With over 90 of the hottest live music acts in the country on two stages, a craft market, a Freestyle Tribal Village and a Hooters Comedy Tent, there’s lots to see and do at Splashy Fen 2011 this year. Check it out…

Supported by East Coast Radio and Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, the 22nd Splashy Fen Music Festival is coming up over the Easter long weekend from the 21-25 April in the Southern Drakensberg.

Included on the bill are the likes of Vusi Mahlasela, Boo!, Karen Zoid, Ard Matthews, The Rudimentals, Valiant Swart, Jack Mantis Band, Aquarian Quartet, Margaret’s Daughter and Good Luck, the hugely popular Cape Town electro-swing outfit.

Add to that Wrestlerish, Versus the Wolf, Isochronous, Holiday Murray, No One’s Arc, Newtown, Peachy Keen, December Streets, T.H.O.T.S, Checked Zebra, Captain Stu, 7th Son, as well as the Hairy Legged Lentil Eaters from Pietermaritzburg – Splashy Fen’s featured act honouree for 2011.

For blues fans, there’s Natasha Meister, the Redhand Blues Band, Joshua Grierson and The Town Criers, Boulevard Blues and the maestro himself, Dan Patlansky.

This year also sees a line-up of a few Durban acts, some of which include John Ellis, Red Light Stereo, City Bowl Mizers, The Otherwise, Manuvah to Land, Sibling Rivalry, The La Els, Catlike Thieves, Habit To, Madala Kunene, Shannon Connolly, Sheep Down,The Kickstands and many more!

As is now tradition at Splashy, music clubs from around the country will be represented by more than 30 acoustic acts, such as Celtis, Rooibaardt, Life of Riley, Meri Kenaz, Thomas Krane, Hannah Wildflower and Miles Sievwright, to name a few. 

Something new at Splashy Fen this year is the Freestyle Tribal Village. Situated in a separate tree-shaded area, this colourful tipi village will be home to creators of authentic handicrafts, as well as live music and daily drum circles.

Also making its debut is the Hooters Comedy Tent, featuring a showcase of the hottest, funniest and most original stand-ups on the South African circuit.  Set to deliver stand-up comedy at its best are the likes of Durban School of Comedy’s Simmi Areff, Robby Collins, Glen Bo and Dusty Rich, plus Johannesburg’s Alyn Adams, Cape Town’s Martin Evans and UK comedian Martin Davis.  Says Durban School of Comedy’s s Glen Bo: “This line-up has been hand-picked to bring cutting edge, intelligent comedy to crowds who like to think and aren’t afraid of having their boundaries stretched a little, all the while enjoying a non-stop, roll-in-the-aisles, good old fashioned laugh.” He adds that while there are few taboos in terms of material, comedy routines that sail closest to the wind will be reserved for the late night shows.

 Tickets cost R500 at Computicket and selected Game stores.  The price includes camping for the entire festival.  For more information and the full programme, visit www.splashyfen.co.za or contact 031 563 0824.