The tranquil Underberg farm on which the annual Splashy Fen Music Festival is held will soon play host to thousands of music and nature lovers from around the country when they descend on the Southern Drakensberg in KZN over the Easter long weekend.

According to festival organiser Pedro Carlo, Splashy Fen is geared up and ready for the annual influx of festival-goers, with several improvements having been made to the infrastructure this year. These include clearing new fields for camping, re-grading access roads, erecting new fences, bringing in additional ablution facilities and laying new water pipes.

“As always, our aim is to continually look for new ways to enhance the festival and ensure a better experience for visitors,” says Carlo.

“Underberg is currently a hive of activity, with plumbers, electricians, roadwork companies and tradesmen pulling out all the stops to make sure everything is in place. Fields are being mown, invasive wattle is being cut for firewood and cellular networks are being upgraded especially for the event.”

Carlo adds that festival-goers can also look forward to even more food outlets this year, an even bigger art and craft market featuring over 60 stalls, as well as more bar areas, a new comedy tent and a vibrant new Freestyle Tribal Village.

There is also a separate family campsite, which is the ideal spot for festival-goers with young children, as well as a Children’s Centre offering a full programme of activities and an evening child-minding service.

As is the case each year, the festival’s main bar area will be operated by the Sani 152 Round Table, with all profits being donated to deserving causes and community upliftment projects.

Splashy Fen runs from Thursday, April 21 to Monday, April 25 and once again promises an incredible line-up of the cream of South African music talent. Expect the likes of Vusi Mahlasela, Boo!, Goodluck, Karen Zoid, Ard Matthews, The Rudimentals, Valiant Swart, Holiday Murray, City Bowl Mizers, Madala Kunene, Wrestlerish, Dan Patlansky and former Tree63 frontman, John Ellis, among many others.

“With over 90 acts performing on two stages, representing a wide spectrum of different genres, there is guaranteed to be something to satisfy everyone’s taste in music,” says Carlo.

He explains that, as is now tradition at Splashy, a number of hot new acts on the South African music scene will also be given a chance to shine and share their music with larger audiences.

“We’re passionate about providing a platform for talented newcomers and strive each year to present a great mix of new and established artists, which this year’s line-up shows.”

Supported by East Coast Radio and Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, Splashy Fen was established in 1990 and is the longest-running music festival in the country. Tickets cost R500 at Computicket and selected Game stores. The price includes camping for the entire festival.