Live Review: Splendour In The Grass, Day One - North Byron Parklands

26 July 2014 | 12:18 pm | Bryget Chrisfield

A spiritual festival experience like no other.

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Splendour attendee greetings are more animated and hugs are longer lasting at this festival that attracts music fans from all corners of the country.


The Kite String Tangle (aka Danny Harley) supplies crunchy beats that snap, crackle and pop. His Doogie Howser MD persona is endearing and rumbling bass awakens spleens as punters crane to locate spare dancing space inside the impenetrable Mix Up tent. Live sax elevates and we're surprised by some material that would be happily soaked up on any thumping dancefloor in the am. A surprise cover of Clair De Lune by Flight Facilities is a case of too soon and certainly doesn't usurp the original. Harley welcomes Tiana Khasi to the stage to sing live vocals on a new song, Stone Cold. He may still be considered by many as a try-hard Flume, but The Kite String Tangle's about to soar and, as the harpy outro from his breakout hit Given The Chance fades while ticker tape settles on the ground post-explosion, Splendour is everyone's happy place.
They are selling London Grammar merch on site. What's that about?

"Those who remain are rewarded with diva perfection."

Over on GW McLennan stage, The Strypes are a group of Irish pocket rockets - all gangster suits and oversized vintage aviators. "Is everybody up for it, yeah?" is our constant gee-up from the stage and the way this band thunder back into a groove insists we move. Peter O'Hanlon's harmonica playing (often one-handed) will haul your erogenous zones into overdrive and there are moments when we're begging for mercy. You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover but, in The Strypes' case, you can and the pleasure is all ours.
Kelis hits the stage in swathes of cerise Lycra and Chaka Khan mane. Opening with Trick Me avec live brass equals instant satisfaction. Her selection tonight proves a bit jazzy for some, but those who remain are rewarded with diva perfection. Benny Benassi (ft Kelis)'s Spaceship ("So get high/Get high/Get high/Get high") is an early contender for festival catch cry. Huskiness in Kelis' timbre adds sass and there's not a still booty in the tent when the almost-Calypso rendition of 'Milkshake' drops and sophistication reigns.
This year's Amphitheatre stage set-up is as awe-inspiring as (previous Splendour site) Woodfordia's, with a deep bowl housing thousands and hillsides for the energetic to scale for a natural sight advantage.

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Interpol bring gravitas. Their always intense, galloping music plus Paul Banks' trademark, melancholic-yet-insistent vocals ring with clarity in this outdoor setting. And their dapper outfits (pleasingly) mean they could never be mistaken for punters post-set. They're not for everyone, but excel at what they do.

Back in the Amphitheatre, pre-recorded, "Are you ready?" calls signal OutKast o'clock. And it's straight into Bombs Over Baghdad, with the unbeatable, complementary dual flow of Big Boi and André 3000 immediately demonstrated with aplomb. There's waving hands in the air "like you just don't care" as far as the eye can see.

"Ms Jackson absolutely devastates"

We're thanked for being "loyal to OutKast" in light of their 20-plus years making credible hip hop. Despite a cheesy intro bandying about loadsa different surnames, Ms Jackson absolutely devastates - "Me and your DAUGH-DAH..." Their super-sweet harmonies ("I like the way you move") are simply irresistible.

Big Boi leads a, "Come back 3000!" chant and there are lots of calls out to the lovers in the audience. André 3000 invites chicks up onstage, saying those wearing no underwear can proceed to the front. The stage is littered with eager participants for Hey Ya! which is as spiritual a festival experience as expected. We're propelled back to '94 with Hootie Hoo (have you seen Bad Neighbours? It features impressively on the soundtrack.) A couple of whiffy-themed festival favourites - Roses (the hit of the festival so far) and So Fresh, So Clean - follow and Cut Master Swift is smooth on the ones and twos. And that's a "spank you smelly much" from us for a set that will take some beating across the course of the weekend.