Splendour In The Grass 'Hustling Hard' To Find Replacement Acts

Secret Sounds – the legends behind the annual celebration of music, mates and mud that is Splendour In The Grass – have assured punters they’re “hustling hard” to fill the gaps in this year’s lineup left by Slowthai and Rainbow Kitten Surprise.

The message was conveyed on the official Splendour socials, where it was announced that VIP Village tickets to this year’s festival had sold out. “To those asking,” they wrote, “we’re hustling hard backstage to bring you some awesome lineup updates on Slowthai and RKS [but] it’s a jungle out there!”

As reported last month, Slowthai was quietly taken off the bill following charges of sexual assault in the UK. Rainbow Kitten Surprise, on the other hand, were recently forced to cancel their entire year of touring plans due to an unnamed band member being “in a medical crisis”. 

They opened up to fans in a statement shared on Instagram last month: “To make sure they have the time to get the proper treatment, we have decided to take down the entire year of shows and turn off the lights for now. We do not make this decision lightly, and we know that it will result in a lot of disappointment and concern, but we are a family, and we know that the most important thing we can do right now is to help get everyone healthy.”

The group went on to affirm they won’t “put a timeline on [their] return”, noting: “We have learned the hard way that treating illness during breaks in a band’s schedule isn’t always effective. We will return when we are sure that our dear friend and collaborator is in good health and that we can confidently and consistently show up for you the way you have always shown up for us…

“We are hopeful that one day soon Rainbow Kitten Surprise can return in full glory and pick up where we left off. We know not to take your enthusiasm for our music for granted. So, for now, we bid you farewell and when we meet again soon, we hope that you will give us another chance.”

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A post shared by Rainbow Kitten Surprise (@rksbandofficial)

This year’s Splendour In The Grass will run over the weekend of July 21-23, with Lizzo, Flume and Mumford & Sons billed to headline. Also appearing will be the likes of Lewis Capaldi, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Hilltop Hoods, J Balvin, Sam Fender, IDLES, Little Simz, Tove Lo and 100 Gecs. 

Also in May, the Splendour crew announced the full lineups for its programming at The Forest and Rainbow Bar, two event offerings ancillary to the main festival stages.