Splendour, like many festivals around Australia and the world, is going to leave music lovers with some tough choices to make. Clashes are inevitable, and as much you as you say you’ll flit between both, it never quite works out as planned. Plus with some many high profile international and national artists on the bill, there is so much, probably too much to choose from. These are the “tough” choices that we as music lovers have to make, but we at the AU review are going to try and make you choices a little easier with a handful of recommendations.
Friday
Haim – Supertop – 1645 – 1745
LA’s Haim are the definitely the band of the moment, one of the most talked about bands of the year, and winner of the BBC Sound of 2013. Splendour sees the band take to the stage fresh from playing T in the Park and Glastonbury Festival (where they joined Primal Scream as well as Mumford and Sons on stage) in the UK. With a debut album due in September, expect some new material to feature.
Portugal. The Man – GW McLennan Stage – 1800 – 1900
Produced by the one and only Danger Mouse, the new Portugal. The Man record has received critical acclaim around the world. But this isn’t a fluke, nor a one off… Portugal. The Man have been releasing quality music for years, and we can expect a good mix of the old and the new at one of our most anticipated sets of the festival!
You Am I “Sound as Ever” – GW McLennan Stage – 1930 – 2030
They’ll be performing two sets over the weekend, and the first is the one we’re possibly most exited out: Sound as Ever performed in full. They’ll return to the GW stage on Sunday to play Hi-Fi Way in full as well, so if you miss them here, you’ll certainly get another chance. But which one you see might just depend on which one is your favourite record! Can you guess which one we’re choosing? Wait… we just told you.
Architecture In Helsinki – GW McLennan Tent – 2230 – 2330
This band has been relatively quiet since 2011’s Moment Bends and this will more than likely be a set where new songs are played and audiences are tested on reactions and such. When songs like ‘That Beep’ and ‘Do The Whirlwind’ break out, get ready for an exponential roar from the crowd, but otherwise you may get the ‘we’re here testing new material treatment’ which can go either way really. So at the end of a good festival’s day you can either check Architecture In Helsinki with your shrewd music nerd critic eye, or your drunken flipped-out brain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF9MK8qfO5M
Saturday
Jagwar Ma – Mix Up – 1400 – 1445
Fresh from a European tour supporting Foals and slots at a number of UK festivals including Field Day and Glastonbury Jagwar Ma are returning to Australian shores once again for a national tour and a slot at Splendour – bringing a solid dose of summery sounds and Beach Boy melodies.
The Polyphonic Spree performs Rocky Horror – GW McLennan Tent – 1915 – 2030
They are one of the finest live bands in the world, but given the fact there are dozens of members in the group, it’s understandable that we don’t get to see them down in Australia all that often. Their prior visits for festivals like Big Day Out and Splendour in the Grass have been more than welcome, but this time they have something particularly impressive in store for us: a special, Splendour exclusive performance of the classic soundtrack to Rocky Horror Picture Show. We cannot wait for this one and expect it to be one of the most talked about performances of the weekend.
Soundwave – Tipi Forest – 2130 – 2230
Could eyeliner-clad Metallica and Korn fans overrun the mini-hippie commune that is the Splendour Tipi Forest? Could this be a set by music industry luminaire and twitter lunatic AJ Maddah? Could this set actually be an opportune time to promote the crap out of Harvest with photocopied flyers? Probably not, because according to the Splendour website this will be a set from Byron Bay producer Nathan Falk. Who, in actual fact, is a great maker of funky melodies not worthy of our ribbing. I’m sure you’ll be offered a doobie during this set regardless.
Jake Bugg – Supertop – 1520 – 1610
The Nottingham singer-songwriter has had a meteoric rise, with his debut album going to #1 in the UK album charts. Since then Bugg has found himself in increasing demand not only at home in the UK, but also in the US. Bugg will be taking to the Splendour stage fresh from sets at the iconic Isle of Wight and Glastonbury festivals in the UK, not to mention working on new material with producer Rick Rubin, so look to see some new material work it’s way into the set.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELUQJv4C4IQ
Ben Lee “Ayahuasca: Welcome To The Work” – Global Village – 1830 – 1945
Ben Lee really has come a long way. From the pop days of Breathing Tornados and Hey You Yes You, to the weirdness that was The Rebirth Of Venus. His latest album is Ayahuasca: Welcome To The Work, a collaboration with actor Jessica Chapnik who herself is a musician (performing under the name Appleonia). It’s been described as a “meditative experience/sonic journey into a musical prayer cycle” and he will go through this whole album experience in some form at The Global Village stage. This will be something for the curious to see where he’s gone to musically at least, and possibly he may jam out ‘Cigarettes Will Kill You’ on the lute if he so desires. More than anything this set will probably give you an opportunity for a good lie down if your legs are.
Birds of Tokyo – Supertop – 1930 – 2030
Whilst festivals are one of the greatest ways of finding new bands and a smorgasbord of new sounds to tempt the senses, Birds of Tokyo offer a welcome relief in the Saturday’s line up providing some good old Aussie rock to pump up the Splendour crowd for the likes of The National, Bernard Fanning and Flume later in the night. You really can’t go wrong with a festival set from Birds of Tokyo and you can be guaranteed that this set will be one of catchy riffs and sing-along melodies to see you through to the evening bands.
The National – Supertop – 2230 – 0000
With an acclaimed new album Trouble Will Find Me just released back in May, Splendour will be your only chance to see The National in Australia this year and their set will undoubtedly be one of the weekends many highlights. Berninger and co are impressive live performers, expect to hear a set that touches on the best of their work and don’t be too surprised if you see Berninger wading aloft into the crowd.
Sunday
Mystery Band – Supertop – 1840 – 1930
A band so mysterious, AN AWESOME WAVE of people may possibly turn up to see them. The amazing set of music is sure to come as a BREEZEBLOCK of sound from the Supertop stage. Could it possibly be a band that has a few days off in their ALL Travelling Journey around Australia during July? They did, after all just turn their frown upside down. Or could it be the reformation of Silverchair for a one off performance? Or is it just some local artist with a surfboard, bongos and dreadlocks that thought he was booked for Bluesfest? Of course it could be anyone! We can only obviously speculate and of course not suggest any band in particular…
Of Monsters and Men – Supertop – 2130 -2230
If you didn’t get a chance to catch their tour earlier, make sure you head along to Of Monsters and Men’s set at Splendour as it will be, without a doubt, one of the most charming sets of the day. With their unaffected air and genuine on stage enjoyment, the lads and ladies of Of Monsters and Men put on a truly endearing and uplifting set. Having only seen them in a bar setting, it will be interesting to see how their low key nature translates to the Supertop stage, but either way, a set great way to finish off the festival for indie folk fan.
James Blake – Mix Up – 2030 – 2130
Splendour will form part of Blake’s second visit to Australia this year, with a sold out tour back in March. The classically trained pianist will be taking to the stage on the Sunday evening, for what will undoubtedly be a striking and captivating performance. Armed with a plethora of keyboards, synths, samplers and a drum machine Blake will be performing tracks from his latest album Overgrown as well as favourites from his self-titled debut.
Frank Ocean – Supertop – 2300 – 0000
When Frank Ocean takes to the stage Sunday night he will be performing his first ever Australian headline show. Ocean has been having a good time of it lately, with his album Channel Orange making some serious soundwaves, garnering him a number of awards, including a Grammy. He also had two tracks in the NMEs Top 50 tracks of 2012 list and featured high up in many an end of year album poll. This will of course be one performance not to miss.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5onaWSflUQ0
For the full timetables visit: http://www.splendourinthegrass.com/
This article has been compiled by Larry Heath, Kat Hunter, Philippe Perez and Simon Clark.
