Purple Sneakers Approved: Our unmissable acts playing Splendour In The Grass 2018
From G FLIP to Manu Crooks, here are our picks for unmissable up-and-comers you can and should see at this year's Splendour In The Grass 2018.
Christmas in July is real and that's because, to any fan of music, SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS is better than any Christmas. However, in 2018, they have really stepped their game up. Giving us three diverse headliners in rap legend KENDRICK LAMAR, alt-pop superstar LORDE and everyone's favourite indie darlings VAMPIRE WEEKEND, this year's Splendour lineup is about appealing to all fans of music. On top of that, the lineup's diversity has seen huge improvements in comparison to other festivals, with around 43% of total acts on the bill having some form of non-male representation.
That being said, a really huge part of this lineup's appeal is how clearly it is championing up-and-coming Australian artists - of all genres. This is something Splendour has nailed down to a fine art over recent years. Gone are the days where 12pm was too early to rock up to a festival, as you just might miss the next Lorde or next Vampire Weekend before they inevitably conquer the world. In keeping with that, here are our picks for some unmissable up-and-comers you can and most definitely should see at this year's Splendour In The Grass.
WOODES
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Woodes is coming off of a massive 2017 that saw her enter into a realm that was all her own. Her fantastical and mystifying song-writing coupled with her ethereal and transformative production, as evidenced in tracks like 'Dots' and 'Origami', is a listening experience like no other through a pair of headphones. Naturally, seeing it live on a festival stage will be something to truly behold.
BAKER BOY
With a big smile on his face and flames in his bars, Baker Boy truly made 2017 his own. His irresistible charm and his electrifying energy is palpable through your speakers and he's materialised this into a truly exciting live show. Melting modern hip-hop and traditional Indigenous language - like the Yolngu Matha language we hear him rap with on the all-conquering 'Marryuna' - it's no wonder at all that he had two entries in the Hottest 100 for 2017, and with more music and more shows slated for this year, 2018 is going to be much the same: All about Baker Boy!
G FLIP
We're only a third of the way through 2018, but we already have its definitive star - G Flip. Not many artists experience the completely meteoric rise that this Melbourne singer/songwriter/drummer extraordinaire has had, but G Flip (Georgia Flipo) is handling with ease, humility and a certain spark that has completely captivated not just Australia, but the globe. Need any proof? Take one listen to her only current single, 'About You', and tell us you won't be front and centre for her Saturday Splendour set.
HAIKU HANDS
Every once in a while, a band comes along that truly lets you escape. Haiku Hands have enabled that escapism by being unapologetically and unashamedly fun. While G Flip's similarly titled 'About You' is heartfelt and tender, Haiku Hands' 'Not About You' is one giant, middle finger to their detractors and one giant hug to themselves. It's a raucous, chaotic, self-empowering anthem that is, to put it simply, going to go off.
MANU CROOK$
It must be hard to be the certified standard-setter for Aussie hip-hop so early in your career, but Manu Crook$ doesn't seem bothered one bit. He is, by all definitions, an innovator as he has really contributed to the reshaping and expansion of what the masses consider to be Australian hip-hop. He's making music that is revolutionary for the genre, and he 100% knows it. Making international moves, this year looks set to be his biggest yet, so Splendour In The Grass will be the perfect opportunity to catch him before he's a global superstar (which is exactly where he's headed).
POOLCLVB
Splendour hits us in the year's coldest month, but that won't stop POOLCLVB giving the festival a sweltering, summery feel with his insatiable beats. Everything he creates is drenched in heat and vivid colour, and his You + Me EP is the pinnacle of that. His raison d'être seems to be making beats that are as ready for 2am in the club as they are for 1pm by the pool, and you best believe that - no matter what time of day - they are perfect for Splendour in the Grass.
EBONY BOADU
Sydney's Ebony Boadu is exactly the type of artist 2018 needs. She's outspoken and ambitious, she's constantly giving a voice to the voiceless, she's asserting her feminism and, on top of all of that, her mixes and production are thumping to say the least. She's an outspoken woman of colour in a world dominated by men, but she consistently and fearlessly smashes down any obstacle that gets thrown in her way. She's confident, she's assertive, she has some of the best rap mixes in the game right now, and with her recent foray into releasing her own remixes, she's perfect for Splendour 2018.
ALICE IVY
As far as revolutionising the industry goes, Alice Ivy is running headfirst into the fire. Giving us production that's reminiscent of The Avalanches (another band on the Splendour 2018 lineup) but at the same time completely her own, she has a special way of bringing out the most in her collaborators - like Bertie Blackman and E^ST to name a few - and elevating them to soaring new heights. And extreme altitude is something Alice Ivy better get used to, because her rocket ship keeps flying higher and you'd be silly not to take the ride with her.
Tickets for Splendour In The Grass 2018 go on sale at 9:00am AEST on Thursday 19 April via moshtix.com.au and 1300 Get Tix (438 849).
Peep the full lineup below.
SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2018 LINEUP
Kendrick Lamar
Lorde (only AUS show)
Vampire Weekend (only AUS show)
Khalid (only AUS show)
The Wombats
Hilltop Hoods
CHVRCHES
Miguel
Girl Talk (only AUS show)
Angus & Julia Stone
Gang of Youths
Franz Ferdinand
MGMT
Ben Howard
Dune Rats & Friends
James Bay
PNAU
Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite
The Avalanches DJ set
Chromeo
DMA’S
Ball Park Music
Henry Rollins (only AUS show)
SAFIA
The Jungle Giants
Lil Xan
Methyl Ethel
Amy Shark
The Bronx
Ocean Alley
Carmada (L D R U & Yahtzel)
DZ Deathrays
Lord Huron
Middle Kids
Hockey Dad
Towkio
Cub Sport
Touch Sensitive
Sampa The Great
Dean Lewis
Skegss
Albert Hammond Jr
Mallrat
Marmozets
Alex Lahey
Riton & Kah-Lo
Jack River
Superorganism
Anna Lunoe
Lewis Capaldi
All Our Exes Live In Texas
Alex The Astronaut
Yungblud
Crooked Colours
Nina Las Vegas
Soccer Mommy (only AUS show)
Elderbrook
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
Tim Sweeney
Stella Donnelly
Bully
Baker Boy
Wafia
No Mono
Waax
Angie McMahon
West Thebarton
Eves Karydas
G Flip
The Babe Rainbow
Haiku Hands
Didirri
Alice Ivy
Amyl & The Sniffers
Ziggy Ramo
Fantastic Man
Lo’99
Human Movement
Manu Crook$
Kasbo
Madam X
Andras
Alta
Ara Koufax
Two People
B Wise
Made In Paris
Jensen Interceptor
Woodes
Teischa
Antony & Cleopatra
Muto
Elk Road
triple j Unearthed winners (TBA)
Plus…
Mike Gurrieri
Love Deluxe
Lauren Hansom
Poolclvb
Godlands
Nyxen
Emma Stevenson
Ebony Boadu
Words by JACKSON LANGFORD
Image: Facebook + VISUALSBYRAZAK + Facebook
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