I can still taste the confetti – Splendour In The Grass 2016
It is sad to say but Splendour In The Grass has yet again come to an end. I must say though, it was one of the best! From the rock revival heroes The Strokes to electronic mastermind Golden Features, Splendour had it covered no matter what genre of music you indulge in. I can guarantee you there was something and someone there for you to fall for. It was perfect! Whether you think of the beautiful days of blue sky, the seas of people taking a break from their lives to experience something special with that random drunk guy who fell onto his tent on Thursday morning, or the talented artists who put their heart and soul into putting on something amazing for us all to go home and brag to our FOMO suffering friends about. The most important fact thinking back over the weekend though, I didn’t even need to cop the pain of gumboots rubbing against my legs.
Yeah Splendour, we won’t take any drinks into the camping grounds. Mt Franklin is all I need to have a good time…
Lets be honest, drinks were flowing and words were slurring as everyone was dancing and grinding and climbing inappropriate objects for who knows why unless their was a Mew up there to catch then yeah… I am all for it. I feel as though Splendour number 6 for me this year had a very special feel to it. Maybe it was the summer feel to the festival or the fact the line up was worth the scarring hangovers, either way most people I came across were so friendly, so happy and just genuinely in a good mood. When there is sun, there is skin, sheer was a winner with the ladies who felt this weekend was going to be more effective then searching through Tinder hunting for their next prey. You can’t go wrong with the ol’ trusty acubra though. Sun safety people, no hat no play or you’ll pass out today.
Splendour is kind of like a mystical village where you feel like you can wear whatever you want because their will be someone who looks more stupid than you within a 5 tent squared distance and by the time you hit that highway on the way home your fashion choices are blacked out, Men In Black style. Either way I am all for it, where else are you going to rock that quadruple denim ensemble? Is your mum really going to let you wear that skirt out with your ass looking like that? Nope? Then welcome and we’ll see ya next year folks.
Lets cut to the chase though, we’re there for the music, we’re there for the artists, the good times. That feel good moment when confetti falls upon you, lands in your mouth and you swallow it because… Splendour.
I remember 2014, Brisbane legends Violent Soho walked out to the massive amphitheatre crowd on the release of Hungry Ghost and the set is written as one of their unforgettable moments as a band and as best friends. 2016 has arrived and my god did they blow that set out of the water. Playing their classics and some of their crowd raising tracks from Waco, they even topped the set with a cover of Nirvana’s ‘’Breed” that nearly made me want to be that person who climbs the tallest vantage point within the vicinity until security try and drag me down. The atmosphere was incredible and the mosh pits were intense, filled with Violent Soho merch for miles, its actually ridiculous how strong their following is. Alt Rock is back and its strong and fierce.
The Strokes were the band to see this year but unfortunately the vibe wasn’t at its full potential. Julian Cassablanca seemed a little out of touch during the performance and it had me feeling like he didn’t really want to be there. Was he thinking about Stranger Things on Netflix? Possibly, I wouldn’t blame him but thats for another day. The Strokes haven’t toured Australia since Splendour 2010 and their performance this year compared to the last time they were at Splendour was just a level below, don’t hurt me for saying that. Are the guys getting too old or has the past decade of a headlining career left a bad taste in their mouths? Time will tell.
Breakfast with Harts and Beach Slang sounds like a great time on paper, and it sounds like a great time through the ears, but it doesn’t feel like a good time with a head full of last nights decisions, cocktails being one of them but hey what better cure than the sun sweating the bad jew jew out of your body while you cruise on the grass listening to great music.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are a must see. I don’t care what you say, you just couldn’t take your eyes off that stage. This seven piece band of high energy out of this world punk rockers were so tight the performance was literally mesmerising for the guy next to me who ate mushrooms for breakfast and probably an early lunch by the look of him. With the seven piece psychedelic ensemble playing at a rate your eyes can hardly keep up with, they had every stoked stoner, syced out syd swinger and boozed out beauty shaking their shit to one of the most epic performances you’ll be graced with the honour to see perform. The only downer about the show was the clash with Spring King that took place. The american rockers who managed to blow an amp in the process of blowing minds at GW McLennan copped a pretty rough time schedule but that didn’t deter their decent and committed crowd.
Ive been watching and following Paces for quite some time now and honestly his Splendour performance was the best set I’ve seen to date. Usually on the other side of the stage taking photos it was great to just let loose and have a boogie. Paces performance consisted of Tkay Maidza, Guy Sebastian, yes you heard me correctly, stage dances and a storm of confetti. When I say a storm of confetti I don’t mean those party poppers that go off mid set that the first three rows on the right hand side of the crowd cheer over, I mean the kind of confetti that you stop and think, how the fuck did I get here and why the hell do I have to leave. You just couldn’t help but smile, you really couldn’t.
Crystal Fighters always dress to impress and this year they went above and beyond with there stage decor. The stage looked like it was something out of The Jungle Book with vines and leaves running left, right and centre and growing off every amp and mic stand. With their unique sound ranging from electronic to folk with an inspiration of early 1980s Spanish punk you would have been sorry you missed them. For Crystal Fighters – love is all i got.
Rock and fucking roll. At The Drive in’s performance was EPIC! I did feel sorry for security when Omar Rodriguez-Lopez decided to rip a light up from the stage and throw it into the front pit. I guess you can’t blind the guy right? Luckily no one was hurt and the performance went on and it went on strong. The crowd screaming lyrics to massive arena tracks while shoulder riders threw their arms around like an army of wacky waving inflatable armed flailing tube men.. like the ones in car yards… cars weren’t for sale but good vibes were.
Santigold was a highlight of mine come day two, closing up the mix up stage she put on one hell of an eye catching performance. At one point pulling up 20 people from the crowd to boogie on stage she definitely took the medal for most interactive performance. Even if she did get a little jealous of one girls desire to be front and centre. She didn’t last long though. The fun bubbly performer didn’t let me down playing her most well known songs like Disparate Youth and L.E.S Artistes, she had the crowd in the palm of her hand.
Day 3 – I thought 24 hours before this moment was bad, hah. Today consisted of one epic line up and a sneaky intruder but we will come back to that. Honestly I didn’t even make it into the grounds till the urge to see The Internet kicked in and overtook the strength gravity had over my Sailor Jerry ridden body. Syd jumped around onstage with her soulful and energetic crew. After being at Laneway, you may of thought they were back too soon but its never too soon to see The Internet again.
The police cracked down on fence jumpers this year but they couldn’t catch em all. While they weren’t looking one sneaky green snake managed to slip through the cracks. He was on a mission and that mission was to boogie to Jagwar Ma. He managed to make its way through the Mix Up tent mid afternoon making quite a fuss. I wish I could move through the crowds as effectively as he did. Jagwar Ma brought their groovy jams to us and it ended up with Gabriel in the crowd surfing and absorbing those good feels everyone was throwing out to the guys.
Soon after the sun dropped Golden Features began. Packing out the Mix Up tent with a capacity I hadn’t seen at this stage all weekend. This golden faced electronic artist had the crowd in a riot. Unfortunately I got to the party a little too late and wasn’t able to get anywhere near the stage but looking around watching everyone pour out the sides of the tents with all eyes on the man himself, he could have played the amphitheatre and blown everyone away.
Ive had the pleasure of seeing Slumberjack play many times and for me their Splendour set was something else! There’s something about Splendour that makes people go above and beyond and after hearing their set air on Diplo and Friends my excitement only built to see the guys play again. Track after track, big drops and Vera Blue’s visit on stage were the perfect way to close Tiny Dancer stage for 2016. Don’t miss these guys if you ever get the opportunity, you won’t regret it.
Flume’s performance headlining the amphitheatre was epic to say the least. With so many special guests and surprises through out his set it really felt like a once in a life time moment, a Splendour moment. His stage set up was something special with cubed hanging lights and beautiful colours pouring out onto the crowd, ah I felt so lucky in that point of time to witness an artist so spectacular. Good on you, Australia.
Splendour you’ve produced the goods yet again. Waking up to a river of break lights and the sound of car horns surrounding our camper van, we knew Splendour was sadly done and dusted for another year. The time flies by but the memories forever stand and so will the photos. For me the line up, vibes, weather and good times really made this Splendour the best one yet.
Written by Zennieshia Butts
Photography by Mitch Lowe
