The countdown to Splendour in the Grass 2017 is over with an all-star cast of artists from across the planet set to blast North Byron Parklands, writes Georgina Bible.
The prospect of mingling with packs of counter-terrorism police didn’t stop 32,000 music fans descending on North Byron Parklands yesterday for Splendour in the Grass Arts & Music Festival.
For the first time, terrorism threats at music events around the world prompted Australia’s biggest music festival to beef up security. Entry to the sold-out event is now reminiscent of boarding an aeroplane.
The introduction of new bag restrictions bans backpacks. Other measures now include regular bag and vehicle searches and the threat of being subject to ‘wanding’ by a metal detector. Counter-terrorism police are reported to have joined more than 150 officers patrolling the site.
In spite of the increased security presence, the measures appeared to fail dozens of women who seemed to have had major sections of their wardrobe stolen. Droves of scantily dressed female festival attendees scampered about topless, with only gaffe tape carefully placed over their nipples in crosses to ensure their modesty.
Nonetheless, the mass loss of key clothing items and post September 11 security measures failed to dampen the festival spirit of the sundrenched North Byron Parklands.
Organisers have dropped possibly the best line-up since 2010, featuring a blockbuster cast of rock royalty, electro pioneers and hip hop innovators. Day one acts that stole the show included Tash Sultana and Peking Duk.
Tash Sultana wowed the crowd at Splendour.
Melbourne phenomenon, Tash Sultana, proved to be the ultimate multitasker dazzling the crowd with her one-woman band show. Festival Favourites, Peking Duk, had joined the Splendour line up at the last minute after George Ezra cancelled. The Sydney duo delivered a supercharged set that was peppered with multiple guest appearances by fellow artists that included Vera Blue and Dan Sultan.
Tonight’s stellar line-up will see lovers of rock blasted into music heaven at the amphitheatre stage with a double serve of heavy. The thumping Brit duo Royal Blood will perform, followed by one of the best live bands in the world, Queens of the Stone Age.
SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2017
Friday 21 July, Saturday 22 July and Sunday 23 July
North Byron Parklands
splendourinthegrass.com
SOLD OUT
THE XX • QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE • LCD SOUNDSYSTEM • ROYAL BLOOD • HAIM • SIGUR RÓS • SCHOOLBOY Q (ONLY AUS SHOW) • VANCE JOY • TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB • PEKING DUK • RL GRIME • BONOBO • FATHER JOHN MISTY • CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN • TASH SULTANA • PAUL KELLY • STORMZY • KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD • PEKING DUK • FUTURE ISLANDS (ONLY AUS SHOW) • BANKS • BERNARD FANNING • DUNE RATS • CUT COPY • ÁSGIER • ALLDAY • MEG MAC • RAG‘N’BONE MAN • THUNDAMENTALS • LIL YACHTY • SAN CISCO • CLIENT LIAISON • REAL ESTATE • DAN SULTAN • VALLIS ALPS • D.D DUMBO • MAGGIE ROGERS • TOVE LO • POND • BIG SCARY • THE SMITH STREET BAND • OH WONDER • A.B. ORIGINAL • DOPE LEMON • THE KITE STRING TANGLE • YOUNG FRANCO • JULIA JACKLIN • KINGSWOOD • AMY SHARK • LUCA BRASI • THE LEMON TWIGS • VERA BLUE • SLUMBERJACK • BAD//DREEMS • BAG RAIDERS • TOPAZ JONES • MIDDLE KIDS • OCEAN GROVE • CONFIDENCE MAN • BISHOP BRIGGS • LATE NITE TUFF GUY • JULIEN BAKER • KILTER • LANY • HOCKEY DAD • KIRIN J CALLINAN • AIRLING • COSMO’S MIDNIGHT • GRETTA RAY • MOONBASE • THE PEEP TEMPEL • TORNADO WALLACE • THE MURLOCS • MALLRAT • LUKE MILLION • THE WILSON PICKERS • ROMARE • JARROW • GOOD BOY • KUREN • ONEMAN • WINSTON SURFSHIRT • SET MO • HWLS • HARVEY SUTHERLAND & BERMUDA • CC:DISCO! • ENSCHWAY • DJHMC • NITE FLEIT • ALICE IVY • WILLOW BEATS • WILLARIS. K • MOOKHI • TRIPLE J UNEARTHED: WINNERS PLUS… SWINDAIL • DENA AMY • ANDY GARVEY • PLANÈTE • SAM WESTON • SUPER CRUEL • CHRISTOPHER PORT • LEWIS CANCUT • KINDER
