mountain setting, winding river, open fields and unique vibe and character, there is simply nothing else quite like it.
Tickets are available via Computicket.
Fore more information, visit the Splashy Fen website or call +27 31 563 082.