BUSHFIRE 2011

Swaziland is getting ready for a three-day fever-pitch party when the fifth annual Bushfire Festival scorches into town over the weekend of May 27 to 29, 2011.

Top South African music acts such as wildly popular electronic dance duo Goldfish, “silent gig” pioneers Tonik and house music innovator Black Coffee, as well as leading Jamaican-Canadian dub poet D’Bi.Young, have already been confirmed for this year’s line-up.

More acts will be announced soon, ensuring that Bushfire 2011 will be a piping-hot fiesta of live music, theatre, poetry, dance DJs, film, interactive workshops, a crafts and design fair-trade market, a global food fair and much, much more.

Bushfire is an explosion of entertainment that lights up the picturesque kingdom of Swaziland every year at the acclaimed House on Fire performance venue. It is the country’s biggest live music happening, attracting in the region of 20,000 visitors during the three days of the event.

The festival’s theme for 2011 is “Mixing the Point”, and the focus will be on artistic and cultural collaboration, on a pan-African and international level – and audiences can expect some serious musical fireworks!

Says festival founder Jiggs Thorne: “The main concept of the theme is to promote cultural meeting points through collaboration, cultivating creative synergies and celebrating our common humanity, finding harmony in contrast. Bushfire celebrates bringing diverse people together and encouraging integration. Bushfire’s eclectic programme of World-music and multi-disciplinary performances reflects our theme ‘Mixing the Point’–and this year we’ll be introducing some very exciting collaborative projects to the line-up.”

Every year, Bushfire attracts an array of premier music acts from Southern Africa, Africa and the globe – cementing its status as one of the top festivals in the region.

Part of its allure is the enchanting venue, located on Malandela’s Farm in Swaziland’s Malkerns Valley. Eclectic, unusual and fantasy-rich – from the soapstone sculptures to the quirky performance amphitheatre – this rural dreamscape was the brainchild of Thorne, a Swazi-born entrepreneur and artist.

This international arts festival is not only about having an awesome time with good friends in a gorgeous setting, but is also a pioneer on the continent in socially responsible and sustainable event-staging. It supports the growth and development of the arts while highlighting the need to raise funds for some of the most pressing social needs facing Swaziland. As such, 100% of the profits from the Bushfire Festival will be donated to Young Heroes, an NGO providing education, healthcare, food and general support to Aids orphans.

Pre-booking for House on Fire is essential, as only a limited number of tickets are available. Discounted early-bird tickets are available online at www.computicket.com at R400 for a full festival pass, or R650 for a full festival VIP pass, which includes access to a raised, comfortable seating area in the new “Top Deck”, with a private bar and waiter service and VIP parking. One-day tickets range in price from R150 to R200, and one-day VIP tickets vary from R350 to R400. Children enjoyed discounted rates, with free admission for under-fives.

Tickets are also available internationally at http://www.swazi.travel/ which includes information on where to stay during the festival, from backpackers and campsites to chalets and hotels. Visit www.bush-fire.com for more information and updates on the festival’s artist line-up.