We’re back at the North Byron Parklands for another year of mud, music and back-stage interviews. We’ll be updating this page throughout the day with all the action as it unfolds, as well as covering a few extra little live bits over on our Instagram.
[12:41] Tired Lion take to the Amphitheatre stage for the toughest slot of the festival — the opening set of the first day. But the Perth up-and-coming punks bring enough energy to appease both the early birds and those select few hungover heads who kicked off their festival campaign last night, with the rendition of their Violent Soho / Smashing Pumpkins cover mash-up getting the biggest response.
[14:10] Splendour In the Grass has always had a lot to keep idle minds occupied outside of the music stages, but 2015 has seen a proliferation of distractions scattered amongst the stages. Among some of these are some new attractions. Notably, Cage In A Cage, a pointless if visually striking piece of inflatable art that depicts the artistically-challenged actor Nicholas Cage inside a giant inflatable cage. Also on offer is Yoga Dance, a hippy riff on Jane Fonda’s ‘80s jazzercise, a kid-friendly fantasy-land called Little Splendour and a record store come artist signing tent called Wax Buildup. As usual, Splendour In the Craft (it’s a craft area of course) celebrates all things knitted and sculpted, this year adding a modified horse float to their attractions.
Wax Buildup
Cage Inside a Cage
Little Splendour
Yoga Dance
Splendour in the Craft
[14:40] Small but buzzing crowd convened at the Amphitheatre stage for UK’s Marmozets. Becca Macintyre is a proper commanding frontwoman, moving from mocking on-the-spot jogging gestures to more conventional rock moves (high-kicks and crowd lap-a-longs). Her restless stage antics matching the band’s unmapped mix of energetic, infectious hooks and alt-hardcore pallet even successful in pulling in some of those initially content to sit back on the hill.
Marmozets. Credit: Stephen Booth.
[15:42] Ex-Rilo Kiley Jenny Lewis delivered some classy Americana to a small but appreciative crowd at the G.W. McLennan stage. Resplendent in a white suit, she finished the set with fist pumping, fuzz-drenched guitar solos and a salute to girl-power.
Jenny Lewis
[16:06] Despite being last minute additions to the line-up DZ Deathrays proved their worth — pulling the first decent-sized crowd of the day at the main stage and putting on a blistering loud set that was perfectly suited for the festival format.
DZ Deathrays. Credit: Ian Laidlaw
DZ Deathrays. Credit: Ian Laidlaw
DZ Deathrays. Credit: Ian Laidlaw
[16:28] Client Liaison brought their ’80s retro rhetoric to the Mix-up tent, with just enough doof to the disco to keep the crowd dancing, despite the fact most of the young patrons would’ve been born after the sourced sound was first pioneered. Also would’ve been interesting to see if the nostalgia extended to the passionate pop of horse-chasing hero Daryl Braithwaite, who was rumoured to make an unannounced appearance alongside Client Liaison but cancelled at the last minute.
Client Liaison. Credit: Justin Ma.
[17:15] Former Smiths guitarist, Johnny Marr, stopped by our backstage tent for a quick chat, revealing why he always keeps a $20 note in his back-pocket when playing live. Full video interview up soon.
Johnny Marr
[18:32] Tom Iansek from Big Scary, travelling under his #1 Dads moniker, delivers a stunning set at the GW McLennan tent. Iansek played maestro for his usual rotating roster of guest vocalists, with plenty of passion and surprise sax, ahead closing out the set with an-all choir take of FKA Twigs’ “Two Weeks”.
#1 Dads
#1 Dads. Credit: Ian Laidlaw.
[18:40] Nick Harmer from Death Cab For Cutie stops by to explain what it’s like to have your only set of touring clothes currently smelling like koala urine. Full video interview up soon.
Nick Harmer, Death Cab For Cutie
[19:18] Ahead of his Mix-up set later tonight, Porter Robinson stopped by for a chat, covering everything from his change in musical direction, how he’s not the party guy people think he is and his parents’ reaction when they found out he wasn’t going to University. Full video interview coming soon.
Porter Robinson
[20:35] Death Cab For Cutie put their new five piece lineup through its paces, delivering a perfectly balanced set of hits and more obscure jams from their catalog. Highlights? Set opener “The New Year” from Transatlanticism and “Soul Meets Body” from Plans.
Death Cab For Cutie
Death Cab For Cutie. Credit: Stephen Booth.
[21:27] Under Jason Pierce’s auspicious gaze (hidden by oversized sunglasses) — Spiritualized pumped out a set of mesmerising space rock to a moderately sized but appreciative “dad-rock” audience. They were a band running on their own time, with the highlight being an impassioned “Come Together” from Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space. Running overtime — the band played on, sweetly oblivious to the hand-wringing requests of the frustrated stage manager.
[21:35] Plenty of lights, smoke and magic at Porter Robinson‘s Mix-Up tent set.
Porter Robinson. Credit: Ian Laidlaw.
Porter Robinson. Credit: Ian Laidlaw.
Porter Robinson. Credit: Ian Laidlaw.
[22:45] As the rain starts to come down, Ryan Adams closes out the opening day proceedings on the GW McLennan stage.
Ryan Adams. Credit: Marc Grimwade.
[23:45] Mark Ronson closing out the main stage for the night.
Mark Ronson. Credit: Justin Ma.
