Splashy Fen 09 set to stage legendary line-up

“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 in the Grant Erskine Marquee throughout Friday, April 10, as well as at various other times during the remaining three 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 line-up

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.”

Another maestro with deep Splashy roots is Nibs van der Spuy, 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 said that the idea of sharing a stage with other pioneering musicians - many of whom he hasn't seen in a long time - “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 and Fiona Tozer also hark back to the earliest days and both have 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. A featured artist honoree at Splashy Fen in 2006, Fiona Tozer 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.

Miriam Backhouse will open the ‘legends' programme at midday on Friday, April 10, followed by Fiona Tozer half an hour later. Next up will be the ardently-supported Hairy Legged Lentil Eaters, who've missed only three Splashy festivals since 1992. Thereafter traditional icon and ‘King of the Zulu Guitar', Madala Kunene, makes his tenth appearance at 2pm. He will be followed by singer-songwriter and enigmatic international figure Shawn Phillips, gracing the Splashy stage for only the second time.

During a music career spanning over 40 years, this 66-year-old Texan globetrotter has accumulated an enormous worldwide fan-base and catalogue of albums, and worked with such industry greats as Eric Clapton, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Donovan and Steve Winwood. In 1994 he became the first international artist to perform at Splashy Fen and has since made South Africa his home, settling near Port Elizabeth. “My debut Splashy appearance was 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.”

After two mid-90s stints at Splashy with Urban Creep and a collaboration with Roger Lucey in 2000, Brendan Jury steps up at 5pm, this time performing with Cape Town's Cofield Mundi. Then follows the triumvirate of Nibs van der Spuy, Tony Cox and Syd Kitchen - in that order - before 10pm arrives and the ever-popular Chris Chameleon takes to the Splashy stage for the fifth time - three of which were with the colourful and entertaining Boo!

Ending the night off will be ska/reggae/Afrobeat scorchers and instant crowd-pleasers The Rudimentals - relative newcomers to the Splashy Fen family but an outfit that quickly became a personal favourite of Peter Ferraz's. “The Rudimentals exude fantastic energy and enthusiasm, while having the talent to match…I really enjoy them!”

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.”

Other acts to look out for include Dan Patlansky, Heather Mac and The Brills, Tim Parr, Avatar with Steve and Tara Fataar, Ilan Lax and Friends, Squeal and Sugardrive. Add to that the likes of Watershed, Goldfish, Hot Water, City Bowl Mizers and Habit To, and you've got a well balanced, 90-strong line-up second to none!

Supported by East Coast Radio and Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, Splashy Fen
2009 is the place to be this Easter. 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 at 082 892 6176.