Splendour 2018 - A Mixed Musical Venture (Saturday)

Splendour’s second jam packed day welcomed over another 30,000 passionate punters through its gates. Much like myself, many were furiously hungry for a bite to eat to keep up the stamina for the day. Thankfully 72 food stalls were on call to satisfy the ravenous revellers. Food fanatics were treated to a variety of tastes, from Italian, to Vietnamese, each option fulfilling any cuisine desire.

My musical adventure commenced with Brisbane rockers, WAAX. The band’s raw rhythm reverberated through the GW McLennan stage, as hundreds of rowdy fans packed out the tent. Being a secret punk fan, WAAX fulfilled my deepest music desires with their introspective, yet hard style. A mental mosh broke out, as the band progressed their set into their sensational singles ‘Wild & Weak’, and ‘Same Same’. As special guest and Aussie rock legend, Bernard Fanning jumped on stage, the atmosphere propelled skyward. I’d love to see a powerhouse collaboration between Powderfinger and WAAX in the future. There’s a reason WAAX are breaking the boundaries of the Australian rock scene, and it’s only a matter of time before they become an international success.

Following the WAAX’s rollicking set was the bubbly beats of Superorganism. Lead vocalist Orono Noguchi is the definition of sass! Her vivacious vibe resonated with fans, as the band drove the set’s progression. The opening notes of ‘Everyone Wants To Be Famous’ sent the eager audience into a flurry. Superorganism’s visual aesthetic was a polished reflection of their music; fun, jaunty, and quirky. If Superorganism hits a stage near you, I highly recommend snagging a ticket for a guaranteed good time!

Bass goddesses, Anna Lunoe and Godlands brought in their A-Game as they ripped up the Mix Up stage. Anna’s hard-hitting production thrusted through the charismatic crowd, as an audio-visual presentation gleamed. Godlands’ boasted bashful beats during her preliminary and secondary sets, amplifying Anna Lunoe’s sensational set. Godlands and Anna Lunoe presentation and powerful production go hand in hand. Each act is an impeccable representation of the bass scene.

Carmada comprised of LDRU and Yahtzel threw one hell of a party at the Mix Up stage closing my Saturday. The pair transcended their DJ roots with a vivid live performance packed with soaring synths, glittering guitar, and brutal beats. A sophisticated lighting display flared furiously, complimenting Carmada’s feverish sound. Special guests G Flip, Kira Puru, BOI, Ned Philpot, Georgi Kay, Timi Temple and Xavier Dunn elevated the charismatic climate tenfold. Carmada blew my expectations away and left a sense of satisfaction!

Saturday was a mixed musical venture as I explored bass, punk, and indie pop. I can’t wait to see what Sunday holds.