Well Splendour In The Grass... you've done it again. We're nursing a cup of tea and praying for a cure to our post-Splendour blues so thought we'd recap some of our favourite moments from this year's festival. Did you make it to North Byron Parklands? Let us know what you dug. For those who didn't, we hope the FOMO isn't too bad - here's everything you missed!
THE MUSIC
Friday
Tones & I had the crowd singing, clapping and generally feeling good about their decision to get down early on a Friday. "Last year I said, ‘I'm gonna play here one day.’ And now I'm fucking here!"
Stepping out in a leather vest, a casual, “Ahm good day, cunts,” welcomed A Swayze & The Ghosts to the stage.
There’s a lot of hype in the crowd before this boy band from the garden of England take to the stage following some killer sets when they were in the country for Download. And you know what? Fucking believe it because Slaves are worth it.
Meg Mac worked pure magic with her backup singer, creating harmonies that coaxed goosebumps from every arm in the tent.
Probably not the first time seeing Foals for many in the crowd but when they’re that good live, you know it won’t be the last.
The set [from Tame Impala] sporadically interspersed confetti cannons with lasers and an impressive lighting display as the crowd, slow-moving to New Person, Same Old Mistakes, wound out the first day of Splendour in style.
Saturday
Dear Seattle hit the Ampitheatre right in the feels, the faithful crowd getting around Daytime TV’s gang vocals and The Meadows’ cathartic “fuck being sad”.
Moaning Lisa fucking rocked.
It didn’t matter if you had no idea who Channel Tres was, he and his back-up dancers grooved their way through the set and people came streaming into the Mix Up tent from all angles to see who was making this infectious sound.
The rise and rise of Kwame is exciting to see.
Pond's set delivered the sun-soaked psychedelic pop-rock sound the boys are known for.
Opening with the huge singalong of I Wanna, it was hard to believe Ruby Field's set was going to be anything but a highlight of the weekend.
Seeing Tropical Fuck Storm is less of a wholesome festival type experience, and more of a barrage on your soul.
Don’t Delete The Kisses gave Wolf Alice their “first festival moment”, as they proved to a devoted following just how bloody good they are.
The most well-known secret [of the festival] was finally revealed as The Veronicas arrived to perform their new collaboration with Allday, Restless.
We made a bold choice and headed to the Mix Up tent over Gambino. It’s Mike fucking Skinner, alright. And you know what? It paid off. The Streets were excellent.
It's felt like many more years in the making than reality for Aussie shores to get our last taste of the Childish Gambino experience. Yet somehow the wait was so worth it, we could have waited another decade.
Sunday
A big “thank ya, to all of ya, for comin’ out early” and Pist Idiots were on the stage in true pissed idiot fashion.
Their first trip to our shores was a huge success, the tent packed for the Phony Ppl groove.
American outfit Charly Bliss were stoked to be playing and had no trouble showing it. Tearing through a set filled with epic drum fills and insane guitar solos, the group made sure everyone in the small crowd was up and dancing.
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets will be on the main stage next Splendour - watch this space.
The Rubens' set was full of old and new favourites, as well as an unreleased tune featuring American rapper Vic Mensa.
Taking things up a notch, halfway through delivering his soulful Like A Version cover of Tina Arena’s Chains, Matt Corby was joined on stage by none other than Arena herself.
James Blake's set was a cosmic delight, plenty of punters tripping the light fantastic in all senses of the word.
Everyone, including Splendour organisers, underestimated the crowd Ziggy Alberts would manage to pull. When he took the stage at GW McLennan, the tent was way past capacity, with people crowding the hill and the outskirts of the tent, all straining to get a look at him.
Hilltop Hoods bounded onto the stage and the rolling hillside filled pretty rapidly... it was clear Splendour was up for one last night of partying.
THE INTERVIEWS
To kick off the weekend, Dope Lemon's Angus Stone, Thelma Plum and Santigold all stopped by The Green Room on Friday to chat with host Neil Griffiths.
Saturday saw Ocean Alley and Dean Lewis drop by.
And on Sunday we had Psychedelic Porn Crumpets and The Lumineers pop over for a chat.
THE COLLABS
Splendour In The Grass is known for its very impressive collaborations but this year might have just taken the cake with a bunch of huge artists joining forces for some pretty magical moments.
Check out all our favourites here.
THE LACK OF SHOEYS
We feel like we've turned a corner - shoeys are officially on the way out. Hell yeah team. Zac Carper from FIDLAR was insistent on not buckling to Australian peer pressure: “It ain’t gonna happen, fellas," and Trophy Eyes' guitarist Kevin Cross (playing his final show with the band) was also firm in his conviction: "l drink from a bottle you pieces of shit.”
Great work fam, well to everyone except this guy...
Same time next year pals?
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