Our Splendour In The Grass Top Fives

Splendour In The Grass is fast approaching and we are all very excited for its commencement here at Purple Sneakers HQ!

Throughout my six years as a punter, I've been very lucky to witness many incredible performances by many amazing artists such as MOGWAI (2006), SONIC YOUTH (2006), BLOC PARTY (2007), HOT CHIP (2007), THE MUSIC (2008), SIGUR ROS (2008), FRIENDLY FIRES (2009), THE FLAMING LIPS (2009), PIXIES (2010), FOALS (2010), LCD SOUNDSYSTEM (2010), FLIGHT FACILITIES (2013), as well as countless others.

Due to many members of our team attending this year's event, I decided a collaborative Splendour In The Grass top fives was essential, in order to find out the artists everyone is frothing over seeing the most!

Here, our awesome contributors Jess Holton, Lauren Payne, Alex Whitney, Hannah Galvin and Adriana Barro have listed their top five artists to see, tracks to hear and tips for Splendour 2014!

To start off, here are my own top fives!

Artists To See:

1. DARKSIDE
2. CHROME SPARKS
3. JUNGLE
4. THE ACID
5. FUTURE ISLANDS

Tracks To Hear:

1. FOSTER THE PEOPLE - Pumped Up Kicks (always provides that special sort of festival atmosphere)
2. DARKSIDE - Freak, Go Home (with added vocals)
3. LONDON GRAMMAR - Metal & Dust (sounded epic at Falls Festival)
4. ROLAND TINGS - Floating On A Salt Lake
5. CHROME SPARKS - Enter The Chrome Forest

Splendour Tips:

1. Never underestimate the quality of talent on the smaller stages.
2. Eat a large meal in the middle of each day.
3. Check out the market stores. There is always heaps of cool shit on offer!
4. Minimise your sugary drinks. Your body will be thankful for it on the Sunday!
5. The smallest good deed you do for someone could make their day! If the time arises, help a fellow attendee out!

JESS HOLTON

Artists To See:

1. OUTKAST
2. CITY & COLOUR
3. KELIS
4. GROUPLOVE
5. MOTEZ

Tracks To Hear:

1. KELIS - Milkshake
2. OUTKAST - The Way You Move
3. METRONOMY - Heartbreaker
4. THE JEZABELS - Disco Biscuit Love (just to see my friend lose his shit)
5. GROUPLOVE - Tongue Tied

Splendour Tips:

1. Be sure to leave with some sort of new cocktail concoction that you and your mates have made up. Personally mine has been the 'Surfers Paradise' since Splendour 2010 - two parts goon, one part peach vodka and a splash of pineapple juice.
2. You must only sing Lionel Richie songs while waiting near the blow up version of the crooner for your friends.
3. Learn all of the words to 'Ms. Jackson' before you see Outkast so you don't embarrass yourself in a rap battle with me.
4. Take a pair of Doc Martens with you in case there is a weird hail storm for 30 minutes like in 2012.
5. When in doubt, eat your feelings. It'll mean you will eat something amazing.

LAUREN PAYNE

Artists To See:

1. OUTKAST
2. THE PREATURES
3. ART VS SCIENCE
4. ROLAND TINGS
5. MOTEZ

Tracks To Hear:

1. OUTKAST - Ms Jackson
2. SAGE THE GEMINI - Gas Pedal (MOTEZ Edit)
3. ART VS SCIENCE - Magic Fountain
4. DANNY BROWN - Dip
5. THE CREASES - Static Lines

Splendour Tips:

1. Have one thing that defines you and your friends in case you're lost and phones are useless.
2. Resist the urge to jump into the middle of puddles as it does eventually dry and irritate you severely!
3. If you're a rookie (like I will be) always have a map.
4. Don't plan anything. Let the day take you anywhere.
5. Be prepared for anything (because you let the day take you anywhere).

ALEX WHITNEY

Artists To See:

1. OUTKAST
2. INTERPOL
3. METRONOMY
4. CHVRCHES
5. NGUZUNGUZU

Tracks To Hear:

1. OUTKAST doing anything unexpected.
2. VIOLENT SOHO - Covered In Chrome
3. COURTNEY BARNETT - Avant Gardener
4. FUTURE ISLANDS' front man screaming.
5. Any song INTERPOL play off 'Turn On The Bright Lights'.

Splendour Tips:

1. Wear comfy shoes you don't care about.
2. Get in early to get a good spot in the campground.
3. Drink lots of water.
4. Eat lots of food.
5. See lots of bands.

HANNAH GALVIN

Artists To See:

1. RY-X
2. VIOLENT SOHO
3. D.D DUMBO
4. PARQUET COURTS
5. TUNE-YARDS

Tracks To Hear:

1. OUTKAST - Ms Jackson
2. CASSIUS SELECT - Bruv
3. THE ACID - Basic Intinct
4. BLACK VANILLA - Call Your Husband
5. DUSTIN TEBBUTT - The Breach

Splendour Tips:

1. An absolute must is witnessing the Gyuto Monks of Tibet chant during sunset at the Lotus Palace. The beautifully natured, gentle syndicate will leave you in complete awe.
2. Don't be afraid to meet new people! Splendour is your life and home for (at least) three days so you may as well get to know the neighbourhood.
3. Learn to sacrifice. Yeah timetable clashes are the worst but you won't experience the magic of a performance by leaving it halfway to cop the exact same tale at a stage 500m away.
4. Don't be that guy filming an entire set via a smartphone. Nobody likes that guy.
5. If you're staying in Byron, go to Slice Pizzeria on Jonson St at the end of the night and treat yo'self. What the fuck is a kebab anyway?

ADRIANA BARRO

Artists To See:

1. OUTKAST
2. FRACTURES
3. D.D DUMBO
4. COURTNEY BARNETT
5. VIOLENT SOHO

Tracks To Hear:

1. PHANTOGRAM - Fall In Love
2. OUTKAST - Ms Jackson
3. KELIS - Milkshake
4. DANNY BROWN - Dip
5. TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB - I Can Talk

Splendour Tips:

1. Check your shoes don’t have holes in them, *before* entering giant fields of mud.
2. Always camp with someone who knows how to set up a tent to avoid waking up at near-suffocation stage in the middle of the night when a tent collapses on your face.
3. Embrace the mud, embrace the rain.
4. Bring 3x the amount of socks you were planning to bring.
5. Don’t climb stuff while intoxicated.

Compiled by Tony Kingston

SEE ALSO:

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS ROADTRIP PLAYLIST

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2014 LINE UP

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS RUMOUR MILL