Put on a good show, make people happy, make enough to keep the festival going.

This is where one of those strange dichotomies about running a festival in the spirit of adventure and community arises. It’s kind of uncharacteristic to have the kind of mission and ethos of the old-school in place at a modern festival, and upholding both this attitude, and ensuring the festival remains professionally run is one of the great challenges of Splashy. Always an intimately run affair, with a small core group – Peter, Pedro, Mandy and site manager Pierre Horn – ensuring that the expert sound, stage, fencing, lighting, security and medical contractors are where they need to be, when they need to be, Splashy is nonetheless evolving. As general manager of the festival, Pedro ran us through what we can expect from the “Ultimate Outdoor Experience” this year and in the future.

Practicalities are the first thing addressed with this year’s festival, with the reorganisation of several of the fixtures at Splashy. The musician’s camp, tent-hotel and designated family campsites are all relocated, and clever combinations of fencing and placement are likely to make the crafts market, food traders and all-important beer garden even more attractive and accessible to festival-goers. Whilst this is something that is obviously either glossed over or ignored by the average attendant, it’s a phenomenally difficult job to ensure that the eminently difficult task of staging a massive event is accomplished and is done so with the effortlessness that Splashy always manages. Plans also extend, you will be enormously pleased to know, to the building of permanent shower & bathroom blocks, which are estimated to be up and running for 2009’s Splashy 20th year celebrations. This last report will doubtless have the greatest impact on devotees and detractors alike, being the largest bone of contention with the “Splashy experience” for almost any festival-goer. Further comfort upgrades: Camping areas have been expanded and the entire project has been streamlined, (the organisational team is more integrated than ever) meaning less difficulty in co-ordination between all aspects of the festival. This, in real terms, means that all breweries will be represented in the same area (and that a great many more will be visiting the festival this year) and that new food traders, and craft stalls will be making an appearance to the already wide selection on offer.

Last year’s Splashy is the yardstick by which this year’s will be measured, with all involved upbeat about the correction of false perceptions of all sorts associated with Splashy, all of which reared themselves in the media last year (unsurprisingly, these have changed little in the past 19 years). First, of course, we hear the horror stories of death and destruction amongst the mosh pits. The official, and entire, story is that a very particular element set out to make some trouble and was promptly dealt with by security staff. What injuries there were, were both minor and entirely isolated. Whatever you may have heard from the rumourmongers, Splashy is in no way an unsafe or dangerous event. Priding itself on being a wholesome family event, as well as a great party, Splashy this year will have a more clearly designated Family/Children’s area to make us all more comfortable, as well as the strong presence of both security and medical personnel in the event that revelry is a bit too vigorous. Camping apart, but enjoying the festival together, is a great way to give the respective groups at Splashy the best chance of enjoying it.

Likewise, for those concerned about the festival losing its backbone, there will be metal, it may not be your brand thereof, but there is no attempt by organisers to control or ban hardcore from the festival. Various heavy bands will strut their stuff, and yes, moshing is most definitely encouraged.

Correcting, with a firm slap, yet another media stereotype, is the fiction of widespread drug use at Splashy Fen. No, this is in no way endorsed, and actually becomes awfully difficult to accomplish given that there is always a police presence within and around the festival.  Whilst this does wonders to both curb the usage of our dead-head friends, it also boosts the safety and security for all festival goers, making it a welcome addition to my festival experience. One of the most fascinating things about these festivals, however, is watching people return from Splashy with their favourite (fictitious) story to regale friends and parents with. The media, as it turns out, is not solely to blame! Despite battling with image issues over the years, Splashy has continued to grow and develop, quickly becoming the premiere music festival for S.A. I can’t help but feel, though, that instead of whining about the things that irritated us after we’re back in civilization (provided we’re not doing it for laughs), we should take better advantage of the inbuilt checks and balances, in the form of security, medical assistance etc. These invaluable festival staff members can do wonders to resolve the issues you’re having. Whether it comes from head butting beer cans, or dealing with that errant, and highly irritating Car Boot Music.(De la ray anyone?) Of course, reasonable is the way to aim, but if you’re having a problem, the number is there for a reason. It’s 24-hour and is not restricted to the kind of “he’s not breathing” medical emergencies you’d expect.

As a muso, and primarily a music reviewer, line-up is something that I’m particularly excited about this year, featuring easily the most eclectic mix of seasoned talent and new blood that any festival could hope to boast. From the raucous to the divine, Splashy 2008 will have something to offer everyone. Returning to the hard rock question, legends Crossing Point as well as young bands such as His Dying Wish, We Stole Snowy and even the eccentric, semi-electronic, accomplished screamers Magic of Pegasus, (complete with My Little Pony regalia) will grace the stage, and the graces, of those looking for a little edge in their music. What makes this a really exciting year, though, is that Splashy Fen realises the need to be progressive, and catering for a modern take on rock as well as the more subtle folk/rock/blues that the festival is known for is something that organisers are adamant will continue. This year sees the introduction of a number of groups with a more electronic, semi-electronic and/or synth direction, such as brand new Durban act Veranda Panda, as well as The Beams and Kidofdoom, responding to a growing fanbase looking for something new from their Splashy experience. A full programme is available at the Splashy Fen site, which should go some way towards exposing exactly how Splashy plans to maintain its roots whilst thrusting out into new, uncharted, and esoteric directions. Bands from across the country, and across the full spectrum of musical opinion will mean there’s something available for everyone, and surprising new favourites are bound to be found amongst them. Doubtless of course, headlining acts such as Tree 63 and the featured artist Miriam Backhouse are set to make this year’s “big names” an equally exciting prospect.

With greater organisation comes an even greater chance to kick back and enjoy the festival. Balancing the spirit of Splashy with the nitty-gritty of how to manage such things is an act that will have organisers juggling creditors, vendors, officials and attendees alike. Far removed from the preserve of the hippies that still attend, the lean, mean Splashy has a lot to live up to; But, with improvements planned on all fronts – food, comfort and music – Splashy Fen looks set to rock Underberg yet again this year, perhaps in its best style yet. Splashy is always an event that allows for the escape and getaway that we all need, and this time round, you’d have to be crazy to miss it.

Over 80 artists, 4 days, 1 purpose: To let the good times roll.

Interview by: Jeff Martin & Ryan Hudson
Article written by: Jeff Martin
courtesy of Amplify