Did you miss out on our daily warps of Splendour In The Grass 2018? If so, you can read the full festival rundown below!

My Splendour In The Grass 2018 adventure kicked off early Thursday afternoon, as I arrived at the North Byron Parklands. After goliath battle to set up a three-person tent, I treated myself to some boisterous beats courtesy of the Mutual Friends DJs at the Smirnoff tent. A mixture of feel good tunes including Mallrat’s ‘Better’, and Flight Facilities’ ‘Heart Attack’ quickly morphed into a bass centric blend that reverberated through the festival grounds.

Moving to the Mix Up stage, I witnessed some of the greatest names rising the ranks of the Australian music scene! Brisbane’s Jesswar, and UV Boi laid down unadulterated fire, whilst Baker Boy fused his forward-thinking hip hop with surreal soundscapes. Baker Boy utterly enchanted me, as he performed his superb hit ‘Cloud 9’, and more recent release, ‘Marryuna’. Each act built the vibe, warming up the crowd, for the next three days of magnificent music.

I can’t wait for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as the Splendour team are set to throw one massive party at this year’s sell out sensation!

Splendour’s official day one launched on a perfect winter’s day, as 35,000 punters descended onto a musical oasis. From Friday to Sunday, music fans will be treated to over 100 acts, performing on four main stages. I entered the gates with a wave of other enthusiastic festival goers, all crackling with anticipation and passionately talking of the acts, on their list of must see. Beyond the gates the magical world of Splendour welcomed all with a drove of inflatable Snoop Dog/Hot Dog hybrids, fluttering in the wind.

My first set of the day was Alice Ivy at the Mix Up stage. Alice Ivy’s bubbly and energetic stage presence captivated a massive crowd and a kinetic wave rippled through the festival grounds, establishing the electrifying atmosphere for the weekend ahead. The Melbourne based muso morphed her signature sample heavy production with an animated live performance. Crowd favourite tracks, ‘Chasing Stars’, ‘Be Friends’ and ‘Get Me a Drink’ were met with a cracking reception. Joined on stage by the charismatic Bertie Blackman, the pair bounced and bounded to the buoyant beat, that reverberated throughout fans. Alice Ivy grooved and moved her way into my heart with her live set, and she’s guaranteed to stay there for a long time to come.

Wafia’s return to Splendour was phenomenal! In the early afternoon, the accomplished vocalist packed out the Mix Up tent. Performing a mixture of collaborations, and originals, such as ‘Love Somebody’, and ‘83 Days’, Wafia guided the crowd into one massive sing along. The set’s aesthetic moved between buoyant and brooding, adding a fresh twist every track. After watching Wafia live for the first time, it was clear why she’s risen the ranks and has become a household name.

Woodes’ debut Splendour performance on the Tiny Dancer stage was beguiling! The mystical forest nymph conjured an enchanting atmosphere and mesmerised the audience. The Melbourne based vocalist and producer brought out all the stops, performing her classics ‘Dots’, ‘Change My Mind’ plus many more majestic pieces. Woodes’ also dropped her lavish triple j like a version ‘Lay It On Me’, by Vance Joy. With each release, gig, and guest appearance, Woodes takes another leap towards smashing another milestone.

Closing my Friday night was LO’99’s explosive set. Shreding through the Tiny Dancer stage, LO’99 dropped brutal bass to hundreds of moshing revellers. Launching his set as a DJ, LO’99 mixed classic party pleasers with forward thinking trap masterpieces. As each beat blasted, the crowd grew with magnetised intensity. Just as the set was reaching boiling point, LO’99 transitioned into a live performance. Up and coming pop queen, Doolie made a live guest appearance, further elevating the intense atmosphere. Doolie’s lush lyrics danced throughout the stage. Both Doolie and LO’99 are a sight to behold, and a testament to the prowess of the Australian electronic sphere.

Passionate production and charismatic characters filled every inch of the day. All in all, Friday was a perfect reflection of the Splendour spirit.

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.

I woke to a clear and crisp winter’s morning, thoroughly looking forward to Splendour’s third and final day of a musical smorgasbord and surrounding myself with new and old friends.

Kicking off my final day was Brissy local, Eves Karydas (F.K.A. Eves The Behaviour). Eves’ magnetic stage presence captivated the crowd. Each buoyant beat and lush lyric resonated through the Mix Up tent. The Splendour spirit reappeared yet again, as fans sung Eves a belated happy birthday. Closing her set with ‘Couch’ and ‘Further Than The Planes Fly’ Eves’ enticed punters into euphonic trance. Eves Karydas is an artist who’s at the top of her game and is set to continue breaking boundaries!

Taking a slight detour to the Smirnoff Tent, Break Even Records ripped up the garden stage with an array of classic rock n roll and enigmatic electro. An hour-long boogie session soon transpired, farewelling the sun and inviting the evening’s festivities.

Sydney sider, MUTO maintained Sunday’s sweet sensation with his ethereal electro. For his Splendour debut, MUTO shred the Tiny Dancer stage, as hundreds of passionate fans grooved to his soaring soundscapes. The rising muso selected a range of stunning singles from his extensive catalogue, each receiving a vivid live recreation. Witnessing MUTO’s thumpers such as, ‘Through The Fog’ live for the first time was utterly astonishing. The eerie undertones from the studio recording are exquisitely preserved and resonated with my soul. An impeccable stage layout featured a baroque lighting set up that dispersed lavishly through smoke plumes. This grand display was supplemented by a fabricated structure of MUTO’s logo that reacted with each element of the set. Special guests, Thandi Phoenix and Emerson Leif added further support to the extraordinary atmosphere, propelling it deep into the ether. I’ve been a long-time fan of MUTO, so to catch him live for the first time at Splendour In The Grass, was my festival highlight. After witnessing MUTO’s infectious live performance, it’s clear that the producer is well on his way to becoming one of the most sought-after electronic acts within the Australian and International scenes.

MUTO x Thandi Phoenix x Emerson Lief by Savannah van der Niet

The Avalanches made another stupendous Splendour appearance this year! Although the pair performed a DJ set, the atmosphere was almost electric as their live set up. Performing a brew of charismatic originals such as ‘Frontier Psychiatrist’ and ‘Frankie Sinatra’, The Avalanches propelled the Mix Up tent into a frenzy.

After three days of festival fun, delightful dancing, and magnificent music (plus a lack of sleep), I retired to the Amphitheatre hill to watch Kendrick Lamar rock out the final night of Splendour In The Grass 2018. This year’s Splendour was a pleasure to review, thanks to the teams at Scrabble PR, and Secret Sounds for providing an amazing opportunity. I can’t wait to see what the festival has in store for 2019!