Splashy Fen goes virtual during national lockdown

WHAT would traditionally have been the start to Splashy Fen week, today instead saw bittersweet news from the team at Splashy Fen.

“While festival organisers would love nothing more than to welcome 10 000 fans to the beautiful Splashy Fen Farm this Easter, the nationwide lockdown has other plans. With the festival being postponed until 23 September 2020, there will be no four days of music and merriment in the rolling foothills of Underberg this April. However, in keeping with the upbeat and positive ethos of the brand, as organisers, we at Impi Concept Events have decided not to dwell on what could have been, but to rather create something amazing for fans to look forward to this Easter.”

Cue the dramatic drum roll…

Taking place this coming Thursday 9, Friday 10 and Saturday 11 April, the Lockdown LIVE is a 3-day virtual Splashy Fen Music Festival, which fans can watch online and enjoy from the comfort of their homes.

Over the course of the 3 days, fans can enjoy a carefully curated selection of amazing live music, streamed from each musician’s home or private studio – artists like Goldfish, Veranda Panda, Goodluck, Donovan Copley from Hot Water, Gary Nixon from the Kickstands, Steve Umculo, Freddy-L … and more will be performing live to all Splashy Fen fans this weekend.

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But of course there is more than just live music… find your zen with a 9am yoga class on Friday or get the blood pumping with a fitness coach on Thursday and Saturday.

Learn deliciously healthy plant-based recipes, entertain the kiddies with an arts and craft session on Friday at 10am, or be entertained with live comedy from East Coast Radio’s Darren Maule, Neil Green and Rory Petzer.

Fans can also sit back and watch a series of festival and music tributes that take a look behind the scenes, and some proudly South African content that is sure to bring a happy tear to your eye.

Then comes the real heart-to-hearts as festival director Stu Berry goes on air with a number of guests; talking about Splashy Fen, why music matters and other entertaining topics.

The ever-charismatic Jane Linley Thomas kicks off these on air chats on Thursday at 11am. Following that will be Splashy Fen’s very own creative director, Fuzzy van Rensburg who talks to us about building the Splashy Fen site; Jeremy Loops, Liam Magner from Veranda Panda, Australian performers from 2019 Juzzie Smith and The Pierce Brothers, as well as the 2020 headlining act, Coleman Hell.

The online festival is free to anyone and everyone, as a thank you to all the fans who have been exceptionally understanding and supportive of the festival’s date change. Fans can tune in via the following online link, or catch it live on the Splashy Fen website or social media pages:

“Splashy Fen would not be Splashy Fen if it was not for the fans,” said Stu Berry, festival director. “The Lockdown LIVE is just a small way that we can show our gratitude. Besides, it brings us absolute joy to be able to do what we love even in these very trying times: that is, bring world-class music and entertainment to our fans.”

“An up-side is that even those who could not make the original festival date, get to enjoy this virtual festival over the Easter weekend, from anywhere in the country. It’s a first for Africa, and we are extremely proud. What we do ask, is that if anyone is able to, we will be setting up a donation line on our social media pages for people who can make a contribution to all the performers who have little-to-no income over the lockdown period.”

#splashytentchallenge

But wait, there’s more… what would a Splashy Fen weekend be without tents?

The #splashytentchallenge will also take place over the Easter long weekend, where fans are challenged to pitch their tents in their gardens, lounge, bar, bedroom or wherever they can, to enjoy a hint of what would have been at Splashy Fen in Underberg.

Fans can snap a picture or video and post it to Splashy Fen’s social media pages using the hashtag: #splashytentchallenge to stand a chance to win their share of R10 000 in prizes.

The full Lockdown LIVE schedule:

Thursday, 9 April
9am: Fitness with Hayley
10am: Plant-based cooking with Moontree
11am: On air: Chats with Jane Linley Thomas
12pm: On air: Chats with Juzzie Smith
1pm: Live: Marc Weinstein (4am)
2pm: ECR: Comedy with Neil Green
3pm: On air: Chats with Fuzzy (creative director)
4.30pm: Splashy 2017 Aftermovie
5pm: Live: Donovan Copley (Hot Water Duo)
6.30pm: Live: Gary Nixon
7.30pm: Proudly South African: The Springboks
7.45pm: South African National Anthem
8pm: Live: Veranda Panda
9.15pm: Live: Goldfish

Friday, 10 April
9am: Yoga with Kaz
10am: Happy Hearts Kids Art Club
11am: On air: Chats with Griekse Boertjie
12pm:  On air: Chats with Jeremy Loops
1pm: Live: Roachy and the Rock Coaches
2pm: ECR: Comedy with Darren Maule
3pm: Live: Juzzie Smith
4.30pm: Splashy 2018 Aftermovie
5pm: Live: James Deacon
6.30pm: Live: Steve Umculo
3.30pm:  Proudly South African: I Am African
7.45pm: South African National Anthem
8pm: Live: Goodluck DJ Set

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Saturday, 11 April 
9am: Fitness with Hayley
10am: Plant-based cooking with Moontree
11am: On air: Chats with The Pierce Brothers
12pm: On air: Chats with Liam Magner
1pm: Live: Bradley Grey Band
2pm: ECR: Comedy with Rory Petzer
3pm: On air: Chats with Coleman Hell
4.30pm: Splashy 2019 Aftermovie
5pm: Live: Mbijana Sibisi
6.30pm: Live: FREDDY-L
7.30pm: Johnny Clegg and Ladysmith Black Mambazo Tribute
7.45pm: South African National Anthem
8pm: Live: SYZO DJ Set

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