The Coca-Cola Free Stage is always the most exciting stage to watch at Splashy Fen. Maybe the barefoot young girl setting up her equipment on the free stage right now is next years hottest sensation! Then you can brag to your friends that you saw her before she became big and might even have had a chat to her when she came off the stage?

Or what about that sure winner, the air guitar competition? WHAT a blast that was last year! So much so that we're expecting even wackier contestants than the muddy, dreadlocked "Droopy Nipple" crew or the "Splashy Whores". Come on out, closet wanna-be guitarists, the free stage will feature this favourite again in a big way. Prizes for wackiest, funniest and down right looniest acts should entice you to leave your inhibitions at home. Be original, be innovative, be entertaining and show the huge supporting crowd what Jimi Hendrix never tried with a guitar. The air guitar will have three heats this year with the finals being held at midday on Sunday.

But, loons aside, if you're into writing a few of your own songs and playing an instrument of your own, but you haven't quite cracked the big stage yet and want to give your songs an airing, YOU are what makes the free stage what it essentially is meant to be. A full backline ensures that all genres of music are catered for and splendid sound engineers provide the best sound anyone could wish for. You've probably never sounded better. As before, to be fair, the Coca Cola Free Stage will be open to free bookings on the day. Bookings start Thursday at 11am for Thursday afternoon. Bookings for Friday will be on Friday at 8h30am with the stage kicking off at 9am and finishing at 6pm. Saturday and Sunday bookings will work in the same tried and tested way. Be warned, these slots go like ice cubes on a hot day, so rise and shine early to secure your 30 minutes of fame.

The best of the Coca-Cola Free Stage will get a chance to wow crowds on the Bamboo Mountain Stage on Sunday evening, and this has become a coveted achievement.

Co-ordinated once again by NeedleNose, the Coca Cola Free Stage will host a handful of prebooked acts, diamonds in the rough, as we like to call them.

Andrea Menzel
NeedleNose

needlenose@futurenet.co.za
Tel. 033 34 55 077
Cell. 082 377 2610