Project Description

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS

@ Byron Bay

19-21/07/19

(Live Review)

Reviewer: Kayla McNicoll

Photographer: Wezzy Cruze

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Splendour in the Grass has long been known as one of Australia’s most treasured music events, and this weekend I was lucky enough to be one of over 40,000 revellers able to soak in the pure and glitter fuelled joy that could only be offered in an atmosphere as incredible as a music festival. Now that the event has come and gone, and the dust has settled, I can reflect on the weekend as something purely magical. With more than 100 acts across four stages over the course of three days, I was able to catch some really incredible music. Here’s what went down.

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Day One

Usually, the opening spot of the festival does not attract a huge crowd, but up-and-coming Tones and I brought in a massive group of early arriving punters. In fact, it was easily the biggest crowd for an opening act ever seen at Splendour, proving just how big the artist will become over the next few years. She tore her way through a six-song set with stand-outs being her breakout single ‘Johnny Run Away’. She closed with ‘Dance Monkey’ which sent the crowd into a wild sing along which must have been hugely surreal for the young artist.

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I was sure to be front and centre for one of my personal favourites, A. Swayze and the Ghosts, who hit up the festival’s main stage. Last year saw the delivery of their track ‘Suddenly’, a song which was arguably one of the best Aussie songs of the year. Across razor-edged guitars and thunderous rhythmic backing, the band trounced into the crowd’s eardrums with welcomed ferocity and force. Even better than ‘Suddenly’ however, was ‘Reciprocation,’ a slow-burning, ten-minute long epic that features a raw, underground punk sound and bucket loads of emotional turbulence. Frontman Andrew Swayze‘s stage presence was genuinely unique, and the band seemed to be having a lot of fun. I’m sure that they will soon be attracting even bigger crowds at venues and festivals across the country very soon.

Next to hit the Amphitheatre was English punk-rock duo Slaves, who brought a relentlessly energetic set to the unsuspecting crowd. Singer and drummer Isaac Holman boasted his shirtless body, probably so defined because of his manic performance as a drummer who stands as he plays, while also singing. His offsider Laurie Vincent, was able to lend his backing vocals and distorted guitar sounds to the ensemble, hurling a quintessentially British punk sound towards the crowd. These guys sure know how to entertain, and it was great to finally hear one of my favourite tracks ‘The Hunter’ which hits like a slap in the face, a track which is totally danceable yet totally political.

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Wolfmother had an early afternoon set, attracting a massive crowd. The often-forgotten Aussie hard rock legends blasted their hit-filled set, sending the mosh into a frenzy and reminding them that they are still here and that yes, they still have it. Stand-out riff monster ‘Woman’ hit hard taking punters back in time to the early 2000s when Wolfmother were kings of the Australian rock scene. Everyone was hanging out for ‘Joker and the Thief’ and boy was it a belter.

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Since the first time I heard ‘Can’t You See’, I have been looking forward to seeing FIDLAR perform live. The Californian rockers brought their unique stage presence and energy to the main stage, boasting layered rhythms alongside their classic, foolproof combination of lyrical honesty and fun. They played a selection of their best tunes, showcasing their evolution as a band from their first album, to now. Their newer songs seem to really wrestle with our longing to understanding our own mind and behaviours. In particular, ‘By Myself’ was a real bopper and seemed to really resonate with the crowd who belted out the chorus with maximum energy.

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Migrating to the Mix-Up Stage, I had high hopes for Dave, who seemed to have had made a massive impact at his recent performance at Glastonbury Festival. The British artist did not disappoint, proving his skill as a rapper and lyricist. The young rapper remarked that it was humbling to see such a huge crowd gathered to see him, and the crowd showed every ounce of screeching support they could muster. Of course, the crowd went ballistic for the newly viral sensation ‘Thiago Silva’, chanting the speedballing lyrics back towards the artist.

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I ensured I was front and centre at the railing for what I knew would be an incredibly wholesome experience delivered by Sydney’s favourite six-piece, Winston Surfshirt. The group showcased their unique blend of funk, soul and hip-hop on stage, demonstrating that they were perhaps more deserving of a slot at the festival’s main stage. Frontman Winston has a unique versatility to his voice, incomparable to any other artist of today, combined with his funky and nonchalant stage presence which genuinely encapsulated the entire crowd. It would be hard not to get your groove on with these guys, with stand-out tracks being ‘For The Record’, ‘Ali D’, ‘Same Same’, ‘Make A Move’ and of course their set closer ‘Be About You’ which sent the crowd into a wild sing along as confetti showered over the stage. For the first time in the day, I felt a sensation of deep sadness that the set was over, and it seemed that the crowd felt similarly, lingering by the stage with hopes they might take us for a ride with one more song.

Looking at the set times for Day One I was surprised that Oxford-based indie outfit Foals had such a prime slot in terms of time and place and I was curious as to whether the group would be able to put on a deserving set. By the end of the second track, I knew that my doubts had been put to death. The rockers totally killed it with their confidence and sound, each song being totally unique. The audience was spoiled with hits with the ever-popular ‘My Number’ receiving the warmest of welcomes from the swaying crowd. As the set went on the crowd grew, and the band finished their final song in front of a bursting amphitheatre crowd.

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It was clear that as the day progressed the hype for the festival’s first headline act, Tame Impala was growing. It was truly a sight to see as thousands of people flooded in through the gates of the amphitheatre, positioning themselves either as close as possible to the stage or up on the hill for a spectacular view. As the background music was silenced and the lights went out, high pitched screams filled the air, and as the band entered the stage led by frontman Kevin Parker the ocean of people jumped with pure excitement. I have always loved Tame Impala but could not have expected such a surreal experience from the band live.

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There are not many ways I can describe their sound paired with the psychedelic stage visuals besides maybe, pure transcendence. The band so easily proved just why they are one of the biggest bands in the world and exactly why they have been headlining every epic festival from Coachella to Glastonbury. It’s hard to classify any songs as “highlights”, but the crowd clearly went wild for ‘Let It Happen’, ‘Feels Like We Only Go Backwards’, ‘Elephant’, ‘Borderline’, ‘Patience’ and of course ‘The Less I Know the Better’. After the set concluded it was though I had already been hit with the post-festival blues. I was truly just a witness to pure magic, and no one wanted it ever to end.

 

Day 2

On day two, I kicked things off with the unashamedly danceable rhythms from Newcastle rockers Trophy Eyes. The band boasted their ability to create stadium worthy pop-rock tracks with an atmospheric sound which so perfectly suited the sun-filled afternoon. While this band is definitely not my usual go-to, I found myself get drawn in by the enthusiasm of the crowd, who were clearly die-hard fans of the fast-growing group. To top of the set, the band welcomed comedy legend Chris Lilley for a special rendition of the ‘Fuck Song’ from Lilley‘s latest series ‘Lunatics’, which sent the crowd into fits of both shock and laughter.

I was beyond excited to see Pond, one of Australia’s psych-rock groups, do their thing. Adorned in glitter, eccentric frontman Nick Allbrook led the band through each woozy hit. What I find interesting about this band is that they share members with the touring line up of Tame Impala, with frontman Kevin Parker producing their albums. Despite this, similarities between the two bands are not obvious. Pond presents uniquely melodic tracks which take twists and turns that leave the audience feeling as though they may have just travelled through space and time. Shimmering stand-out tracks included ‘Sweep Me Off My Feet’, ‘Daisy’ and an eclectic cover of Madonna’s ‘Ray of Light’.

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Watching Wolf Alice perform their amphitheatre set sent the crowd into a mystic realm of swirling, effects-heavy guitar and the enchanting vocals of singer-guitarist Ellie Rowsell. The British four-piece flaunted their unique songwriting ability with a honey-sweet concoction of ethereal space rock and synth-pop. Stand out tracks included ‘Don’t Delete The Kisses’ and ‘Beautifully Unconventional’ two vastly different tracks which prove the group’s strength and versatility.

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Ocean Alley delivered their ever-popular funk and reggae vibes in their late afternoon set. The overflowing crowd made the Sydney Boys feel right at home with their high-pitched screams, and as the band burst into their first track, the amphitheatre turned into what could only be described as one big sing-along. Each track seems to teeter on the edge on some form of emotional breaking point, which is so clearly felt by the audience on the deepest of levels. Each of Ocean Alley‘s idyllic jams created a sway that reached across the entire amphitheatre. ‘Knees’ in particular was truly hypnotising, demonstrating exactly why Ocean Alley is one of Australia’s biggest bands right now.

British rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen are no strangers to huge audiences, and they filled the air with their flawless indie-rock sound. Belting out crowd favourites like ‘7’ and ‘Twice’ with the addition of some great new tracks got the crowd pumping after Ocean Alley‘s blissful set. Die-hard fans burnt their energy in the mosh while others swayed in the distance of the surrounding hills. While I’ve always known these guys to be extraordinarily talented both musically and lyrically, seeing them live was a whole new experience with their set being one of the cleanest across the entire weekend.

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There is no denying that Childish Gambino’s set was the moment that everyone had been waiting for. While I thought the amphitheatre could not get more crowded, thousands more flooded through the gates with anticipation rising fast. What then entailed was something I could not have ever expected. Not only did Gambino’s out of this world performance satisfy big fans like me, but surely worked to convert even the most doubtful of audience participants into loyal members of Donald Glover’s holy cult.

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There was a lot going on onstage, including high-tech lighting, back-up dancers and choirs. While this all added to the overall perfection and even holiness of the performance, it was almost impossible to turn an eye away from Gambino whose presence could only really be described as godly. He hits hard with his dynamic ability to sing, rap and dance, but these things combine to create a presence which goes far beyond each skill alone. This has no other purpose but to astound those who watch on deeply. Jaws dropped, and hairs stood on end throughout the entirety of his set, and no track could be described as a highlight. In all honesty, all I can say is wow.

 

Day 3

Sunday presented us with more Byron sunshine, and I settled under the shade of the trees to catch the New Zealand indie rockers The Beths. Their sound was really impressive, with great hook-filled tracks that have clearly been written with depth and played skillfully. While ‘Future Me Hates Me’ has been really well received recently the group showed the crowd just how versatile their sound could be with ‘Uptown Girl’, ‘You Wouldn’t Like Me’ and ‘Whatever’ being other stand-outs. Furthermore, front lady Elizabeth Stokes had an awkward charm which added to the coolness of the band’s set.

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Last Dinosaurs took the audience into a dreamy state of mind with their indie-rock vibes. Coupling their wistful melodies and striking guitar riffs with a sense of lyrical vulnerability, the band really got the crowd moving with many standing up from their place from the distant hills to have a dance. Fan favourite ‘Zoom’ of course made its way onto the setlist with punters shouting along word-for-word. The set was riddled with sweet moments and cute crowd interactions, creating a wholesome and harmonic Sunday ambience.

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Over recent years The Rubens have really made a name for themselves and could arguably be some of Australia’s best songwriters. In addition to the constant hit-making, the group have the strong ability to put on an incredible live show, with frontman Sam Margin’s confident, yet totally humbled stage presence pulling the audience in. The band sprinkled newer hits throughout the set around crowd favourites such as ‘My Gun’ and the anthemic ‘Hoops’ all of which boast impressive hooks and blues and grunge influences, as well as insightful lyrics on a range of deep and provoking themes. The band welcomed pocket rocket G-Flip on stage for a legendary drum solo followed by a duet with Sam, the heart-wrenching wonder ballad ‘Never Ever’, which surely made some audience members shed a tear. Closing track ‘Million Man’ encouraged a groovy and gospel-like sing-along and was the perfect way to end an impressive set.

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As much as I have enjoyed Matt Corby’s music over the years, I never really imagined that his live performance would have such an impact. Corby’s presence on stage was truly spell bounding. The tenderness of his voice and the ease in which he delivers an incredible vocal range was enchanting, and it wasn’t just the darkening sky, which was causing goosebumps to form on my skin. It was almost hypnotising to watch as he glided from instrument to instrument, barefoot on stage. The audience became enthralled by tracks like ‘Brother’ and ‘Resolution’ which were incredible, however, it was when Tina Arena joined him on stage for a cover of ‘Chains’ that the audience was truly at a stand-still. Corby invited a plethora of guests on stage, including Meg Mac and Jarryd James for his final song ‘Miracle Love.’ The audience chanted the chorus like a church choir, and it became clear that Corby was so humbled to be on stage. Overall the set was pretty mesmerising.

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When punters received the news that headliner ‘Chance the Rapper’ would no longer be performing, it was fair to say that everyone was pretty disappointed. But the news that Hilltop Hoods would be performing reignited a flame of excitement which spread across the crowd as Sunday night rolled around. The audience gathered, mustering their final ounces of festival energy for what turned out to be one of the most exciting sets of the entire weekend. How the Aussie hip-hop legends managed to pull it off is beyond me, but the group welcomed guest after guest on stage to smash out every hit. This included the likes of Montaigne, Illy, Ruel and Adrian Eagle with the crowd belting out every word of their favourites such as ‘The Nosebleed Section’, ‘1955’ and ‘The Hard Road’.

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After three days of intense and incredible live music from all over the world, it felt like a true, go-hard-or-go-home celebration of Australian music, with the artists on stage and audience alike banding together to remember just how incredible Australia’s music scene really is. And that sentiment is perhaps more important than any set Chance the Rapper might have delivered. Overall it was the perfect way to conclude three days of magic that is Splendour in the Grass.

 

Check out Wezzy Cruze‘s full galleries of day 1 & day 2 & day 3 of Splendour in the Grass.

 

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