Warning: this article contains references to an indigenous artist who is now deceased
My very first music festival was Splendour in the Grass. I’m not a fan of big crowds and the thought of milling around with thousands of punters generally gives me hives. I was introduced to the Splendour team by a music client I was working with up in Byron Bay. I needed to experience Splendour, the work I was doing was becoming too hard without understanding it.
I reluctantly agreed.
My life changed.
Splendour was so much more than just a bunch of people listening to music for a weekend. During the 15 years I experienced Splendour, I laughed, I cried, I danced. I spent time with old friends, and made new ones in a community that celebrated creativity, live music, culture and art. It was pure joy. We took our children, our friends, our family, our staff, and discovered new music to love, and old music to revisit.
So many memories and experiences, here’s just a few…
Powderfinger Surprise Reunion 2017
Powderfinger, one of the regular favourites at Splendour, announced their breakup in April 2010, and played their final show in November of that year. Seven years later, in 2017, they played a surprise set which had fans and punters going NUTS. We were backstage with various people and I was sharing a sneaky cigarette with a tall, handsome someone who asked me what my highlight of the festival was so far
“The surprise Powder Finger Reunion set,” I said, “and yours?”
“Yeah. It was pretty cool being on stage.”
I was talking to the Powderfinger guitarist.
Elon Musk and Amber Heard, arriving by private helicopter and nobody really noticing.
His people spoke to her people and they decided they wanted to come to an iconic Australian music festival. The funniest part was no one really recognised him or cared to see him. There were so many cool musicians in one space. Musk and Heard even moved from backstage to the more public Gold Bar in the hope of someone spotting them, but were equally ignored there!
Hilltop Hoods 2014, 2019
The first time I saw the Hilltop Hoods it was reluctantly in 2014. I wasn’t a fan of hip hop style music. Converted. That’s the thing with live music, there is nothing like it. It’s a visceral experience and all the senses are engaged. Jazz could be viewed as boring just on the radio, but after you see the gifted musicians playing jazz, especially improvising, your experience of the music changes forever. Hip Hop is also the same. I downloaded every single Hoodies album after that. In 2019 the headliner, Chance the Rapper, cancelled 24 hours before his set, saying he was “too sick to travel to Australia.” There were a lot of disappointed fans, but not me! The Hoodies jumped in and closed the festival in his place, giving an unforgettable experience for everyone there.
Gurrumul 2008
Gurrumul, a blind traditional Yolngu man, self taught, gained international acclaim for his hauntingly beautiful voice and his ability to blend traditional Yolngu music with contemporary sounds.There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when this extraordinary human sang in Language.
He was absolutely mesmerising, and it was a deeply moving and emotional set.
Jónsi Birgisson of Sigur Rós 2017
This was one of my most anticipated acts in 2017. Jonsi voice and their lyrics were such a unique performance. My mates referred to the Icelandic performer as too snoozy so I did that set solo and made 1000 new Scandi friends.
The Washing Machine nightclub activation 2014.
I didn’t actually do it as the queue was too long but there were loads of punters who did. To enter into a nightclub to enter you climbed through a washing machine into a dance night club space. It speaks to the Festival’s never ending desire to surprise and delight its festival goers.
The Specials/ Hoodoogurus / Devo
One of the great things about Splendour was how the curation often included old bands that would then be introduced to a whole new audience. We met The Specials by the Pool at Byron at Byron hotel one year, and listening to how thrilled and excited they were to be performing to a whole new young audience was so sweet and interesting to hear.
Pub Choir with Meg Mac 2019
Singing along to Meg Mac’s classic “Roll up your sleeves”, a cryptic but beautifully composed song, with thousands of others and my besties after a 15 minute briefing by the Pub Choir was a definite highlight. There is something so therapeutic about singing with so many other people.
Rocky Horror Show by The Polyphonic Spree 2013
I was lucky to be able to spend time backstage to watch performances (it’s the crowd thing ) and I was there as the musicians were setting up for this show. I was nursing a drink, which was actually just water and one of the artists came to me and said “I’m so fucking nervous, is that a vodka by any chance?” It struck me in that moment, so many artists feel the same things we mere mortals feel- nervous, anxious and wanting to please. I dashed around in search of vodka for him which he gratefully downed before performing the cult classic. And did they perform. Another singalong memory to cherish. I think I may need to join a choir!
The Gift the Festival gave to Emerging Australian musicians
Splendour always balanced the big acts with a huge line up of emerging Aussie musicians. Triple J in collaboration with Splendour ran an unearthed competition, where one of the prizes was getting to perform on the main stage at Splendour. Over the years, this included Silverchair, Grinspoon, Missy Higgins, Tones and I, Budjerah, and King StingRay who subsequently went on to win multiple awards including breakthrough artist at the ARIAs in 2022. There were so many over the years, too many to name, but my Splendour playlists are full of them, reminding me of the joy of music every time I listen to them.
Mud. A few years, but not as many as Glastonbury has.
Some of the best years were muddy. That’s part of the experience and there’s nothing funnier than seeing punters slide down hills on purpose to cover themselves in mud.
Gumboots are fun to wear!
The Genesis of Irresistible Magazine
In our last Splendour, (not knowing it then) the idea of Irresistible, the magazine that celebrates all things festivals, was conceived with my great friend (and now Editorial Director.) Splendour was a microcosm of a world we want to live in; a world with music, art, great food, positive talks about social movements and politics, and of course celebrating friendships and talent. Where the overriding emotions are Joy, Love, Happiness, Passion and Gratitude. We hope Irresistible can represent all this in a small way, in the way Splendour did.
