Project Description
SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS
DAY ONE
(Live Review)
20/07/18
Review by Alexandra Ainsworth
Photo: Deb Kloeden
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Friday at Splendour is always the most optimistic: your air mattress hasn’t deflated, no one has vomited in your campsite, and the Amphitheatre hill doesn’t seem that bad. Most importantly, however, Lorde is making her Splendour comeback, and there are more bands than you can poke a tent pole at playing throughout the day. You’ve been waiting all year for it, so here’s what happened at Splendour in the Grass.
Melbourne’s Alice Ivy, despite being one of the earliest sets of the day, pulls a crowd at the Mix Up Stage that spills out the sides of the tent. Her set is filled primarily with songs from her debut album, I’m Dreaming—most of which, judging by the crowd’s response, have already become festival favourites. Guest vocals from Bertie Blackman on latest single Chasing Stars and final track Get Me A Drink are an appreciated addition but are hardly audible over the roar of the crowd.
At the Amphitheatre, Adelaide’s West Thebarton have finally found a stage large enough to comfortably house all seven band members. Their signature raspy vocals are immediately recognisable before reaching the front of the stage, the band excitedly belting out lyrics at an equally as excited crowd. A cover of Florence and the Machine’s You’ve Got The Love (their final performance of the track) in amongst favourites Bible Camp, Stuck on You, and Moving Out is an added bonus for those unfamiliar with the band. The crowd thins out as the UK’s Marmozet’s take over for their first Splendour performance. Their set is a near-chaotic flurry of riffs and shouted lyrics, a performance certainly worth sticking around for.
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Photo: Deb Kloeden
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Across the festival, Bully puts on an equally as strong set. The female-fronted three-piece have been a hugely hyped must-see for the weekend, and their set doesn’t disappoint. While between-song conversation and on-stage confidence are a far cry from the lyrics of her brutally honest songs, Bully’s energy is undeniably infectious, making for the perfect set up for next act DZ Deathrays.
The Brisbane three have pulled a huge crowd who have sprawled across the Amphitheatre. Most, however, have crammed in front of the stage, poised for the first sounds of a riff as official consent to mosh. While their set is slightly damped by the fact their sound feels slightly muffled and doesn’t do their shredding justice, the band push through and smash out all the favourites. The band also pull out Murray Cook, much to the drunken crowd’s nostalgic delight, for Like People as well as a cover of AC/DC’s Highway To Hell to end the set.
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Photo: Deb Kloeden
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Across the festival, Woodes is performing her first Splendour set to a small crowd gathered in the Tiny Dancer Stage. The young artist is competing with Baker Boy and Jack River for an audience, but a fair few people have turned up to catch her gorgeous set with equally as gorgeous synth and vocals.
The sun has set and the winter chill has arrived as festival favourites Cub Sport set up at the GW McLennan stage, the buzz of their pre-set excitement extending way past the edges of the tent. Their set opens with the poignant O Lord, which provides the perfect build via stunning vocals and building synth and drums. From its start to its end, Cub Sport’s set brings the perfect twilight magic day one has been begging for. Vocals by lead Tim Nelson have always been the highlight of any Cub Sport set, and tonight is no different. A cover of Kanye’s Ultralight Beam, however, is a chance for the band to show off their perfect harmonies as well as guitarist Zoe Davis’ incredible riffs. Closer Come On Mess Me Up is the perfect singalong moment between band and crowd, ending their set on an absolute high that leaves a fair chunk of the audience stuck in a stunned silence.
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Photo: Deb Kloeden
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Back up at the Amphitheatre, DMAs have brought their best Adidas to woo the crowd. In a day full of covers, it is without a doubt DMAs’ cover of Cher’s Believe that is the undeniable favourite. The opening acoustic riff spurs what feels like a festival-wide singalong. Even those farthest up on the hill spring to their feet to grab their friends by the shoulders to shout lyrics directly into each other’s faces.
Meanwhile, at the Mix Up, Safia are hyping up the crowd with their heavy synth beats and strobing light show. It’s the Canberran trios biggest Splendour set yet, and though they’re no strangers to the festival, it feels like they’re bringing their best out tonight. While there are favourites such as Counting Sheep, Let Them Wheels Roll, and Over You, it’s covers of Gorillaz’s Feel Good Inc and Britney’s Oops I Did It Again that bring a welcomed sense of nostalgia to the set.
It’s a solid trek back to the Amphitheatre, but brother-sister duo Angus and Julia Stone are about to take to the stage. Their set is always one that is filled with comforting vocals and a hum of a brass and string backing band, but their sound feels a little lost on the drunken crowd. Bigger hits Big Jet Plane and Chateau received warm responses, but it’s a set that would have done better in a smaller space so those who wanted to could truly appreciate it.
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Photo: Deb Kloeden
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Wonderboy Khalid follows up Angus and Julia, and the crowd noticeably thickens for his set. The 19-year-old is all smiles as he moves around on stage in front of back up dancers, never missing a beat all the while. It’s an obviously younger crowd who are enjoying tracks such as Location and 8TEEN, but Khalid’s appeal is widespread, even on those of us who know nothing about him.
I catch a glimpse of Dune Rats and Friends between Amphitheatre sets. The ‘Friends’ part of their set has caught my curiosity as I hesitantly admit that the novelty of Dune Rats themselves has begun to wear off. The trio are joined by a whole host of acts throughout their slot, with Mallrat, DZ Deathrays, Hockey Dad, WAAX, Alex Lahey, and Gooch Palms helping fill out the set with various covers. You can’t help but feel like Dunies are just hanging out with a bunch of mates on stage, and while their slacker vibe bleeds a little too much into their music, their energy is hard to deny.
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Photo: Deb Kloeden
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The near-end of the night means tonight’s headliner, Lorde, isn’t far away. Donned entirely in holographic silver, the New Zealand is entirely unphased by the sea of people before her. Thrown into stardom at such a young age, Lorde is a total natural on stage, a wardrobe malfunction doing nothing to phase the 21 year old. Her hour and a half set is filled with songs from both her albums, but it’s also filled with a lot of conversation. Lorde talks about how she filled in for Frank Ocean at her (and my) first Splendour, the show many consider to have launched her career. She talks about love, loss, crushes, heartbreak, and drama as she encourages the crowd to grab the person next to them as she sings the final cover for tonight: Powderfinger’s My Happiness. Green Light is the official ending of the day, and it’s in a cloud of green confetti we close day one. It’s been a mammoth start to the festival and the standards for day two and three have been set dangerously high.
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