Global Village
Free your mind and the rest will follow. Splendour’s Global Village is back to present all things whimsical, healing, and cultural to dial up your Splendour experience!
In its new expanded location near the GW McLennan Stage, you can explore an eclectic mix of offerings. Global Village Is home to some of Byron’s most skilled and gifted healers, massage therapists and tarot readers at the Healing Sanctuary. Head to the Village Markets to check out a cool mix of local designers and culinary wizards! At World Stage you’ll witness amazing live music that speaks of positive change for our world, inspired by the cultural traditions from all corners of the globe. Over at The Bohemian Lounge you’ll be entertained by creative circus comedy, cheeky cabaret, live music, and performance art. In the Village Green, you’re invited to connect with the wisdom of our First Nations custodians, tune in for some serious sound therapy, watch our artist in residence create a live artwork, join for African sunset drumming, or meet your mates for spicy marghies at the Trouble San Bar!
The World Stage
From Meanjin to Mali, join us to celebrate the cultural melting pot that is Australia’s musical landscape!
Repping all corners of our planet are the artists performing at the 2023 edition of World Stage. You’ll discover new sounds, eclectic instruments, modern technology mixed with ancient concepts, rap, spoken word, DJs, performance art, and trailblazing contemporary Indigenous music like no other. Journey around the globe right here at World Stage.
Representing nations from Senegal, Cuba, Mali, Guinea, Gambia and Australia, Ausecuma Beats is more than just a band, they are a philosophy. Led by their fearless bandleader and master djembe player, Boubacar Gaye, the nine-strong ensemble demonstrate what can happen when a group of artists come together based on an idea – in this case, the idea of transplanting cultural heritage into a contemporary setting. The band showcases what happens when people from the farthest flung corners of the world find themselves living shoulder to shoulder in a new environment. The result is nine unique individuals, each master of their own craft, working together to create something exciting. Join with them as they showcase the sound of our community at World Stage.
Sydney born, Northern Rivers based, Mylee Grace kicks your shins with music that’s sunshine sweet and beatdown gutter-street all at the same time. With a sound that triumphs over the ordinary, joy and melancholy are her playthings as she moves between meaning and mayhem, poetry and pandemonium, life learnings and shedding skins. Grace’s troupe are her revolving musical friends and family, with whom she has defined the sound of alt-country-tinged modern folk. Off the back of her debut solo album, Whiplash in the Moshpit, Grace and her revolving band will return to Splendour to perform at World Stage.
Irish singer-songwriter Áine Tyrrell cradles the spirit of her native homeland, slamming foot to floorboards in both celebration and protest. Her songs are a call to arms wrapped in ancient wisdoms for this modern world. Refusing to be boxed by the music industry with their narrow definition of Irish folk, she is reclaiming and redefining her rise every step of the way with her genre ‘Irish as Fuck’. Her live set moves from singing in Irish, acoustic guitars, powerful vocals, to spoken word and hip hop – all unified by the fierce fire in her belly. Don’t miss the very thing you need. Áine Tyrrell is an unmissable live act and joins us at Splendour’s World Stage.
With electrifying live performances that leave audiences spellbound, rapper, drummer, composer, and producer DOBBY is a true force of nature. Proudly identifying as a Filipino and Aboriginal musician, DOBBY’s roots run deep in the Murrawarri and Ngemba lands of Weilmoringle and Brewarrina, NSW. DOBBY composed all the soundscapes for PARRTJIMA 2021 and 2022 in Alice Springs, NT and has performed at some of the biggest festivals across the country. His music is more than just entertainment; his song I CAN’T BREATHE won Best Video at the FBi SMAC Awards in 2020 and has become an anthem for Australia’s Bla(c)k Lives Matter movement and used in schools to educate students on the struggles faced by marginalised communities. 2022 brought yet another accolade for DOBBY when he was awarded the NIMA Archie Roach Foundation Award, which recognises emerging First Nations artists who show exceptional talent and promise in their chosen field. With his unique signature “drapping” style, DOBBY seamlessly blends rapping and drumming to create a sound that is entirely his own. Prepare for a live experience like no other when he hits the World Music stage at Splendour.
If you’re yet to be acquainted to rising hip-hop force Narli, let us quickly get you up to speed. The Bundjalung Yaegl rapper from New South Wales’s north has blossomed into an act to watch with work that is both poetic and promising, mixing together focused hip-hop with deeply potent, personal messages. His music explores the depth of the world around him and honours his journey to where he is today, from community to the people that have uplifted his every move. Narli’s latest release, Take Land is a song dedicated to his ancestors and the family he’s built around him.
Think Anderson Paak x The Chats x Aunty Donna and you’re getting close to Versace Boys, a duo who create sun drenched soul mixed with hip hop and froth. Making fun of life, Versace Boys make bedroom soul, pop, surf-hop music that will make you sing, dance, and laugh so much that you will cry a little bit. They lace their shows with freestyle cheekiness, rowdy bangers, and a whole heap of anecdotes about being incredibly rich, famous, and humble. They’ve hit the stage in support of Bobby Alu, Caravana Sun, Genesis Owusu and Flight Facilities, and played at festivals Rabbits Eat Lettuce, Caper and Bohemian Beatfreaks. With new EPs ready to drop soon, now it’s Splendour’s turn as they hit World Stage.
East Coast natives Tyler, and twins Adam and Nash, are folk indie trio Nana’s Pie. They’ve spent the past five years focusing on writing and blending an array of sounds to create a captivating and energetic live set, combining coastal laid-back vibes with their enthusiasm for life. A live performance from Nana’s Pie leaves audiences with the feeling they’ve witnessed talent far exceeding their age. These boys are chasing one thing, and that’s the opportunity to take their audience on a musical journey. Be sure to catch this band on the rise at Splendour’s World Stage.
Fresh off their 2023 QLD Music Awards nominated single Break It Down, and touring with world-renowned band Katchafire, Tjaka have proved to be a must-see act whenever, and wherever they play. Proud descendants of the Jabirr Jabirr tribe in the Western Australian Kimberley, Brisbane/Meanjin based Tjaka fuse modern technology with ancient sounds to create a contemporary Indigenous experience like no other. Tjaka draw musical inspiration from genres such as hip hop, reggae, and electronic music, using them as channels to present Indigenous music in a way that has not been heard before.
Kooii’s irresistible music is all oceanic groove that draws from African and reggae roots. Horns, vocal harmonies, and jazz bring a wildness to their music as their songs seek and find belonging, joy, and freedom. Each member weaves together to carry a feeling of this country – think Hugh Masekela meets Sting, Ernest Ranglin vs Jimi Hendrix and The Wailers jamming with Tina (RIP) and you’re getting close. Their shining musicianship and improvisation will inspire you when they hit Splendour’s World Stage.
Shai Shriki is an Israeli vocalist, Oud and guitar player and composer who merges contemporary music to traditional sounds from the Middle East, and Hebrew songs with Spanish guitar. His passion is world music, with Shai mostly writing in Hebrew as his first language. Shai believes that the unique sound of traditional instruments and songs invoke deep emotions and the fusion of cultures with sound similarities, can be a meeting and bridging place for all people to live in harmony alongside.
Bringing together music, visual art and dance is Liquidelic, a unique collaborative live performance art project featuring three highly skilled artists. At World Stage they’ll present a visually stunning analogue liquid light projection show over choreographed dance pieces, with a soundtrack of hybrid live original music. Members Yao Mikami (visuals) and Karen Minami (dance) infuse this modern production with inspiration from their Japanese cultural heritage, while Tim Parry (music) brings contemporary music composition to the ensemble. It is common for audience members to be moved to tears during the show which has been described as “powerful colour-therapy” and “incredible, the highest form of art”.
Uplifting, soulful and euphoric, Dubarray combine a fresh fusion of world music that infuses trip-hop, funk, reggae, dancehall, drum and bass, house and tribal grooves all layered on a bed of electronic ambience. Dubarray kicked off their journey in Europe seven years ago, building solid foundations thanks to a busy live touring schedule. During that time the band have released four albums, returned to tour Europe five times, and have hit the Australian road for numerous national tours. Dubarray have been nominated for various awards, been featured on triple j’s Roots ‘n All program and scored a lot of love from community radio. They’ll bring their blissful power and organic undertones to Splendour’s World Stage.
From the raw, roots-driven frequencies of Aotearoa (New Zealand) comes SUB-TRIBE! Rolling in with bottom heavy grooves, glitchy beats and soaring harmonies, expect to be taken on a sonic journey. With their music mash up of everything from dub drenched blues and chunky roots reggae to jazz hop and ragga dancehall, SUB-TRIBE leave no groove base unturned. Don’t miss this seven-piece dub-fusion outfit when they bring their captivating, high-energy performance, and feel-good vibes to Splendour’s World Stage.
Fresh from winning the 2023 QUBE Effect, The Dandys, are the alt-rock newcomers to look out for. Hailing from sunny Meanjin, the four-piece are making a huge impact wherever they go. Capturing audiences with a commanding presence, on-stage antics, and an unapologetic attitude, Meanjin darlings The Dandys are on the rise, so jump on the wave and ride with them.
DJ, environmentalist, activist, and facilitator, Dakini is globally renowned for her refined ear and impeccable taste. An underground festival culture pioneer, she has been a pivotal part of global electronic music festival culture in Australia and the USA since 2000. Living between California and Australia and having played on most continents in her multi decade DJ career, Dakini is known to move any dancefloor with an infectious deep bassline and global sounds. Catch her playing at Splendour’s World Stage this July.
The DJs (and chefs) from Brunswick Heads new Japanese culinary sensation Trouble San will set the mood with eclectic beats to match the stylish yet naughty ambiance of their Global Village food offering. Serving up a perfect blend of flavour and music, standby for amazing Japanese tapas and delightful cocktails accompanied by the best local beats to keep you warm during the chilly Splendour nights.
The Bohemian Lounge
If you love a side order of cabaret, performance art, and empowerment with your main festival experience, head directly to The Bohemian Lounge, an eclectic hideaway that’s home to an amazing bunch of artists and performers! Located in a cosy corner of Global Village, here you can get amongst some boundary-smashing music performers, ditzy drag, circus comedy, improvised jazz jams, and much more!
Born in Fiji and now based between Sydney and Byron Bay, guitarist Mosese Parker has a passion for music deeply rooted in global rhythms. For this special performance in The Bohemian Lounge, Mosese will team up with the incredible Fire Jammers – Bo Pang (sax), Will Endicott (trumpet), Rob Ewan (bass), Carlos Adura (drums) and Andrew Scott (keys) – to create music woven from the rich tapestry of ska, New Orleans hip hop and jazz.
Swampy post-punk duo Sacred Hearts are a Meanjin/Brisbane based act making music that is smashing boundaries. The group are a nonbinary and female line-up making space for women in music. Proudly queer and politically engaged, the band reject love songs, instead writing about the grits of the female experience; mental illness, addiction, liberation and anti-christianity. In July 2021, the duo released their debut single, Glamour Girls, a blend of haunting vocals with accented bass and hypnotic guitar riffs which scored national radio play and mentions in international and local magazines. Most recently the band have recorded with Ian Haug of Powderfinger, Joe Agius of Hatchie/Rinse/The Creases, Fabrika Records of Greece, Cleopatra Records of Los Angeles, and Mark Thwaite of The Mission.
Absorbing and guiding the spiritual energy of any room or open space, jazz trio Sugar Leaves use an experimental approach to musically engage with their audience. Each immersive performance begins as a blank slate, whereby each listener participates in the creation of improvised music – all in real time. Within this format, each performance becomes an unrepeatable, singular, and totally unique listening experience. Items like wood blocks, tambourines, and shakers will be available so the audience may join in, jamming along freely and at their leisure.
The No Frills Twins are not your average pop duo. Lismore born twins Vanessa and Arna Rogers are true advocates for unapologetic self-expression and have inspired many over the years. Fearlessly, these two dynamic songstresses take on challenging topics in their music (like body image and mental health) – breaking stigmas and creating connection with their listeners. The sisters mesh haunting semi-operatic vocal styles, danceable beats, heartfelt harmonies, and soaring pop melodies. From humble beginnings, the sisters are ecstatic to announce the release of their first full length album Aquarius – a body of anthemic hyper pop tracks; a new chapter in the distinctive soundscape of the No Frills Twins. They will be debuting their brand-new songs at Splendour!
Intended to titillate, make your jaws drop, and always entertain is the legendary Cheeky Cabaret presented by local institution Brunswick Picture House. Brunswick Heads had no idea what to expect when the Picture House flung opened its doors with Cheeky Cabaret, an outrageous, genre-bending, two-hour adult variety show. Its reputation has since spread like wildfire with its often weird but always fabulous line-up selling out every month and attracting international artists who would ordinarily play much bigger stages. We’re thrilled to be bringing this cracker of a show back to The Bohemian Lounge at Splendour! Think you’ve seen it all? Think again…
Gamilaraay artist Sophie May and director performer Gabrielle Miller are HOTMESS, a multidisciplinary performance art duo offering audiences healthy escapism. Designed to ignite your creative fire, they are set to immerse you in a fictional world, using costume, sound, lighting, and stories and for Splendour this year, a unique and interactive, live art experience. Sophie lives and creates on Bundjalung Country, working with ceramic sculpture, mixed media painting, and runs interactive, expressive art workshops for children and adults. Gabrielle bringing ingenuity to the stage and screen through music, dance, acting, puppetry, and mask. HOTMESS was created during the NSW floods as an escape from the hardship, grief, and exhaustion their community were all experiencing. Drop into their world of absurdity at The Bohemian Lounge.
Sophie deLightful is more than familiar with cabaret on a festival paddock. From Woodford to Rainbow Serpent, she understands what festival crowds want and need (even if they don’t know it themselves). With a history that includes touring an international circus troupe across the east coast of Australia, producing GLOW Fest, her own circus arts, and lifestyle event, and creating a mobile circus company Curbside Carnies, this woman knows entertainment. Now a Queensland local, it’s time for Splendour in the Grass to experience her magic.
Graduates of the infamous Spaghetti Circus are proud to present their newest production – SUITable circus! These performers are ready to suit up and bring you a filing cabinet full of tricks. This office-orientated extravaganza is full of acrobatics, contortion and juggling that will leave you spinning in your ergonomic chair. Watch as performers, dressed in their finest suits, challenge you to think outside the cubicle with some office-ially amazing skills and hilarious comedy skits that will leave you wondering, “Should I quit my day job?”
Illegally Blonde is a ditzy and hilarious drag production show, starring Poppy Maurie, Becky, and Terry Daktyl along with special guests. The Queens will explore money, materialistic items, men and then maybe women, all while performing along to your nostalgic classics swell as some new bangers. Gather your gal pals, pop a bottle of bubbly, and find out if blondes really do have more fun!
iNTRODUCING NGARINDINDI DANCE GROUND
New to Splendour this year, we are honoured to share with you the Ngarindindi Dance Ground, a completely Indigenous led program in the Global Village. This space will activate for three hours each day and showcase the traditional songs and dances of five regional dance groups as they share the stories that are at the heart of their Culture. There will also be opportunities for festival patrons to participate in dance workshops, listen to the local lore stories and join in yarn circles that invite you to connect more deeply with our local First Nations Culture.
Featuring: Mirrigingi Dancers + Birin Dancers + Gumbanynggirr Nguranga Dancers + Muggera Dancers + The Kinship Dancers
VILLAGE GREEN ATTRACTIONS
West African performer, dancer, and teacher, Gabriel Otu grew up on the beaches of Ghana’s South Coast. There he started traditional African dance at the ripe young age of 7 and followed in his father’s footsteps playing percussion, singing, and carving djembes. Gabriel spent 10 years travelling Ghana with his profession and in 2008 made the leap to Australia to share with us the joys of his culture. He now calls Byron Bay his home and will bring his joyful, uplifting sunset drumming back to delight all at Global Village.
Prepare to dance like no-one’s watching with That’s My Jam – an inclusive, fun-loving community of bad ass women that LOVE to dance. Local to the Byron region, these inspiring women celebrate diversity in age, shape and skill and dance without judgement to the most fierce and fun tunes. That’s My Jam is the ego free, uplifting mecca every dance enthusiast has been waiting for…here you’ll find squad goals for days! Get your booty along to their hip-shaking, self-lovin’, endorphin inducing workshop, followed by a powerful performance, starring you!
Welcome to a uniquely transformative experience – the Sound of Being led by Sound Healing Australia co-founder, Matty Rainbow. Immerse yourself in a vibrant tapestry of healing vibrations that permeate your body, mind, and spirit. Unwind your mind with breath and get ready to travel to a place of deep peace and renewal through the magic of Sound of Being!
Sonic alchemist April Swift is dedicated to holding a nurturing, safe, and loving space for people to tap into their expansive being, bringing about transformation and empowerment. April’s Shamanic Star Sound Journeys weave crystalline frequencies of sound using pure quartz crystal singing bowls, Tibetan bowls, Gong, and other Shamanic instruments, channelled in vocal sound harmonics, to fire up your body and soul. Expect profound relaxation, healing, and insights, as your body awakens.
Step away from the main action and join Lindy Sims for a sound healing experience that will reset your energy and bring new life into your mind body and soul! You’ll transcend into a state of pure bliss with the crystal bowl elements of earth, fire, air, water. The perfect session to enjoy a little ‘me time’, relax, unwind, and come to a sense of peace at the Village Green.
MLAK (Karlee Mackey) came to fame early in her life as one of Australia’s first female professional surfers and has now turned her focus to art. Having sold out various exhibitions around the world, Karlee is now a Byron local and loves drawing on her local landscape for inspiration. Influenced by painter Jean Michel Basquiat, her dynamic art shape shifts to adapt to any space, like her personality, and is heavily female inspired with symbolism woven into her works. MLAK will be in residence in the Global Village over the whole festival drawing inspiration from the festival itself to create a large-scale painting. This is a unique opportunity to see behind the art into the unique process of creation.
Prepare to have your mind opened and body limbered up! Simba is a wild ancient warrior who will ignite your spirit with his flaming swords, whips, and staffs. Feel his powerful warrior finesse as he slices through space and time, taking you on a performative journey through darkness and light. Simba and his fire troupe pride themselves on creating performative experiences which not only emote but deeply inspire. Presenting a fusion of ancient Yogic and Daoist movements which increase flexibility, strength, stability, energy, and awareness, these primal yoga movements stem from the foundations of yoga and qigong.
Experienced yoga teacher Lauren Cuthbert will guide you through Zen Thai Flow yoga, a unique and somatic form of yoga that grounds you into your body with loving self-touch, bodywork, and connection. Lauren has had more than seven years of yoga teaching, training extensively with the creator of this practice (Gwynn Williams) and has facilitated hundreds of people across Australia to move in unified ways. Join the flow!
Part aviatrix, part dominatrix, The Hosties are a physical theatre ensemble piloting quirky, interactive, and visually captivating performance pieces and they’re coming into land at Global Village. Inspired by pop culture and human nature, they channel the airline glamour of yesteryear with 21st century sass. The Hosties serve beauty, humour, and a touch of the absurd from their well-stocked drinks cart.
trouble san
Need another guilty festival pleasure? Trouble San is it. Perhaps you’ve heard the legendary tales about their mouthwatering restaurant in Brunswick Heads. Renowned for a menu where daring Japanese meets seductive cocktails, it’s traditional with a promiscuous twist.
Want in? Make your way to the Global Village to experience this new Splendour addition for yourself. And if you dine while the sun sets, expect the Trouble San DJs to spin eclectic beats while you sink into a sensory journey that will always leave you wanting more.
The Forest
Get ready to chase the bass at The Forest. Splendour’s favourite haven for underground and alternative beats returns to present boundary-busting sonic and visual delights by DJ’s, producers, performers, and artists who will bring a fun sense of adventure to your festival.
From organic sounds, psytrance, glitch hop and signature drum and bass, to full-tilt techno, The Forest is an electronic music wonderland. Throw in internationally recognised visual design, pyrotechnics, contemporary dance, and ritual transformative artworks, and all your frequencies are covered.
DJs AND PRODUCERS (A - Z)
Abel Toro has been synonymous with the electronic music scene from day one. The Sydney born DJ of Spanish origin first came to our attention in the 90’s. Abel has played alongside The Chemical Brothers and Primal Scream. As a music producer/remixer, his credits include Sophie Monk, Olli Wisdom (Space Tribe), Funk D’Void (UK) and Paul Mac.
Her heart has always cooked to the tune of grimey acid techno, however once the bass scene brewed its way into her kitchen, Captain Cooked found her tastebuds tantalised by deep dubs and dark drum and bass – mashing it up with her love of the dark forest and organic sounds of her indigenous roots. With special appearances in the underground music scene across southeast QLD and further north, Captain Cooked enjoys mixing these flavours, and she does it with HEAT. Lately she’s been spicing up her sonic meals with a little experimental bass goodness. Expect some old school mixed up with the new. It’s safe to say, the kitchen’s not all that’s cookin’!
Get ready for a healthy blend of organic beeps influenced by the unique textures of life on the Australian east coast. From sunset to sunrise, Doppel brings sounds of global house and techno, as well as jazz, metal and blues and everything in-between. In 2021 Doppel’s debut album, Eucalyptograph marked a milestone, collecting immense support from afar, whilst he electrified crowds at sold out tour shows in his home country. Doppel has featured on triple j’s Mix Up with an hour of original material, and his live performances continuously grace stages at Rainbow Serpent, Earth Frequency, Subsonic Music Festival, Rabbits Eat Lettuce, Strawberry Fields and Dragon Dreaming, and clubs up and down Australia’s East coast.
From dirty bass grooves to the fusion of acoustic instruments and grand cinematic break downs, the sound of Dysphemic is an eclectic sonic journey. Every set is strictly 100% original music and an evolving multi-genre spectacle spanning dubstep, glitch hop, bass house, and drum and bass. From being credited by Vice Magazine for pioneering classical dubstep to having his album, Zeus listed as one of the most overlooked albums of 2017 by Reddit, he has continued to expand the minds of listeners around the globe with his unique take on dance music. His track Snake King was used by GoPro and broadcast to millions of viewers during the 2019 Tour de France.
From deep in the wilderness of the east coast of Australia, Fraktal Faerie is ready to take you on a psychedelic journey through heavy basslines and melodic leads. With her tasty flavour of full-power prog and psytrance, Lacey-Marie Hay has played in most states throughout Australia and performed alongside some of the biggest psytrance acts in the electronic music scene. With an acoustic background and an ear for music, Fraktal Faerie heads to The Forest with her massive, choppy basslines and a love for igniting a big crowd of people to dance.
Seasoned beat mixologist FR3AKY has quickly carved her way onto the scene as a performer and DJ, captivating crowds along the east coast with her signature drum and bass flavour. Her sets are vigorous and versatile, whilst finding the perfect mix of stank face drops and captivating vocals. FR3AKY uses a unique blend of heavy hitting basslines whilst incorporating a nice mix of hard techno beats to make for the perfect switch up to keep the dance floor on its toes. Once you get a taste, you’ll be addicted to the FR3AKY flavour. This is some hot girl shit you don’t want to miss.
Techno, tech house and house music – with a generous helping of acid – are the driving forces behind Gez’s hugely popular, thumping sets. Obsessed with dance music since the 90s Gez was an instrumental part in creating some of the iconic early doofs in the hinterland of Byron Shire. She made her DJ debut in 2018 and quickly gained a reputation for being able to rock the dancefloor, playing at festivals such as Earth Frequency, Bohemian Beatfreaks, Jungle Love, Firefly and Mi Casa Su Casa. She’s also bought her full-tilt techno to events such as Lab Leaked Beats, Equinox Tribal Gathering, Electric Avenue, and to Hobart clubs during the Dark Mofo Festival. In The Forest, Gez will smash every track.
Hailing from the beautiful coastal town of Lennox Head, NSW, Jamie Lowe has honed his skills and developed a signature sound that blends tech house and techno with his own unique style. Known for his infectious energy on stage Jamie has played at some of the most notable clubs and festivals in the area, leaving a lasting impression on any audience with every performance. When not behind the decks, Jamie can be found in the studio producing new tracks and remixes that showcase his creativity and versatility as an artist. Jamie continues to push boundaries and is set to deliver an unforgettable experience for you in The Forest.
LilxBit is an American Producer / DJ in Australia who is turning it up and turning it upside down!
For over 10 years, the mysterious Australia-based, USA born DJ has been mesmerising crowds across the world with his magic sets. LilxBit experiments with different electronically produced sounds and rhythms; unlocking new levels of consciousness and tapping into the universal heartbeat of the universe so you can shake your hips to their limits. He says, “I chose the name ‘LilxBit’ (Little Bit) because I want people to expect a little bit of this and a little bit of that.” Having played at Rabbits Eat Lettuce and a range of festivals, doofs and gigs around Byron Bay, the LilxBit set at The Forest is worth catching.
Producer / DJ MatiJo’s live sets are filled with non-stop, heavy bass tracks known to keep the dance floor pumping! In 2018, MatiJo released her first original remix, Silver Tongue and has since become a well-recognised name across the New South Wales and Queensland music scene. MatiJo has entertained crowds at several well-known indoor and outdoor festivals, clubs, and boat parties, and makes her Splendour debut at The Forest.
Known for his diverse range of sounds that blend his roots in dub, jungle, and reggae with his love for electronic music, Moe Aloha was influenced by his travels across Europe where he discovered the captivating power of techno and house music. He has always gravitated towards music that creates a sense of community while remaining energetically charged and anti-mainstream. Moe’s passion for creating meaningful art has led him to organise underground events, with The Celestial Gathering, now entering its fifth year. This summer, Moe has enchanted festivalgoers with sets at Elements, Bohemian Beatfreaks, and Yumaanda. As leader of Burning Seed theme camp The Temple of Boom for the past seven years, Moe has curated carefully selected tracks that transcend genres, taking the crowd on an exhilarating journey filled with soulful techno and psychedelic house.
DJ and embodiment devotee R.I.A is a woman on a mission to free your soul through music and movement. Renowned across Australia and NZ as a leading conscious dance DJ and facilitator, she liberates bodies with club-style sets. Currently based in Byron Bay, R.I.A. has performed at local and international festivals and events such as Burning Man, Earth Frequency, Rainbow Serpent, Rabbits Eat Lettuce, Nudge Nudge Wink Wink, and clubs and festivals across the French Alps. Head to The Forest to witness her energetic performance mixing the best of world fusion, afro-house, organic house, and more.
Hailing from Byron Bay is visionary DJ and music producer TAYA. who has redefined the electronic music industry. With an illustrious 25-year career, he effortlessly creates trends rather than follows them. Drawing inspiration from icons like Dubfire and Trentemoller, TAYA.’s fusion of deep, dark, and organic melodic house enchants audiences with irresistible basslines and pulsating rhythms. With authenticity and unrivalled talent, he commands respect in the industry, captivating fans across the globe and dominating Australia’s club circuit. TAYA. shines as a true luminary, ceaselessly pushing boundaries and evolving his sound, leaving an indelible mark on the music world.
Join the Clitoverse! THEMZY is known for their sexy, sleazy, and fun music that brings big beats and high energy to the dance floor. With their unique sound and provocative style which is a mix of house, tech house and bass house, THEMZY has gained a strong following along the mid north coast of NSW. With a desire to create a space where everyone can let loose and have a good time, their free-spirited set is sure to get the crowd moving. THEMZY’s music is not just about entertainment, it’s about liberation and self-expression.
Trip Syndicate is the new progressive psytrance project from Julius Koch.
who founded Torusphere. Trip Syndicate is a bit slower at 135bpm and a fun, chunky more daytime style of music. Julius aims to fill your heart and minds, while delivering some solidly funky basslines with layers of psychedelic sounds to take you on a journey inside and out.
He says, “It’s all made with love, and I can’t wait to share my newest sounds with you.” Meet Trip Syndicate at The Forest.
From the creative hive-mind of Tetrameth and Shadow Fx comes a slick psychedelic symbiosis of punk-rock attitude and unspoken artistic communication. Twisted Sibling brothers James and Peter Haze present a concoction of hypnotic groove driven progressive, derived from their shared DNA. These slightly unhinged, creative maniacs share a creative understanding, and deliver a signature musical experience that commands attention, and summons a serious throw-down. Prepare for some A-grade progressive psy-trance from two of Australia’s psy/prog-pioneers.
Twitch (Zenon Records) is a captivating DJ and aspiring producer with a pure love for music, dancing and losing herself in the flow of trance. She’s a master tune selector whose full-powered passion and naturally cheeky vitality rubs off on the dance floor. Heavily influenced by her own mysticism, she gravitates to organic sounds mixed with spacey frequencies and swampy throbbing sub bass. Twitch likes to take you on an electric wonderland, navigating light to dark, and allowing the duality to be explored playfully. You can expect to hear her play Zenon bangers, from bush-prog to dark-prog with divine feminine energy!
Tight, offbeat grooves erupt into rolling 16th basslines, weightless melodies seeping through the lights and shadows of a vast stereo panorama. Welcome to the world of Unseen Dimensions, the Mexican-Australian producer who creates a dynamic state of tension between deep hypnotism and uplifting euphoria. In other words, it never gets boring when he’s behind the decks! This is the obvious reason why Unseen Dimensions is a frequent guest at international festivals and parties. Get ready to step into his progressive trance universe when he joins us at The Forest.
Wilma’s journey began with a flair for orchestral cello as an industrious youth touring the world. In London in her early 20’s Wilma discovered a passion for dance music, leading to collaboration, live performances, production, and DJ sets at the highest level, bridging the length and breadth of the electronic music scene, from progressive and melodic house to deep rolling bassline and wicked techno. Wilma’s hybrid DJ sets with electric cello have captivated crowds across the festival scene from Rainbow Serpent to Burning Man. She has carved a personal sound that cannot be replicated and has seen Wilma grow into one of Australia’s most unique and inspiring artists.
Kicking off her DJ career back in Japan in 2017, Yurina quickly gained a loyal following, captivating the crowd with her signature mix of deep and dark baselines. Yurina’s passion for dark psytrance and her craft is undeniable, her skill at blending together different styles of music have earned her rave festival reviews from fans and industry insiders alike. Yurina is now a sought-after DJ, playing at events and festivals up and down the east coast of Australia, spreading her love of the dark psytrance sound to anyone who will listen.
Z.i.V is an Israeli born, world-wide tune slinger and musician, based in Byron Bay, Australia. Kicking off his music career as a teen punk rocker, in 2009, Z.i.V developed an ear for big bass, delivering quality, massive bass-y vibrations with live elements throughout his sets at trance parties in India. Z.i.V quickly earnt a name for himself within the trance scene and moved into playing massive international festivals around the five continents of the world. At his regular club night, “Street Level Byron Bay”, Z.i.V showcases his passion for delivering quality, unique, fresh, and inspiring artists, and shares his belief that music and dance is a powerful tool in bringing people together.
PERFORMERS (A – Z)
From the whimsical World of Wystara, under sparkling stars and cotton candy skies, hails a shining lil’ bubble fairy called Adorah Bubbles. Born of stardust, daydreams, laughter, and moonbeams, Adorah lives for casting her bubbly spells and fairy magic far and wide. Adorah has spread her glow through festivals and events around southeast Queensland over the years, including Earth Frequency Festival, Mushroom Valley Festival, Waves Retreat, and Elements Festival.
World-class fire entertainment production company Cinders Ashes Entertainment is ready to bring the heat to The Forest! From internationally recognised fire eaters, to pillars of the local fire community who make it their life goal to share knowledge on everything fire. Their pyro-technicians, fire artists, circus performers, and veteran instructors will bring their flare for the dramatic.
Founded by Bonnie Heather in April 2019, Creative Creatures is a contemporary dance collective that creates meaningful ritual movement. This family of extra-terrestrial light beings embody intentional movement while performing on stage, roving, and connecting on the dancefloor. Inspired by sacred geometry and contemporary dance, their choreography explores alien movement, ritual dance, and freestyle flow. With the use of special effects, UV Glow, creature-like costumes, silk fans and L.E.D props, the Creatures will create a unique act, adding flair to your festival experience.
Highly skilled hula-hoop entertainer Hannah Indigo has a penchant for dropping jaws and a style that’s a mix of rock ‘n’ roll, glam metal and 80s. With years of experience, she’s as comfortable on stage at a crowded stadium as she is in front of kids drooling with excitement at a community event. Hannah delivers an unforgettable performance every time, leaving audiences awestruck. Gracing stages around the globe, she’s entertained companies like Google and performed at world-class events such as Dark MOFO and Vivid. Get your wow on with hula-hoop superstar Hannah Indigo at The Forest.
Costume, dance, and performance art company Strange Dreams is known and loved for mesmerising audiences with unique dance and performance pieces to electronic music. Always new and innovative, be prepared for stunning costumes, a high energy, skilled performance, and a trip into the psychedelic perimeters of your mind and body.
Tuntable Falls is an amazing circus where many performers from all over the globe come to share their skills and lives with each other, expressed through movement, circus, and drama. Highly skilled circus performers lure the audience into a place of disbelief and wonder. With the help of amazing costumes and many hours of rehearsal, Tuntable Falls Circus provides spectacular entertainment for all and has performed at many different festivals and events across the region.
Visual Artists (A – Z)
Working across architecture, landscape, furniture design and art is Ensamble Design Studio, a multi-disciplinary collective. Founded by two friends, Florencia and Macarena, who share a passion for creativity, their art invites the audience to explore both majesty and mystique while enjoying good music.
Eyebyte provide specialty event production services, with a focus on unique, live, video production and have over 25 years of video production, performance, design, and installation of visuals in Australia and abroad. Eyebyte is proud to have graced some of the largest dance music events in Australia this season and will return to Splendour in 2023.
Known for putting on immersive audio and visual events all over Australia, Chuck brings a healthy mix of the strange and familiar to his performances – always keen to make audiences happy and try something fresh. He has performed at Splendour in the Grass, Subsonic, Rainbow Serpent, This/That, Rabbits Eat Lettuce, Mushroom Valley, Bohemian Beatfreaks, Bulga Beats, Happy Daze and many other music and arts events all over Australia.
“Metamorphosis: transformation in hope” is a collection of artworks by local youth who have their roots in Byron Shire and their branches expanding out into the world. The exhibition is inspired by nature as a symbol of hope, renewal, metamorphosis, and growth and hints at the young artists’ rich imaginative landscapes within. We find recurring motifs like lush fields, wildflowers, and psychedelic skies; as well as floating figures exploding with sunshine, foliage, or wreathed in rainbows. The artists share with us a sense of revelling in nature and being wild, whimsical, and free, revealing recognition of the beautiful and inexorable cycle of life. Expressing a growing self-awareness found through quiet contemplation or wild experimentation; these artworks present a tension between raw vulnerability and resilient strength; as well as the promise of emerging creativity and wonder.
Works by (A-Z):
Holly Dunn
At the start of each day The Forest crew shares the ritual of creating ephemeral art works in the sunshine: a large geometric pattern on the dance floor and smaller installations throughout the space. Once all the rubbish from the previous day has been swept away, it takes another real labour of love and effort to set out these patterns from sand, earth, and other organic materials. Once the land art is completed it is slowly transformed, danced back into the earth by the thousands of feet of Splendour festival goers, celebrating the impermanence of all that exists and carrying collective blessings into the universe.
Spectacle Art creates incredible large-scale art for festivals across Australia and will create a specially commissioned piece for The Forest this year. Spectacle Art’s principal designer, Clint Hurrell is an internationally acclaimed professional artist, designer and event production manager, who specialises in stage facades, lighting design, and large-scale outdoor spectacle art installations.
Splendour Forum
Take a seat, relax, and flex some serious mental muscle at the Splendour Forum. Join a bevy of our most prominent and interesting thinkers, politicians, and musicians of the moment, as they raise the vibrations with lively discussion, panels, debates, documentaries, trivia, interactive sessions, philosophical talks and more.
Program to be announced
Splendour Forum
With interviews, panel chats and mindful mixers designed to spark debate and reflection, feed your curiosity at the 2023 edition of Splendour Forum!
Enlightening and informing guests on everything from pill-testing and the Voice to Parliament to the rental crisis and mash-up of social media with sex, our speakers will share inspiring stories and start serious conversations. Splendour Forum will feature an unmissable Australian exclusive with Pussy Riot founder, activist, and artist Nadya Tolokonnikova, a special directors-cut screening of Burn Gently, the story of Australian hip hop, plus the first ever Splendour Town Hall where you get an audience with Federal Youth Minister Dr Anne Aly.
If these tent talks leave you wanting more, this year we introduce Forum Live Podcasts, a companion piece to Splendour Forum. Kicking off Thursday at 1:45pm, and happening Friday and Sunday, your favourite Australian podcasters, including the crew from The Betoota Advocate, will be hitting the record button to create their programs LIVE in front of you!
Friday 21 July
Presented by The Push, Live Nation, and the Australian Festivals Association.
Want to work in music, but don’t know where to start? Join Australian youth music organisation The Push as they chat to industry reps from music festivals, global music industry giant Live Nation, tastemaker youth radio station triple j, ticketing operator moshtix and more, breaking down everything you need to know about music career pathways. Covering what a career in music really looks like, how to transition from intern to paid work, and what it takes to sustain a career – this session is a must see for anyone looking to enter the industry.
With Aarti Desai, Mitch Wilson and Michelle Lucia.
Aarti Desai is the Manager for Education and Training at youth music organisation The Push, where she helps create accessible pathways into music industry careers for young people. These pathways include programs such as Music Industry Mentoring, Electronic Music Accelerator, Music Careers Expo and workshops delivered to young people and industry.
Mitch Wilson (they/them) is the Managing Director of the Australian Festival Association, the peak industry advocacy body for festival producers, promoters, and suppliers. The AFA is currently working with both industry and government to fill skills shortages the live performance sector experienced due to impacts from the pandemic and how to bring younger audiences back to live music and festivals.
Michelle Lucia is the Senior Vice President, Marketing, at Live Nation. Having worked in various marketing, partnerships, social media and digital roles across Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Singapore, Michelle started at Live Nation in 2017 where she now heads up marketing. In this role, Michelle is responsible for delivering the marketing, digital, product and fan experience functions across Australia and New Zealand.
Pill-testing at music festivals could soon become a reality, potentially averting tragic outcomes, and saving young lives. Queensland has already approved the introduction of services that can analyse drugs for the presence of dangerous substances, and the NSW Government will examine the issue at their upcoming Drugs Summit. Come and hear from the harm minimisation experts including a live demonstration of the scientific equipment.
With Cameron Francis, Marianne Jauncey, and Mitch Wilson
Sam Koslowski is the co-founder of The Daily Aus alongside Zara Seidler. The Daily Aus is Australia’s leading social-first news organisation targeted at young Australians. A business leader, journalist, presenter, and commentator, in 2022 Sam was listed in the Forbes 30 Under 30, as well as the Good Weekend’s Who Mattered in 2022 list. He and Zara are soon to release their first book with Penguin Random House.
Cameron Francis is the CEO of The Loop, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2018 to develop the sustainable provision of drug checking services in Australia. He is a social worker with 20 years’ experience in the youth alcohol and other drugs sector. Cameron has worked in a number of different roles including peer education at dance parties and music festivals, needle and syringe program work, individual counselling, and more recently in a role that involves training and complex case consultation.
Marianne Jauncey is a public health doctor and has been the medical director at the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre, run by the Uniting Church, for the last 15 years. The MSIC was the first service of its kind in the English-speaking world when it opened, and unfortunately remains the only such service in NSW to this day. She regularly speaks in the media and was integral in getting the Uniting Church to fund an advocacy team to campaign for drug law reform. She is excited to be at her first music festival in way too long and hopes to have the chance to hear from and talk with interested people in the audience.
Mitch Wilson (they/them) is the Managing Director of the Australian Festival Association, the peak industry advocacy body for festival producers, promoters, and suppliers. The AFA is currently working with both industry and government to fill skills shortages the live performance sector experienced due to impacts from the pandemic and how to bring younger audiences back to live music and festivals.
Gen Y and Z are the first generations set to be worse off than their parents. The perfect storm of housing, renting, and cost-of-living crises is causing chaos for any young person trying to keep the lights on. It’s harder to move out of your parents’ place. If you can afford to, most of your wage is going to rent. It’s also harder to keep a job, with more young people than ever in insecure work. If you do get a job, your pay is likely to remain the same, as wages haven’t moved for a decade. If you do get a pay rise, more of it is going to paying off student loans. It’s a lose, lose, lose for the young and glum.
This is ‘Generation F*CKD’.
Boomers with too many houses, weak governments catering to an ageing population and dodgy real estate agents who could sell a dog kennel as a ‘cosy’ one-bedder have ruined it for future generations. And they’re just a few of the culprits. Marty Smiley and Nat Damena, veteran renters, housemates, and hosts of the Housewarming podcast are going to grill Australia’s politicians, economists and FinTok influencers on where everything went wrong and what future lies ahead.
With Federal Youth Minister Dr Anne Aly, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, Harshdeep Kaur, and Joey Moloney
Nat Damena is a stand-up comedian, television writer and actor who’s fast becoming one of the most exciting voices in the Australian comedy scene. His playful but provocative style of comedy mixed with a dynamic stage presence have seen him delight audiences across the country. Nat has written for The Feed on SBS, appeared on triple j and is currently developing projects with ABC and Bento Box. Nat also wrote and performed on The Chaser’s War on 2020.
Marty Smiley got his start as a music journalist for Channel [V] in 2012. He hosted hundreds of live shows and interviewed iconic acts including Lorde, Brockhampton, slowthai, Charli XCX and the Wu Tang Clan. He then worked as a reporter at SBS on The Feed for several years covering youth current affairs. Recently he moved to the ABC where he’s worked across 7.30, ABC Investigations and Foreign Correspondent. His work has featured on Junkee, Pedestrian.tv, VICE, The Guardian, and The Project. In 2020 Marty won a Young Walkley Award for Visual Storytelling.
Federal Youth Minister Dr Anne Aly’s path to politics has been unconventional. Born in Egypt, she migrated to Australia as a two-year-old, growing up in Queensland and Sydney’s western suburbs before starting a family in Perth. A domestic violence survivor, Anne raised her two young boys as a single mum. After years spent juggling work, study, and family responsibilities, she achieved a PhD in counterterrorism, going on to become a global authority on countering violent extremism. In 2016, she became the first Muslim woman elected to the Australian Parliament, drawing attention for her outspoken advocacy on behalf of other domestic violence victim-survivors as well as for her bold fashion sense. After the election of the Albanese Government, Anne was appointed Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth – the first Muslim woman to hold a ministerial position.
Dr Mehreen Faruqi is Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and Senator for NSW. She was the first Muslim woman to sit in any Australian parliament when she joined the NSW Parliament in 2013. In 2018 she took her proudly feminist and anti-racist approach to the Senate in Canberra. She has been an unflinching voice on social, environmental, and racial justice, pushing to dismantle the systems of power, privilege, and patriarchy. Her memoir and manifesto, Too Migrant, Too Muslim, Too Loud is an honest tale of a political outsider fighting for her right and the rights of others like her to be let inside on their terms. Mehreen holds the Education, Anti-Racism, Animal Welfare, the Republic, and International Aid and Global Justice portfolios for the Greens.
Harshdeep Kaur is the Content and Community Lead at Flux Finance, a financial wellbeing start-up for young Australians. Passionate about education and empowering youth, Harshdeep spent two years working with young people in schools across Australia to develop entrepreneurial skills that school never taught them. She’s also worked with emerging writers and creatives across the country in her role as Editorial Leader at SAARI Collective, a media start-up driven to amplify South Asian voices in Australia.
Joey Moloney is a Senior Associate in Grattan Institute’s Economic Policy program. He is an economist with experience in public policy research and implementation. He has worked at the Productivity Commission and the Commonwealth Treasury, with a focus on the superannuation system and retirement income policy. Joey holds a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Politics and Media from La Trobe University, and a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours in Economics from the University of Melbourne.
Saturday 22 July
Hosted by Brooke Boney
Later this year, Australians will be asked to vote in a referendum on Indigenous constitutional recognition through a Voice. The outcome of this vote is in all of our hands. Want to make an informed vote? Want to hear more from First Nations people about the topic? Join host Brooke Boney and our panel as they discuss what the Indigenous Voice to Parliament will mean from a social, political and community perspective.
With Rachael Cavanagh, Dean Parkin, Carla McGrath and Tony Armstrong
Brooke Boney is an established television and radio presenter who is best known as the News and Entertainment Reporter on the Nine Network’s Today Show. With a background in political journalism, Brooke has previously worked for National Indigenous Television (NITV), SBS and the ABC. As a proud Gamilaroi woman, Brooke has been at the forefront of youth culture since she began working in media in 2010, igniting discussion around indigenous affairs and acting as an inspiration to Indigenous youths across the country.
Rachael Cavanagh is a Minyungbal mibbiny from the Tweed coast with kinship connect through munanjarli country. Rachael brings over a decade of senior executive experience in partnership building, strategic planning, community consultation and policy development across all levels of government, community, and business with strong cultural foundations. Her collaborations within First Nations communities have increased genuine investment and awareness of the important role that First Nations women and communities hold within the environment and climate change sectors. Rachael believes First Nations people are the greatest asset to our Country, especially in the current global climate and is committed to creating genuine relationships with communities to help support them as world leaders in Whole of Country.
Dean Parkin is the Director of the Yes Campaign Alliance which aims to achieve a successful referendum on Indigenous constitutional recognition through a Voice. Dean is from the Quandamooka peoples of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) in Queensland. He has a Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Journalism) from the University of Queensland and a Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of Melbourne.
Carla McGrath is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman. Born and raised on the Australian mainland, she now lives in Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). Carla is an independent consultant specialising in community engagement and consultation and is Board Chair at GetUp! and Native Foodways, Board Director at Blakdance, member of the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research reference group: Thiitu Tharrmay (Australian National University) and member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group for Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).
Tony Armstrong grew up in rural NSW and is a proud Gamilaroi man. He played AFL for Adelaide, Collingwood, and Sydney, and in 2019 became the first Indigenous person to call live action Aussie Rules Football on commercial radio. In 2020, Tony became the co-host of the Indigenous comedy football chat show Yokayi Footy for NITV, SBS On Demand and via the AFL channels. In the same year, he joined the ABC, presenting sport on the ABC News channel, commentating for Grandstand AFL on ABC Sport, and hosting the 2020 summer series of Offsiders. In 2021, the ABC announced Tony as the full-time sports presenter on News Breakfast and it was for his work on this show, that he won the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent at the 2022 Logie Awards. His other television credits include host of Great Australian Stuff for the ABC as well as regular appearances on The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, The Yearly, The Project and Fox Footy. As well as being a rising star in Australian media, Tony is a talented writer/creator, and he is currently developing a slate of television projects.
Imagine a (very near) future where Australian adults can buy weed legally without a doctors’ prescription. Medicinally, socially, responsibly – cannabis reform is afoot. A new Bill introduced to Parliament by the Greens (npi) has many supporters – and some detractors – but the argument isn’t as black and white as simply legalise the green. Who reaps the profits currently being made by drug dealers? Will the industry survive being taxed like alcohol and tobacco? Will there still be an underground market for specialty strains, what if people want to grow their own, or get pulled over for DUI? And why should anyone have a say over what we put in our bodies or where we get it? Join our expert panel as they nug-it-out.
With Greens Senator David Shoebridge, Tyson Craig, Bee Mohamed, Dr. Emily Rigby, David Heilpern, and Jeremy Buckingham.
Sam Koslowski is the co-founder of The Daily Aus alongside Zara Seidler. The Daily Aus is Australia’s leading social-first news organisation targeted at young Australians. A business leader, journalist, presenter, and commentator, in 2022 Sam was listed in the Forbes 30 Under 30, as well as the Good Weekends’ Who Mattered in 2022 list. He and Zara are soon to release their first book with Penguin Random House.
David Shoebridge is a Greens Senator working on issues of justice, defence, digital rights and science. He served as a Greens MP in the NSW State Parliament for more than a decade, giving a voice to justice and police accountability issues including introducing the social media-based campaign Sniff Off in 2011. David joined the Federal Parliament as a Greens Senator for NSW in 2022. He will be introducing the first ever bill to legalise cannabis federally in August of this year.
David Heilpern is a former Magistrate and one of Australia’s leading drug law reform campaigners. He became the youngest Magistrate in Australia when appointed in 1998 and made several important reported decisions on criminal, environmental and evidence law. He also co-founded the law school at Southern Cross University in 1992, teaching subjects including constitutional and criminal law, and where he is now the Dean. David has written four books many articles and is a prize-winning short story writer and poet. His writing and research are now focussed on judicial education, drug law reform, Aboriginal overrepresentation in the criminal justice system and environmental activism.
Tyson Craig has been working in the medicinal cannabis industry since 2018, having previously managed the operations of an ASX listed company, the development of a cannabis range and clinic. He is now Head of Commercial Operations at Cannatrek, one of Australia’s most successful medicinal cannabis companies. His key objective is to provide medical practitioners, dispensaries and patients with the highest quality, most affordable, sustainable, and accessible cannabis products in a timely manner.
Bee Mohamed is the Head of Patient Advocacy and Engagement for Astrid, Australia’s leading plant-based medicines dispensary, that is also all female-led. Bee is the former Patient Advocacy & Stakeholder Manager for the Australian-Pacific arm of Canopy Growth, one of the world’s largest cannabis companies. Bee is passionate about driving better patient accessibility within the plant-based medicines industry and achieving better health outcomes.
Emily Rigby is a research scientist and passionate advocate for medicinal cannabis and psychedelic medicines – promoting education, patient access, research, industry development and regulatory reform. Emily has a specific interest in exploring the potential of natural medicines. Since 2016, Emily has played an integral role in developing the Australian medicinal cannabis industry. Dedicated to removing the stigma surrounding cannabis and psychedelics, she was recognised as Australia’s 2021 ‘Woman of Weed’ at the Australian Cannabis Awards for her contribution to female leadership in the cannabis space.
Jeremy Buckingham was recently elected as NSW’s first Legalise Cannabis party MP. He has a long history of activism based in progressive drug law reform, civil liberties, justice and environmental protection. The Legalise Cannabis party is growing fast and has launched Bills across Australia to legalise personal use, growing, and sharing cannabis.
Join Australian National Living Treasure Dr Karl as he explains how a plane (running on fossil fuels) could fly for over two months without air-to-air refuelling, how the rude two-finger “up yours” salute came into being, how much power we would get if we could catch every lightning bolt on Earth, the real story behind the Bermuda Triangle, and more. Dr Karl Kruszelnicki loves science to pieces, and has been spreading the word in print, on television and radio, and online via social media for more than 30 years. The author of 47 books (and counting) Dr Karl is a lifetime student with degrees in physics and mathematics, biomedical engineering and medicine and surgery. Since 1995, Dr Karl has been the Julius Sumner Miller Fellow at the University of Sydney. In 2019 he was awarded the UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularisation of Science (previous recipients include Margaret Mead, David Attenborough, Bertrand Russell, and David Suzuki).
Nadya Tolokonnikova holds the rare title of being an internationally famous artist while simultaneously being included on the “most wanted” list of criminals in her home country. As the creator of Pussy Riot, she has spearheaded a global feminist protest-art movement. But she has paid a heavy price – incurring the wrath of the world’s biggest villain, Russian President Vladimir Putin – serving time in prison and now living in exile. Hear her fascinating story as she chats live in the Forum with The Project host Hamish Macdonald.
Conceptual artist and activist Nadya Tolokonnikova is the creator of Pussy Riot, a global feminist protest-art movement. In 2012, Pussy Riot gained a global following after Nadya was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment following an anti-Putin performance. While in prison, Nadya continued to protest. She went on a hunger strike raising awareness for the inhumane prison conditions and, consequently, was sent to a remote Siberian penal colony where she would continue to gain notoriety for her activism despite being forced to hard labour. In addition to her activism, Nadya is also an award-winning artist. She’s performed at major music festivals and events worldwide; her piece Punk Prayer was named by The Guardian among the best art pieces of the 21st century. Most recently, her NFT Virgin Mary, Please Become a Feminist and the Putin’s Ashes installation at Deitch Gallery in January 2023 propelled her into a new criminal case which landed her on Russia’s most wanted list.
Hamish Macdonald has covered wars, disasters, and major world events. He has secured nominations in prestigious journalism awards such as the Walkley Awards and the Quills Australian Journalist of the Year Award, a rare achievement for a commercial television network news reporter. A versatile news reporter and presenter he has delivered ground-breaking news reports (people smuggling in Indonesia), fronted investigative documentary specials (Bikie Wars: Here and Now) and regularly co-presents on The Project. Named Young Journalist of the Year by the British Royal Television Society in 2008, Hamish also anchored Al Jazeera’s International Emmy-nominated coverage of the Georgia-Russia war live from Tbilisi. During his time with Al Jazeera, Hamish hosted the flagship Newshour program and stood in as host for Sir David Frost. Hamish has studied Arabic in Yemen and Indonesian in Jakarta. He has worked for the UK’s Channel 4 News and for five years with the international broadcaster Al Jazeera English.
Sunday 23 July
10AM – 10:45AM: BURN GENTLY HIP HOP DOCUMENTARY SCREENING
10:45AM – 11:30AM: Q&A HOSTED BY MICHELLE GRACE HUNDER
From hip hop godfathers the Hilltop Hoods to Australian Music Prize winner Genesis Owusu, brand new documentary Burn Gently celebrates 50 years of Aussie hip hop. Almost six years in the making, the film features thirty-six of the biggest names in Australian hip hop including the Hoods, 360, Bliss n Eso, Thundamentals, L-FRESH The LION, Matt Okine, Baker Boy, Genesis Owusu, Sampa the Great, Drapht, Urthboy, Barkaa and many more, as they dive into the history and key issues of the genre. This screening of a special 45-minute festival-edition director’s cut will be followed by a discussion panel with director Antony Attridge (Sensible Antixx), producer N’fa Jones (1200 Techniques), artist manager and producer Vyvienne Abla, rapper DOBBY and hosted by renowned music photographer Michelle Grace Hunder. This session is presented by APRA AMCOS.
With guests N’fa Jones, Antony Attridge, Vyvienne Abla, and DOBBY.
Michelle Grace Hunder has two separate portrait series in the National Sound and Film Archive of Australia and is one of Australia’s most revered music photographers. Since the 2015 release of her photographic book “RISE“, her personal journey into the world of Australian hip hop, Australian, and international artists have sought her talents to photograph both live performances and portrait images, for press, publicity and album covers. Now an official Nikon Z Creator, her unique style captures the raw energy and emotion of live performances, and her photographs have featured in numerous publications and exhibitions.
N’fa Jones is an ARIA award winning artist whose career began in the humble basement of the Deadly Fresh Crew in 1989. N’fa has collaborated with artists including Drapht, 360, Hilltop Hoods, Nick Thayer, Remi, M Phazes and more. With endless creativity N’fa has started and performed in his bands 1200 Techniques, Run for Your Life, No Fixed Abode, and the most recent project Cool Out Sun. N’fa teaches a Diploma course in hip hop at Box Hill Institute, where he helped curate the syllabus. Writing, recording, performing, and sharing music is in his DNA.
Antony Attridge is a writer, director, and performer (Sensible Antixx) who runs an artist and event management company with creative partner Kristina Hood. He wrote and curated TheMusic.com.au’s online hip hop blog Rhymetime AEST, speaking with global names in hip hop such as Chali 2na, Big Boi, Loyle Carner, Pharoahe Monch, Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Masta Ace, 360 and more. Antony has spent the past six years writing and directing Australian hip hop documentary Burn Gently in partnership with N’fa Jones and Hideaway Productions, interviewing dozens of the country’s biggest names in hip hop, with additional funding from Australia Council and Screen Australia.
DOBBY is a true force of nature, with his electrifying live performances leaving audiences spellbound. As a rapper, drummer, composer, and producer, he brings a dynamic and powerful energy to his live shows delivering an experience like no other. Proudly identifying as a Filipino and Aboriginal musician, DOBBY’s roots run deep in the Murrawarri and Ngemba lands of Weilmoringle and Brewarrina, NSW. He has toured around Europe, the UK, and the US but his music is more than just entertainment; his song ‘I CAN’T BREATHE’ won Best Video at the FBi SMAC Awards in 2020 and has become an anthem for Australia’s Bla(c)k Lives Matter movement, used in schools to educate students about the struggles faced by marginalised communities. In 2022 he was awarded the NIMA Archie Roach Foundation Award, which recognises emerging First Nations artists who show exceptional talent and promise in their chosen field.
Vyvienne Abla is a director and executive producer in the music and creative industries, with over two decades of experience both locally and internationally. In 2007, she founded Vyva Entertainment, an organisation dedicated to empowering youth, artists, and professionals by integrating industry, education, and community through hip hop and music culture. She is also the artist manager for several successful artists (DOBBY, BARKAA, Áine Tyrrell and Luka Lesson) and the producer for multiple events and festivals. Her exceptional work has earned her numerous awards and nominations, including be awarded the 2022 Western Sydney University’s Woman of the West Business Award. Driven by her passion for effecting positive change in the industry, Vyv actively participates as a member on various advisory boards and committees.
In Splendour’s first ever Town Hall, Federal Youth Minister Dr Anne Aly is in conversation with Hannah Ferguson to talk politics for young Australians – what it means and how young people can shape the country for the better. From the classrooms of Cairo to committee rooms at the UN and the House of Representatives chamber, Dr Anne Aly’s path to politics has been like no other. Join the first Muslim woman elected to the Australian Parliament for a candid conversation on the realities of Australian political life, and the transformative power of embracing your lived experience.
In 2016 Dr Anne Aly became the first Muslim woman elected to the Australian Parliament, drawing attention for her outspoken advocacy on behalf of other domestic violence victim-survivors as well as for her bold fashion sense. After the election of the Albanese Government, Anne was appointed Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth – the first Muslim woman to hold a ministerial position.
Hannah Ferguson is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cheek Media Co, an independent Australian news commentary platform providing informed, progressive opinions on subjects that sit at the intersection of feminist, social and political issues. Cheek has a growing audience of more than 70,000 followers, and aims to make difficult topics accessible and entertaining, and to model hard and important conversations, mobilising changemakers in our community.
The rise of online sex work has created a new platform for female empowerment. The ultimate WFH gig, it allows women to take control of their narrative, drive their careers, promote body positivity, help destigmatise an industry once known only for its sleaze and exploitation by men – all while potentially making a fortune. Come and hear some of the fearless pioneers from OnlyFans and TikTok discuss how they are harnessing the digital age to claim their power, the pitfalls of being ‘social’ famous, and what the future might hold in the eyes of an internet that never forgets.
With Anne Knight, Esmé Louise James, Maddy MacRae and Sarah Button
Hannah Ferguson is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cheek Media Co, an independent Australian news commentary platform providing informed, progressive opinions on subjects that sit at the intersection of feminist, social and political issues. Cheek has a growing audience of more than 70,000 followers, and aims to make difficult topics accessible and entertaining, and to model hard and important conversations, mobilising changemakers in our community.
Annie Knight is a 26-year-old online sex worker currently in the top 0.1% of all creators on OnlyFans. She started OnlyFans in 2020 during the pandemic to earn a little bit of extra cash but ended up making it her full-time job in February 2022 after getting fired from her 9-5. Having been in the industry for just over 3 years and achieving such success on her site, she recently decided to create her own OnlyFans Management Agency, offering advice and management services to fellow industry women.
Esmé Louise James is a writer, researcher, and University of Melbourne PhD candidate, best known for Kinky History, her irreverent series with more than 3 million followers on TikTok and Instagram that explores the evolution of human sexual history. Her popular Kinky History podcast, “the history they didn’t teach you in high school,” charted to #1 History Podcast in Australia within a month of launching. In 2021, she received a Screen Australia’s grant to create a new TikTok series with her mother, SexTistics, about how statistics can reveal snapshots, past and present, of gender, identity, and sexuality within Australia. In recognition of her ground-breaking education online, Esmé was nominated for Best Digital Creator at the 2022 AACTA Awards.
Maddy MacRae is an online comedian known for her hilarious skits about dating, sex, adulting and being a hot mess. Often seen personifying body parts like the clitoris and butthole as well as food and alcohol inside the stomach, Maddy’s audience has grown to over 2M across her TikTok and Instagram in just over a year. In August last year, Maddy launched her own podcast Sometimes Funny, Always Awkward to give her audience even more behind the scenes of the stories that fuel her hilarious content.
Sarah Button, 27, from Brisbane, has reached towering heights of fame in the adult entertainment world. Starting her journey in 2018 on Snapchat, she quickly amassed a massive following of over 1 million fans across TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. Sarah’s charisma shines not only in her solo content but also in her comedic talents, making her a standout figure. As a self-managed entrepreneur, Sarah has earned millions through her successful OnlyFans page, while also taking on the role of mentor and promoter for other women in the industry. Her story has made waves in global media, with bans from Abu Dhabi and TikTok, and even being asked to leave law school due to her risqué Instagram content.
FORUM LIVE PODCASTS!
Introducing Forum Live Podcasts, taking over Splendour Forum on Thursday 20 July and across Friday and Sunday.
THURSDAY 20 JULY
Lissie Turner, also known as Mel Bampton, is an author, speaker, internationally registered therapist, and the creator of the global phenomenon, Like A Version. At triple j, she sat as host of drive along with Charlie Pickering, followed by three years hosting mornings, breaking bread with many of the gods and monsters of modern music, science, and film. In 2004, Lissie created, designed, and established Like a Version, she was the presenter and executive producer on The Great Australian Album Series, as well as The Producer Series, which later lead to the release of her book Off the Record: One Woman’s Global Search for The World’s Greatest Music Producers. As a C-IAYT Therapist, Lissie explores the connection between environmental health and human mental health, she is the founder and head of The Prana Project, creator of the 21-Day Dissolving Patterns Program and Co-Founder of Living Hormoniously – an endocrine awareness organisation for ovary owners.
Lissie’s star guest will be the incredible Yael Stone.
Yael is best known for her portrayal of Lorna Morello in Orange is the New Black. The series ran for 7 seasons, and won multiple SAG Awards and Emmy Award Nominations. Yael was nominated for an AACTA award for Del Katherine Barton’s feature film BLAZE, a Logie for Deep Water and has won 4 Sydney Theatre Awards. This year she is leading limited series One Night for Paramount+ premiering in August, and appears in Celeste Barber’s Wellmania and ABC’s Bay of Fires. She stars in series Firebite currently on SBS on Demand. Other streaming credits include High Maintenance, Childhood’s End, Deep Water, and Picnic at Hanging Rock.
In Jan 2020 at the height of the Australian bushfires, Yael abandoned her US Green Card, with a major impact on her transatlantic film career, and returned home to Australia as a symbol of her commitment to reducing CO2 emissions. Since then Yael founded Hi Neighbour; an organisation that uses solar projects to fund scholarships for local workers moving into low carbon jobs. She’s currently studying Sustainable Communities at University of Wollongong.
The world of business and finance can sometimes (*cough* often) feel pretty impenetrable and totally inaccessible. But it shouldn’t be. What the Flux breaks down three major business stories in five minutes, every single weekday. It’s short, it’s snappy and it’ll make you smarter than your boss, partner, or smart-ass friend. Since launching the podcast in February 2020, What the Flux has been downloaded nearly 5 million times and has been featured in the Australian Financial Review, Yahoo Finance, Vogue, ABC, and the Today Show for its unique approach to finance. Co-hosts Justin Joffe and Brett Joffe talk about the latest movements in the tech, finance, and retail scenes with a touch of seriousness and a lot of laughs – because who said finance needs to be so serious?
Life is messy, let’s laugh about it! Join online comedian Maddy MacRae and Grace Hore as they chat unfiltered about dating, sex, being an adult and being a hot mess! They also share some of their followers most embarrassing and cringe-worthy moments in the segment Tell Me About It. It’s sometimes funny and it’s ALWAYS awkward.
Find highlights of the show at https://www.instagram.com/sometimesfunnypod/ or follow Maddy on:
FRIDAY 21 JULY
You follow their legendary Instagram page, now listen to the kings of satire live! The Betoota Advocate Podcast is a weekly show that interviews interesting personalities from all over Australia and the world. Every week Editors Errol Parker and Clancy Overell sit down and interview a topical guest. Reporting fiercely, without fear or favour, the two editors cover a healthy mix of local, national, and international news.
Kinky History is a TikTok and podcast series with a global following of more than 2.5 million people. Launched on TikTok in October 2020 by academic Esmé Louise James, the online lecture series explores the evolution of human sexuality – from scandalous stories from the Ancient World to the saucy secrets of famous figures. By speaking openly about these topics in a way that is educational, entertaining, and accessible, Kinky History aims to erase dangerous taboos which still exist around identity, gender, and sexuality.
SUNDAY 23 JULY
Wendy Zukerman, the award-winning science journalist and host of the podcast Science Vs, will interview some of her favourite scientists that she met at Splendour. Together, they’ll giggle about the science of blue balls, ketamine, superbugs and whatever damn else tickles their fancies.
THE Science Tent
The outrageous fifth instalment of the Science Tent returns to bring you awesome interactive experiences, engrossing talks, and other cool science-y sh*t across the entire Splendour weekend. With science action happening both inside and outside of the tent, The Science Tent will blow your mind, ignite your neurons, and curl your toes in ways you never thought imaginable.
Program to be announced
Strap on your bum bags! With curious adventures happening both inside and outside of the tent, it’s time to embark on another Splendour-iffic science adventure.
The Science Tent is back and it’s bigger, bolder, and brainier than ever before. As always, we’re bringing a ride that will leave you forgetting you actually came to Splendour for the tunes. Body farms and forensics to solve crimes? Check. Conservation and wild animals in drag? You bet. The science of wellness? Hook up that IV baby, we’ve got it all covered. Speaking of hooks, we’ll explore why Lizzo is living rent free in your brain before booting up the AI and making sure you don’t get hacked. We’ll enlighten you on mushrooms, drugs, and genitals, and then explore the climate in the most peer reviewed manner we could think of, dating, or Cli-mating as we like to call it. See you there, rockstar scientists.
The Science Tent initiative is supported by:
Inspiring Australia | UTS Deep Green Biohub | Australian Information Security Association
FRIDAY 21 JULY
Generally speaking, we don’t talk about genitals enough. Despite having them between our legs – most people know surprisingly little about their own private parts. Bimbo biologist Dr Naomi Koh Belic and transgender geneticist Dr Haylo Roberts are here to take you on a journey through human genitalia. Together you’ll explore every crevice while answering your burning questions, like are penises really shrinking? This celebration of genitals will leave you with a greater appreciation of your own body and a little enraged at the patriarchy. Cum play, it’ll cliterally be a blast!
Dr Naomi Koh Belic 許佳丽 (she/her) is a bimbo biologist. She’s a second-generation Australian and a first-generation university graduate that’s passionate about making science accessible.
Dr Haylo Roberts (he/him) is a molecular biologist and science communicator. He co-runs Nerd Nite Melbourne, advocates for diversity and accessibility in STEM, and currently works in conservation.
‘Nature is Gay’ presented by Diva Attenbra
Some might argue that homosexuality is “unnatural”, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! Take a trip around the globe with your drag queen guide Diva Attenbra as we explore a few of the many animal species that display homosexual behaviours. Fresh off performances at both Melbourne and Sydney Comedy Festivals, this won’t be any old lecture, with Diva prepped to make this bit of learning come with a whole lot of laughs. If you’re ready to get a little wild, a little queer and a little smarter, come along!
Diva Attenbra (she/her) is Sydney’s premiere drag science clown! A wildlife biologist and drag performer, Diva is on the hunt for new ways to connect people with nature, and it turns out people really respond to a person in a giant wig.
‘Australia’s Lost Creatures’ presented by Dr Phoebe Meagher
Australia is home to the world’s quirkiest and weirdest creatures! Sadly, many of them need our help. Australia has the world’s fastest mammal extinction rate, with 100 mammal species now lost to extinction. Phoebe is a Wildlife Conservation Biologist fighting species loss on the conservation frontlines – from the desert to the ocean. Hear how Dr Phoebe and her fellow conservationists are preventing our truly unique creatures from being lost forever, including the fight to protect one very weird and special Australian icon.
Dr Phoebe Meagher (she/her) is a wildlife conservation biologist from Taronga Conservation Society Australia. She loves sharing stories from Australia’s wildlife conservation frontlines.
‘Eat meat, save the planet’ presented by Sam ‘Bones’ Rathbone and Dr Isabelle Capell-Hattam
Imagine a future where humans and animals don’t just co-exist, they co-thrive. But how? By eating meat. Cultured meat, that is. Join Vow scientists, Bones, and Isabelle, as they take to the stage for a captivating talk in our Lost Creatures series. In this session, they’ll share how cultured meat is made, exploring Vow’s extraordinary mission to craft a sustainable future of food without compromising our furry friends. They’ll discuss all of the possibilities of having cultured meat on our plates (Hint: They’re endless). Be there and let your taste buds and curiosity run wild.
Vow is a team of innovators, engineers, scientists, artists (and most importantly, foodies) creating food that is sustainable, abundant, and irresistible, without the need to harm animals or the planet.
Bones (he/they) is a Process Development Lead at Vow, where he combines his passions for science, sustainability and cooking with cultured meat. If working at one of Australia’s most innovative companies isn’t intriguing enough, ask Bones about his past life working on an apple orchard or life modelling.
Isabelle (she/her) is a Research Scientist at Vow, Australia’s first cultured meat company. Finishing her PhD on cholesterol synthesis in mammalian cells in 2022, Isabelle is curious about understanding how the world works – from bee virology to environmental microbiology – and sharing it with others.
‘The Body Farm: Learning from the AFTER life’ presented by Bridget Thurn
We tend to think of human remains in the context of crime – how did this person die, and who killed them? However, bodies can tell us more than just a murderer’s identity. The Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER) is a specialist site that allows us to study the decomposition of human donors. By studying tissue decay, DNA, odour profiles, and insect succession, we are able to improve our current methods of estimating time-since-death, victim identification, and locating human remains. One research focus is disaster-victim location, which relies on dogs and their sense of smell. If we determine what compounds the dogs are smelling, we can use this information to implement new technologies to make victim recovery safer, faster, and cheaper.
Bridget Thurn (she/her) is PhD candidate at the University of Technology Sydney, where she is using human remains and living volunteers to locate mass disaster victims. She is interested in all things living and decomposing, and for that reason has a healthy fear of fungi.
‘The Dead Do Tell Tales’ presented by Dr Rachel Berry
Did you know that the dead can tell tales? We don’t think of the deceased being particularly chatty, but human remains can tell us a lot about a person’s life and death. It’s the job of a forensic anthropologist to interpret the stories told by someone’s bones to help reveal their identity. This talk discusses some of the techniques used by forensic anthropologists to assist in human identification and highlights their role in criminal investigations using (in)famous Australian murder cases.
Dr Rachel Berry (she/her) is a pun-loving and humerus forensic anthropologist, anatomist and bone whisperer working for UNSW.
SATURDAY 22 JULY
With Alexis Weaver, Dr Tim Byron, and Dr Jadey O’Regan
Which lyrics, beats or harmonies are living rent free in your mind? Join us (a psychologist, musicologist, sound designer and a science communicator) to understand more about the psychology and musicology of ‘hooks’ – the parts of your favourite (and not so favourite) songs that set your neurons in a spin. Using psychology, samples, and some of your help, we’ll create sonic explanations of how musical hooks get hooked in your brain! In between Splendour sets, come and find out more about the science of the parts of songs that are hard to forget.
Associate Professor Alice Motion (they/them) is a chemist and science communicator at the University of Sydney. They host a regular segment on ABC TV and direct the Breaking Good citizen science initiative.
Alexis Weaver (she/her) is a sound artist, PhD candidate and music technology educator at the University of Sydney. When she’s not busy making weird sounds, you can find her talking about what makes sound so weird.
Dr Tim Byron (he/him) is a lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Wollongong, and the co-author of Hooks in Popular Music with Dr Jadey O’Regan. He also plays keyboards in a yacht rock band called Smooth Sailing.
Dr Jadey O’Regan (she/her) is a doctor of pop and lecturer in contemporary music practice at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She is the co-author of Hooks in Popular Music with Dr Tim Byron and has been known to play the keytar.
The buzzword is AI. It can write your uni papers! And your job applicant letters! Maybe even that letter to dump your annoying boyfriend! But it can also help digital attackers break into systems with your data in it. They can use AI to automatically hunt down tiny cracks in people’s cybersecurity and pry them open. The flip side is AI can also improve the security of data – but privacy as a cost. Imagine a chatbot which can tell it’s not you logged on using your account. Now imagine how much it will know about your work habits to do that – how often you drift off to travel blogs and cat videos? Will it tell your boss? Will it go on your employee file? The good hackers from the Australian Information Security Association spill the T.
Adam Spencer (he/him) is Australia’s best known numbers nerd and geek about town.
Dr Suelette Dreyfus (she/her) wrote one of the first books in Australia about computer hackers, with Julian Assange. She researches cyber security at the University of Melbourne and is a board member of AISA. Her motto: breaking things can be fun!
Shelly Mills (she/her) is a Board Director of the Australian Information Security Association and works at The University of Queensland as the Cyber Security Improvements Manager.
Troy Hunt (he/him) is an Australian security researcher and founder of the data breach notification service Have I Been Pwned.
Chris Gatford (he/him) is the co-founder of Hacktive.io and has previously served on industry boards such as CREST Australia. Chris was the founder of HackLabs which grew to become one of the most well-known cybersecurity consulting firms in Australia and has been hacking all the things since 1999.
‘The Psychedelic Renaissance’ presented by Dr Emily Rigby
The global cannabis movement and psychedelic renaissance are upon us. Explore the phenomenal potential of natural medicines in a journey of education, access, research and reform. Emily is dedicated to removing the stigma surrounding cannabis and psychedelics and facilitating a holistic approach to access, education and industry development.
‘The Weird History of Psychedelics’ presented by Dr Vince Polito
The psychedelic renaissance is in full swing, and our newsfeeds are filled with exciting stories of potential clinical benefits. But along with research into new treatments, on the fringes of science, there have been fascinating experiments exploring what psychedelics reveal about the nature of our minds. This session will journey through the wild history of psychedelics. Along the way we will tackle critical questions such as: Will psychedelics turn you vegetarian? Can ketamine help you talk to dolphins? Does toad venom make you see God? And can magic mushrooms paralyse you?
Strap yourselves in. Psychedelics are about to get weird.
Dr Vince Polito (he/him) is a Senior Lecturer from the School of Psychological Sciences at Macquarie University and is currently leading Australia’s largest psychedelic clinical trial, which will investigate low doses of psilocybin as a potential treatment for depression.
‘Illicit drugs turned medicines’ presented by Dr Jack Wilson
Australia will become the first nation to recognise MDMA and psilocybin (the psychoactive component of “magic mushrooms”) as potential medicines. This comes almost seven years after a similar move was made towards the medicinal use of cannabis. The rest of the world will be watching Australia navigate through the largely unknown space of psychedelic medicines. Fortunately, we can reflect on what we learned from the cannabis experience to ensure that we use these therapies effectively and safely.
Dr Jack Wilson (he/him) is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Matilda Centre, University of Sydney. His research focuses on patterns of cannabis and other drug use, associated health outcomes, and implications for Australian policy.
SUNDAY 23 JULY
Heard about the new laws coming in about vaping? Want to vent or pitch your ideas about vaping regulations to politicians and the big wigs? Come along to VapeVent for your chance to have your voice heard. This interactive workshop will start with an overview of the Government’s new laws around vaping and what it means for you, followed by a focus group where (with your consent) your thoughts, voices, views, ideas, and suggestions will be collected by Dr Emily and fed back to the people who make big decisions.
Dr Emily Stockings (she/her) is a music and science nerd who tries to convince politicians not to make bad decisions about health care for young people. She has expertise in youth mental health, substance use, nicotine, tobacco, the brain, and… vaping!
The earth is getting hot, real hot. And so is your dating profile. But what would it take for you to swipe right on prioritising the climate over the date of your dreams? Climate and the environment are the number one political issue of young people today. Having the same views is critical in building those special connections. But do you know how deep those environmentalism roots (pun intended) go?
Enter CLIMATING – where dating for the planet is made easier. Climating is an interactive live dating show, where our on-stage contestants will question their own climate values. Follow our contestants as they navigate through the world of carbon emissions, biodegradability, and even question how f*cking could unf*ck the planet, to see if they really can find their ultimate clim-mate.
Wendy Zukerman (she/her) is a science journalist and EP/host of @sciencevs a Gimlet Media podcast. Brand new season is out now on all platforms!
Dr Karl (he/him) is an Australian National Living Treasure!
Dr Alex Thomson (she/her) is a marine ecologist, science communicator, and “Superstar of STEM”.
Zoe Catterall (she/her/they) is a BBiomedSc and lead singer of Sydney band The Buoys. They have spent the majority of their career in the public health sector as a Hospital Scientist. Recently Zoe has joined the Young Henrys Brewing and Distilling lab team and is pursuing music on a more full-time basis.
Dr Naomi Koh Belic 許佳丽 – (she/her) is a bimbo biologist. She’s a second-generation Australian and a first-generation university graduate that’s passionate about making science accessible.
Luka Muller is a comedian. He was selected by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for their Roadshow and Comedy Up Late series. He is a regular host on triple j, and has also appeared on the BBC, Channel 9 and SBS. He has a podcast called Oooh, Spooky and he runs Catfish Comedy every Tuesday.
‘The Longevity Revolution’ presented by Ida Tornvall
The Longevity Revolution is happening now. Thanks to advances in medicine and technology, our life expectancy is higher than ever before. But do we actually live longer, and are we any healthier than a century ago? How can we make the most of this new era of longevity? Discover practical tips on how to improve your health and well-being at any age and learn about the power of prevention.
Ida Tornvall (she/her) is a PhD candidate and research technician at the Centre for Health Services Research at the University of Queensland. With a background in Public Health and Media and Communication she is passionate about making health information accessible and engaging for everyone.
‘Lift your mood with nature and food!’ presented by Julie Marsh and Vicky Sullivan
Julie Marsh and Vicky Sullivan from The University of Queensland will showcase the science on how connecting with nature and eating fresh, nutritious foods can help lift your mood. Given the stress of the world over recent years, it’s time to move from surviving to thriving! Julie and Vicky will share some fascinating insights, surprising facts, and practical tips to help us get the most out of our food and tap into out innate connection with the natural world.
Julie Marsh (she/her) is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and UQ PhD Candidate who’s on a mission to show the world that food is the ultimate superhero! With her infectious enthusiasm and dedication to community health, Julie is ready to make sure everyone’s living their best, tastiest life.
Vicky Sullivan (she/her) is a UQ PhD Candidate who loves nature, chatting to the birds and running through the trees.
‘Vaping: cutting through the haze’ presented by Dr Emily Stockings
Vape hysteria has reached fever pitch. Is it worse than smoking? Safer? Can I actually get “popcorn lung” from vaping? How do I know if I’m addicted? Dr Emily will cut through the haze and give you the raw hard facts about vaping, smoking, and what happens in your body. All your vaping questions will be answered!
Dr Emily Stockings (she/her) is a music and science nerd who tries to convince politicians not to make bad decisions about health care for young people. She has expertise in youth mental health, substance use, nicotine, tobacco, the brain, and…vaping!
‘Show us ya mussels’ presented by Michelle Hobbs
There is a saying, “happy as a clam”, but how do you know if an animal with no face is happy? If you were a slimy mollusc, what would keep you awake at night? The thought of being eaten by a water rat, running out of water, or absorbing farm chemicals? Learn why these animals are a treasured part of Aboriginal culture. Find out about their weird and mysterious mating habits. Delve into the mind of a freshwater mussel and be one with the river as we venture underwater to find out what life is like on the riverbed.
A/Lecturer Michelle Hobbs (she/her) is a freshwater ecology nerd at Griffith University. She is an Aboriginal water scientist, loves bush adventures and occasionally moonlights as a visual artist.
Zoe from The Buoys and her love of science presented by Zoe Catterall
Where some might know Zoe Catterall as the lead singer of The Buoys, others know Zoe as an enthusiastic lab rat. Having worked in many jobs within the field of science, from the morgue to the hospital lab and beyond; Zoe now works in brewing science, chipping away in the Young Henry’s lab in Newtown. Come along to hear about Zoe’s work in the field, her love of science, how she juggles this with being a full-time musician and how she plans to continue doing so, because science forever.
Zoe Catterall (she/her/they) is BBiomedSc, and lead singer of Sydney band The Buoys. They have spent the majority of their career in the public health sector as a Hospital Scientist, more notably in early pregnancy and assisted reproductive technology, and organ and tissue donation. Recently Zoe has joined the Young Henrys Brewing and Distilling lab team and is pursuing music on a more full-time basis.
Saving Sea Country – presented by Kataya Barrett
Aboriginal People have been caring for Sea Country since time immemorial. Sea Country has been cared for like a family member, using generational knowledge systems to guide and adapt how it was managed. However, over 200 years of colonisation have disrupted, damaged, and disconnected Aboriginal People’s ability to look after Sea Country. Present-day legislation, policy, science, and management restrict the voices of Aboriginal People in the appropriate management of Sea Country. Yet, we are still advocating and fighting for agency over our Sea Country. We will look at and reflect on the pathways Aboriginal People are taking to help heal and save Sea Country.
Kataya Barrett (she/her) is a Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung woman, marine scientist and Sea Country planner and the Saltwater and Planning Project Officer with Country Needs People. She has saltwater in her veins and is on a journey to help heal and take care of Sea Country.
THE SCIENCE TENT HOSTS
Across Friday to Sunday! Our legendary scientists-in-residence will be around all weekend to answer your burning questions!
Starring our hosts:
Dr Karl – Australian National Living Treasure!
Dr Quill Darby – Instigator of shenanigans, science communicator, and all-round curator of fun.
Holly Kershaw – A leader in STEM education and engagement!
Dr Alex Thomson – Marine ecologist, science communicator, and “Superstar of STEM”
OUTSIDE THE TENT
Running daily just outside The Science Tent will be Science on the GO! featuring live interactive experiments!
Griffith University’s Science on the GO! team will bring the lab to the fields of Splendour with experiments that will bend minds and dazzle the eyes. Through a feast of mind-blowing, hands-on demonstrations, Science on the GO! will deliver an engaging feast of science which encourages participation and engagement.
Science on the GO! is the premiere STEM outreach team bringing you dynamic and engaging science shows, events, programs, and teaching resources by providing primary and secondary students access to Griffith’s innovative STEM facilities, resources, and expertise.
The UTS Deep Green Biotech Hub
Based in the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and supported by the Faculty of Science Climate Change Cluster (C3), the UTS Deep Green Biotech Hub takes algae and innovates it to its fullest! We connect, innovate, accelerate, and engage to drive a sustainable algae future for Australia. In 2023, Deep Green is presenting some of their innovative “Green Light” Accelerator Program start-ups, who are fresh out of their program, and ready to light up Splendour with their algae innovations.
Green Light start-ups include:
Phycologic: Uses nature’s power to improve the human experience in the built environment.
East Coast Algae: Creating unique carbon reduction solutions for people and community.
Byron Bioreactor Technologies: A leading biotechnology start-up, founded 3.5 years ago in Byron Bay. We specialise in designing and optimising microalgae bioreactors for sustainable microalgae biomass production, while simultaneously developing smartphone technology integrated with advanced microscopy and AI to revolutionise cell counting processes.
Presented by AISA’s Cybersecurity Tune-Up Team
What if I asked you to leave your car unlocked in the middle of town, keys in the ignition, wallet full of cash on the dash, personal medical records in the glove box and a collection of selfies (nude or otherwise) sitting on the front seat for anyone to distribute? Would you be keen? Yeah right! Well, many of us are doing it every day and worse!
It’s time to check your systems for leaks – and the experts from the Australian Information Security Association are here to help. Bring your phones and devices and come along for a cybersecurity tune-up. Let the experts help do the stuff you never get around to or can’t quite figure out:
> Get a password manager
> Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
> Get a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
> Turn on patching (automatic system updates)
> Install an encrypted messaging app
> Check your social media privacy settings
> Check your tracking settings
> Defend yourself from cyber-stalking
> Secure your data in the Cloud
Visit https://cybersecuritytuneup.com for more info.
Splendour Comedy CLUB
Our own little hive of happiness. Running Thursday to Sunday from sunset, head to the Forum tent to sit down for your daily dose of stand-up. The 2023 edition will feature some of Australia’s best comedy names and brightest stars plus heaps more award-winning, globe-trotting funny people. Good times guaranteed.
Program to be announced
Load up on LOLs! As the sun sets on Forum, the Splendour Comedy Club takes over Thursday through to Sunday boasting a line-up of festival favourites and some of Australia’s freshest emerging comedy talents. Showcasing a splendid smorgasbord of comedy treats by some of the country’s most hilarious stars of jest, you’re bound to find your kind of funny here.
Alex Hines is a comedian, writer, and proud Capricorn. 2022 saw Alex take out the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Golden Gibbo award for her critically acclaimed show To Schapelle and Back, for which she was also nominated for Best Comedy at Melbourne Fringe. This year her character Juniper Wilde, starring in Juniper Rising, received rave reviews and took out Best Production, Best Work by an Emerging Artist, and Best Feminist Work at The Green Room Awards.
Living on Bundjalung country, from Ballina NSW, Alexandra Hudson has soared in the comedy industry since first stepping onto a stage in 2020. Alexandra was a RAW Comedy National Finalist in 2022, and travelled to Edinburgh to compete in So You Think You’re Funny, the annual stand-up comedy competition for new acts. This year she was selected to be a part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s prestigious Comedy Zone cast.
Fresh off touring two different sell out shows at once, Bec Charlwood is having a big moment in the world of comedy. If you haven’t heard her on triple j or listened to her hit podcast Dude Cinema, you might have seen her on ABC’s Spicks and Specks, where she also worked as a writer. Bec has also opened shows across the country for Patti Harrison, Wil Anderson, Alan Carr, and Jay Pharaoh.
With his own brand of energetic and honest comedy, Blake has made a name for himself as one of Australia’s brightest young comedians. He was in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Comedy Zone, toured the country with their Roadshow, has appeared on ABC’s Comedy Up Late and Question Everything, and sold out his own stand-up shows across the nation. Blake has also performed internationally at the prestigious Montreal Just for Laughs Festival and London’s Soho Theatre.
Originally from Brisbane, Cameron Duggan is now based in Sydney and entertains audiences from all over the country. Performing alongside some of the biggest names in comedy, Cameron has honed his craft at clubs and festivals across this great land. You may have heard him on triple j or been to one of his sell out shows in the Sydney and Melbourne Comedy Festivals. Cameron has also written for and appeared on ABC’s At Home Alone Together.
Cam is an award-winning comedian, actor, writer, and podcaster. As a stand-up he has toured nationally to sell-out crowds and rave reviews and was a runner up in RAW Comedy. His podcasts with co-host Alexei Toliopolous Finding Drago and Finding Desperado led him to team up with Aunty Donna’s production house for hit web series Finding Yeezus. You might have also seen or heard him on triple j, Question Everything, Gruen, The Project or The Feed.
Dahn is one of the hottest rising young comedians in the country. After building a following on TikTok and Instagram, he has just wrapped up a national tour of his debut show White People Need to Relax which sold out shows all over Australia. Dahn has also performed on Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Comedy Up Late and Roadshow tour, as well as working as a writer at The Project.
A three-time-nominee for Most Outstanding Show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Damien Power is one the sharpest minds and best comedians in the country. He has appeared on The Gala, Just for Laughs, The Project, The Edge of The Bush, Comedy Next Gen and has racked up numerous awards and rave reviews over the last decade and sold out shows across the world.
In his 15 plus year career, Quirk has become one of Australia’s funniest and most unique comedy exports, selling out shows and building a cult following all over Australia, the UK, and the US. As a stand up, he’s won Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Golden Gibbo and Piece of Wood awards and been nominated for Most Outstanding Show. As an actor, he’s appeared in Rosehaven, Problems, Please Like Me and more.
Raised in Darwin, Dave started doing comedy in 2014 at age 16. Since then, he has toured the country and was chosen to perform in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Comedy Zone. He is a cast member and writer in ABC’s Black Comedy and has written for The Feed, Get Krackin’, The Moth Effect and more. Dave is also a beloved triple j presenter, where he has hosted Lunch for the last couple of years.
The sketch duo, made up of Honor Wolff and Patrick Durnan Silva, is a breath of fresh air in Australian comedy. Their surreal, twisted, and horny humour has landed them roles in Aunty Donna’s Coffee Café, Leftovers and At Home Alone Together. As a live act they have toured the country selling out comedy festivals all over, appeared on Just for Laughs, and won gongs at The Green Room Awards and Melbourne Fringe.
A long-time fixture on the Australian comedy circuit, John Cruckshank is easily the best electrician slash comedian in the country. He has toured the nation selling out comedy festivals, picking up rave reviews as he goes, as well as appearing on ABC’s Tonightly and as a regular guest on triple j. Cruckshank has also built a cult following special online with his show Redfern Electrical and stand-up special Weed C**t.
With his keen sense of comic timing and everyday absurdity, Luka has sold out festival shows all over the country, as well as toured Edinburgh, London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. He was selected by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for their Roadshow and Comedy Up Late series. He is a regular host on triple j, and has also appeared on the BBC, Channel 9 and SBS. He has a podcast called Oooh, Spooky and he runs Catfish Comedy every Tuesday.
Michael Hing is a comedian, actor, and terrible party guest. He is the co-host of Drive on triple j with Lewis Hobba, has been a guest on Celebrity Letters and Numbers and The Project, and appeared on Spicks and Specks, The Feed, Good Game, The Other Guy and a million other things all the time. As a stand up, Hing has sold out festivals all over Australia for a decade, and recently taped his first comedy special, to appear on Paramount Plus later this year.
Since starting his comedy career in 2015, Nat has enjoyed a meteoric rise. He was selected for Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Comedy Zone and has toured the country with Melbourne and Sydney’s Comedy Festival Roadshow. Nat is also an accomplished television writer having scribed for Australia Debates, The Feed, Redfern Electrical, Saturday Night Rove and many more.
Nina Oyama is one of the fastest rising stars in comedy. Having scored her first writing job at age 19, Nina’s ascent hasn’t stopped since. You might have seen her as Courtney on Utopia, Abby on Deadloch, on Taskmaster, Tonightly, Latecomers, and The Chaser’s Election Desk. Maybe you have seen and heard her writing and voice work in Koala Man or YOLO: Crystal Fantasy. On top of all this, Nina’s stand-up shows have sold out at festivals all over Australia.
Rosie’s debut solo show Goddess sold out at festivals across Australia, was given 4.5 stars by the Herald Sun, and led Rhys Nicholson to describe her as “f**king amazing:” You might have heard her on triple j, seen her on ABC’s You Can’t Ask That, or watched her crush gigs at The Opera House or Enmore Theatre’s Laugh Out Proud.
There’s a reason the Herald Sun said Sam is “on an express elevator to stardom.” He has sold out comedy festival shows all over Australia, toured extensively through Asia and the U.K., and has performed on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Gala. Sam has appeared on Just for Laughs, Comedy Up Late, triple j, NOVA and is currently a co-host on The Project.
Sashi Perera is a comedian, writer and recovering lawyer best known for getting into good Instagram fights with trolls. First stepping on stage in 2018, she has now toured the country, built a huge following on social media, is hot off a ‘Best Newcomer’ nomination at the 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and was the only Australian featured as ‘One to Watch’ at the UK 2021 Funny Women Awards.
Sonia has been a regular on the Australian comedy circuit for a decade now, as well as touring internationally. She is a writer for Channel 10’s The Project, has opened for Ronny Chieng and performed at the prestigious Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
Born and raised in Brisbane, Hewy is now a regular on the Melbourne comedy circuit, as well as touring all over the country. He was chosen to be a part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Comedy Zone and Roadshow and has sold out shows around Australia with his stand up, as well as his cult hit Big Hewy’s Footy Show. He’s appeared on triple j, Nova and ABC’s At Home Alone Together.
For over a decade, Tom has played sold out shows at comedy festivals all over Australia and the U.K., as well as having been selected by Melbourne International Comedy Festival for Comedy Zone, Roadshow and Comedy Up Late. He is a regular on The Project, Celebrity Letters and Numbers, Question Everything, and triple j. Most recently he appeared as the assistant on Taskmaster Australia.
Urvi is a comedian, writer, actor, and producer from Melbourne who has played sell out crowds at comedy festivals all across the country. She has appeared in ABC’s Fisk, Channel 9’s Metrosexual, written for Channel 10’s The Project and The Weekly on ABC, and been heard regularly on triple j and 3RRR FM.
Splendour Arts
Splendour Arts returns with a suite of new, immersive art and design works that will make the fields of Splendour come alive! From the minute you hit the festival entrance, you’ll be greeted by Jake Pedro’s (Splendour 2023 Artist in Residence) large scale mural. Once you’re in the festival, whether you want to interact, make something, or just lose yourself in a vibrant, visual environment, there’s something for everyone.
Program to be announced
Splendour Arts returns in 2023 to deliver endless opportunities across the festival to engage, be amazed and participate!
Check into Hiromi Hotel: Rainbow Dream where internationally acclaimed artist Hiromi Tango will take you on a colour-filled adventure. There’ll be plenty of selfie opportunities at the giant new Cool Shit work, Tupacman. Take a stroll into the foamy, cloudy world of Cloud Bridge by Andy Forbes or fire up your nostrils and enjoy a guided ‘scent tour’ of Splendour with Lowana Davies. Explore some of your favourite bands through an exciting, augmented reality experience at the Museum on Wheels project Supertonic. Sam Songalio’s Gateway V2.1 is updated and ready to lead you to The Amphitheatre and, as you arrive and depart #SITG2023, check out Artist in Residence Jakey Pedro’s mural in the tunnel.
Hiromi Hotel returns to Splendour for another colourful and exciting year! Internationally renowned artist Hiromi Tango takes over the barn with her immersive installation Rainbow Dream. Enter a world of rainbow circles and a large-scale projection work that brings together positivity-inducing colour, light and movement.Vibrantly coloured circles seem to pop out from the walls, floor, and ceiling. A human-scale mouse wheel with vivid hues entices viewers to step inside and chase the rainbow. Using colour, light, and movement, Rainbow Dream creates a space for people to slow down, and refocus their internal lenses in a space where the entire world is seen in rainbow-hued brilliance.
Drop in for mindful weaving or facilitator-led workshops to create your own rainbow bubble magic.
Exhibition open: Thursday 4pm – 7pm and Friday – Sunday 12pm – 8pm.
Rainbow Bubble workshops: Friday – Sunday at 12pm and 3pm.
External projection daily from 8pm – 2am.
#HiromiHotel #RainbowDream
AV Supported by M|Arts, Murwillumbah
Tupac in the house! Cool Shit are back to blow things up with their newest, giant, playful, immersive art installation! A multidisciplinary art collective with a background in fine arts, product, and spatial design, Cool Shit create impact by triggering you to think by means of the weird and wonderful, generating positive cultural impact through their artwork. Tupacman is a candid play on words with comical real-life consequences. This concept follows Cool Shit’s consistent reference of iconic figures in popular culture and how the juxtaposition of said figures can be used to delight and surprise from a unique and novel perspective.
Dance in the sky on a gigantic hand painted cloud glowing with eye candy images of balloons, birds, and this year’s Splendour faces. Using foam machines, video projection and a giant bridge structure decorated with hand painted clouds, artist Andy Forbes creates an immersive experience for the punters that reminds us of our relationship with nature and honours Splendour’s power to embrace and overcome the storms. Andy Forbes is a post punk multidisciplinary artist who creates artworks for Splendour each year. He specialises in large scale experimental site-specific installations that are satirical, playful, and provocative.
Sam Songalio is a painter and installation artist whose practice is heavily influenced by science-fiction and music as well as ‘album art’ and video. Inspired by digital technology and electronic music, he adopts algorithms and concepts from these disciplines that shape his approach to both physical and pictorial shape. Often highly immersive and realised on a monumental scale, his work accentuates the compositional elements of line and space in a form that recalls both the modernist grid and digital networks. You’ll be captivated as you pass through his updated gateway as you venture into The Amphitheatre. Allow its mesmerising presence to guide your Splendour journey, weaving moments of transformation and connections within the vibrant tapestry of the event.
Brought to you by Tweed Regional Museum
The Tweed Regional Museum on Wheels (aka MoW) is calling all music lovers to Supertonic! Get ready to relive your favourites and explore musical culture from the Gold Coast to Byron through an exciting, augmented reality experience. Immerse yourself in stories about next gen Oz music legends like Amyl and The Sniffers, Budjerah, JK-47, Skeggs, The Jezabels and TORA. Make MoW’s mural come to life when you dance and move to mix your own tracks on the interactive stage. Have a jam on our drum stations and become a piece of augmented reality art with our (temporary) tattoo station. You can see the full Supertonic exhibition at Tweed Regional Museum in Murwillumbah from July 25 – November 25. Design courtesy Studio Starr and EyeJack.
Supertonic is open daily from 11am – 8pm.
#Supertonic #MoW
Follow your nose and join artist Lowana Davies for Catching a Whiff – a walking tour through the smells of Splendour! An amalgamation of science, performance, and olfaction, Catching a Whiff will guide you through a suite of sensory surprises and delights as you engage with food vendors, plants, music, and conversations. You’ll explore a series of site-specific and olfactory art interventions and gain a fresh perspective on the world around you. Through these roving interactions punters will become attuned to the sensory entanglements present at Splendour and transcend the auditory and visual dimensions of the festival.
Lowana Davies is an emerging artist based on the lands of the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh language region whose work seeks to inspire a deep connection to the power of scent and to foster an appreciation for the beauty and complexity of our environment.
Running Friday 21 – Sunday 23 July.
Tours commence daily from 1pm – 4pm departing from the Science Tent.
This project is supported by Generate GC – a City of Gold Coast initiative produced by Situate Art in Festivals.
Generate GC acknowledges the Kombumerri people of the Yugambeh language region, the traditional owners of the land on which we work and pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples on the Gold Coast today.
#catchingawhiff
Out There / From Here is a Lismore Regional Gallery project in partnership with the Splendour Arts Program, Tweed Regional Gallery, and Byron School of Art.
It’s a career defining opportunity for a local artist – a challenge to think big and get art to an audience of 50,000 people. The recipient will attend and reside at #SITG2023 providing inspiration and research for a new artwork to present at the 2024 festival. The inaugural recipients for 2023 is Bon Horan and Selena Murray, the collaborative artist duo Immortal Soil, currently based in Northern NSW. With over 30 years of experience in event production and flower installations, Immortal Soil create worlds within worlds, blending nature, emotional fantasy, and soundscapes as a retreat from the real world. Influenced by the mystery and impermanence of nature, they work with naturally occurring, often unappreciated, materials to create dramatic, large-scale, and site-specific botanical structures. Their sculptures often mimic the natural world and act as a gateway to connection, enticing viewers to observe what may not otherwise by visible.
Splendour’s 2023 Artist in Residence presents A Walk Along the Prairie – a festival entrance tunnel makeover! Artist Jacob Pedrana’s current works speak to the wildness of the Navaho rodeo, induced by sub-tropical colouring. Rodeos, says Pedrana, “are a metaphor for life’s wild ride. You’re partly in, and out, of control. Sometimes you get thrown off the horse, other times you tame the beast”. Fusing bold pastel acrylic block colours with the soft edge of an oil stick, a melding that transports viewers into the sensory balminess of countryside. Jakey is the artist behind the Splendour in the Grass festival poster artwork for 2023, and an extension of his work can be seen in the festival entrance tunnel this year.
Welcome To COuntry
A festival-wide opportunity to stop, pause and reflect.
Friday 21 July – All stages
“jingiwala minyungbal jagun.dah” – Welcome to Country
Splendour in the Grass is proud to bring you a festival-wide Welcome to Country presented by our Traditional Owners of Minyungbal Country, the land where we will all gather for the event. The official Welcome can only be shared by bloodline to Country representatives and is a very ancient and traditional protocol to ensure the safety of all people at the festival.
This is an opportunity for all visitors to pause and take a moment to connect to the land we are gathered on and pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. This is also a way to honour your own ancestors and set your personal intentions for your Splendour weekend.
The Welcome to Country will take place on the Amphitheatre and will be broadcast on screens at other stages simultaneously.
Rainbow Bar
Curated by Aussie queer party heavyweights POOF DOOF and GiRLTHING, Rainbow Bar returns to Splendour in 2023 to deliver another OTT disco glitter experience in its sophomore year! This LGBTQIA+ (and allies) inclusive space will present mesmerising DJ performances and gogo dancers, and heaps of outrageous antics across the weekend. Get your dancing shoes on and prepare to lipsync for your life with Rainbow Bar’s superstar drag icons who will be celebrating Drag Brunch on Saturday and Sunday of the event, playing games with festival goers, and dropping all kinds of epic routines on stage.
Rainbow Bar is a dance club like no other featuring some of the hottest music tastemakers in the queer scene from across the country serving house, tech, pop, and disco all under one room across each day.
GiRLTHING was born in 2008 and changed Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ scene for the better! Launching as Sydney’s first “indie queer girl social” on Oxford Street every Thursday, GiRLTHING has since frequented every major club in Sydney, not to mention Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. It’s safe to say she’s turned into a bit of an institution over the last decade. GiRLTHING creates safe spaces for queer art galleries, underground warehouse parties, lesbian skate competitions, sweaty club nights and more, and will take over Rainbow Bar on Friday 21 July and Sunday 23 July.
12pm – 2pm: Rainbow Bar Playlist
Get the party started with glittering tunes that will get your pulse racing and heart pumping! Embrace all the colours with your favourite rainbow anthems.
1pm – 2pm: nahal (DJ set)
Northern NSW local nahal has been deeply influenced by the sounds of the African diaspora and her time spent living around the globe. From South London, Jamaica, Bali, to Berlin, in her set you can expect to hear anything from Afrobeats, dancehall, Amapiano, UK garage, Baile funk as well as heavier sounds. Debuting at Splendour’s Rainbow Bar, her undeniably hot and steamy set will have you on the dance floor and throwing it back to the beat, without any second thought.
2pm – 5pm: Chela (DJ set)
Filipino/Australian artist, musician, songwriter, producer, and filmmaker Chela gained international attention in 2013 with a series of electro pop beauties. In 2014 Chela performed in 2013 at SXSW and Coachella and has since supported Classixx, The Presets, The Preatures, San Cisco, Client Liaison and MIKA on tour. As well as gaining 20 million+ streams on her own releases, she has also collaborated with several musical entities, including Goldroom on his summer-anthem ‘Fifteen’, Clubfeet on their highly – rotated single ‘Heartbreak’, electronic heavyweight Damian Lazarus on ‘Five Moons’, queer pop- punk cult hero Seth Bogart on his debut self-titled solo album alongside Kathleen Hanna and Tavi Gevinson, and NYC’s Gus Dapperton on his 2020 track ‘My Say So’. The multi-disciplinary artist’s recent single ‘Cool 2B Queer’ has struck a chord, becoming the #3 most played song on triple j upon release.
5pm – 8pm: Crescendoll (DJ set)
Gomeroi and Biripi woman and Danny L Harle enthusiast, Crescendoll loves big beats and bigger sax solos. A grad of the FBi Radio Dance Class program, she flirts with juke, jersey, footwork, hard drum, UK bass, garage and acid and is an appreciator of all things club. She is a regular on Eora’s dance floors and has played sets for outfits like Mince, Lefag, Athletica, Bizarro, Decay and Leak Your Own Nudes. She has also played Soft Centre, Pitch Music Festival and Beyond the Valley.
8pm – 11pm: Jaman (DJ set)
Jaman is a self-made spinner who entices her audiences with effortlessly sexy beats, innovative style, and creativity. This Irish gal has been on Sydney’s music scene for over a decade and has played at numerous festivals both in Australia and Internationally. Jaman’s natural grace is bewitching, enticing the ears, eyes, and soul of those on the dancefloor. Get ready for a dark night of scratch featuring energetic tracks ranging from disco to techno.
11pm – 2am: Jacqui Cunningham (DJ set)
From silky disco to the purest of house and techno, DJ and producer Jacqui Cunningham has established themselves as one of Eora’s mainstays with a unique flair that’ll summon any dance floor. In the beginning years of their budding DJ career, Jacqui launched the notorious Sydney brand GiRLTHING, which is currently one of the biggest LGBTQIA+ collectives in Australia. Jacqui has featured on TEDx, triple j’s Friday Arvo Mix, FBi Radio, JOY FM and Radio Electronica, as well as being asked to appear on SOHO radio in London and as a guest speaker on the EMC panel with Honey Dijon. Adding to Jacqui’s breadth of musical prowess, they released their debut EP on Karussell Records, ‘Paloma’ in 2022, and remixed Unknown Associates latest record in April 2023, which are both available for download and streaming on all platforms.
Plus!
- POOF DOOF Superstars – drag shows + gogo dancers!
POOF DOOF has cemented itself as THE premier queer dance club brand in Australia since bursting onto the scene in 2011. With an unwavering focus on music, POOF DOOF quickly established itself as the go-to night out for any queer (and queer allies) with an appreciation for quality dance music and late nights. POOF DOOF and its Pride Patrol stage activations have toured mainstream events, providing safe spaces for queer patrons, and showcasing the best LGBTQIA+ talent in the country. Get ready as they take over RAINBOW BAR on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July.
12pm – 2pm: Drag Brunch – Shows, Games and Lipsync for Your Life Competition
Meet Dammit Janet, Danni Issues, Daphne Gaye, Kalin Klein, Venus Pagina as they present an array of raunchy activities and gloriously unfiltered games along with the RuPaul inspired fan favourite Lipsync for Your Life.
2pm – 5pm: Nic Holland (DJ set)
Nic Holland has made his mark serving signature crowd-pleasing pure pop perfection for audiences around Australia on stages at Splendour, Wine Machine, NYE in the Park, POOF DOOF and Sydney WorldPride, as well as supporting slots for artists including Azealia Banks, Sneaky Sound System, Slayyyter, The Veronicas, Samantha Jade, Ricki-Lee, and more.
5pm – 8pm: Argonaut (DJ set)
Melbourne based ARIA Club Chart DJ, Argonaut has spent the last fourteen years spinning across the city’s clubs lifting roofs with his brand of high-energy vocal, commercial dance, and house music. Currently holding residencies at iconic queer venues POOF DOOF and Sircuit, Argonaut has played sets for countless Australian LGBTQI+ events across the country. Within the festival scene, Argonaut has played epic shows at queer stages, his most recent career highlight was headlining the forecourt stage at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Party playing to over 5000 party goers in February. As a producer, Argonaut has built a career on reworking pop hits into club-ready cuts for his dance floors, providing unique and signature Argonaut moments that set his sound apart. His unofficial bootlegs for artists like Dua Lipa, Scissor Sisters, Kim Petras – and of course Kylie – have been streamed over 500,000 times and played far and wide by queer DJ peers locally and across the pond. His debut release ‘Fame’ was released in June 2022 on Extrovert Records, under the iconic Australian dance label Vicious Recordings. A true dance floor chameleon, Argonaut’s deep knowledge of music spans disco, house and tech to electro clash, pop, and Hi-NRG; get ready for him to curate the greatest night on the dance floor you’ve ever had at Splendour’s Rainbow Bar!
8pm – 11pm: Jimi The Kween (DJ set)
Jimi The Kween is the drag superstar of your dreams! Show diva, DJ goddess and premiere party hostess, she is famous for her extravagant performances on The Voice Australia and her main stage live vocals and DJ sets at Australia’s favourite music festivals. Hot off the stage from Australia’s Wine Machine Tour, Sydney’s New Year’s Eve in the Park, this multi-instrumental, multi-talented starlet is going cosmic, serving up a wide-ranging aesthetic to suit any brief, from club kid couture to classic drag glam. Whether she’s a burlesque baby in the Spiegeltent, a DJ diva delivering floor-stomping sets with pumping live vocals or hosting festival main stages, Jimi The Kween is as versatile as she is fabulous, and she always slays the day….AND night …!
11pm – 2am: Jarred Baker (DJ set)
Known for his floor-filling sets and signature ‘big hat’, Jarred Baker has been a staple in Sydney’s party scene and beyond for the last decade. His fine-tuned skills are a result of working the decks alongside DJ royalty, leaving him in demand, headlining the hottest parties, clubs, and events around Australia. In 2022, Jarred earned himself his first Apple Music number 1 for two consecutive weeks for his collaboration with Sydney Mardi Gras, producing their Official 2022 Festival Mix, which coincided with him playing across multiple events at the festival in March. In the European summer of 2022, he hit the road, playing a run of shows in UK, including for DJ Fat Tony at the world-famous Ministry of Sound, headlined his own show at Jackie O’ in Mykonos in a season that programmed him alongside legends The Shapeshifters and Melvo Baptiste (Defected), before heading to Amsterdam for Milkshake Festival, playing the closing set on the Saturday night. Currently holding residencies at Sydney’s Fame (Universal), POOF DOOF Sydney (Ivy) and Melbourne (Chasers) as well as Sydney’s iconic Beresford Hotel, he’ll bring his distinct brand of disco / tech house to Splendour’s Rainbow Bar.
Plus!
- POOF DOOF Superstars – drag shows and gogo dancers
12pm – 2pm: Drag Brunch – Shows, Games and Lipsync for Your Life Competition
The Queens return! Dammit Janet, Danni Issues, Daphne Gaye, Kalin Klein, Venus Pagina and friends are back for round two. Get ready for more outrageous fun and games, and more chances to Lipsync for Your Life.
2pm – 5pm: Jacqui Cunningham (DJ set)
From silky disco to the purest of house and techno, DJ / producer Jacqui Cunningham has established themselves as one of Eora’s mainstays with a unique flare that’ll summon any dance floor. In the beginning years of their budding DJ career, Jacqui launched the notorious Sydney brand GiRLTHING, which is currently one of the biggest LGBTQIA+ collectives in Australia. Jacqui has featured on TEDx, triple j’s Friday Arvo Mix, FBi Radio, JOY FM (Melb), Radio Electronica, as well as being asked to appear on SOHO radio in London and as a guest speaker on the EMC panel with Honey Dijon. Adding to Jacqui’s breadth of musical prowess, they released their debut EP on Karussell Records, ‘Paloma’ in 2022, and remixed Unknown Associates latest record in April 2023, which are now available for download and streaming on all platforms.
5pm – 8pm: DJ Dolly Llama (DJ set)
Originally from NYC where she grew up clubbing to some of the world’s best disco, house and circuit music DJs, DJ Dolly Llama now brings her fierce music and fashion to Australian dance floors nationwide. Crowned DJ of the Year 2021 by Brisbane Pride, Dolly has played and headlined countless iconic LGBTIQ+ clubs and events, including Tropical Fruits, Laneway (Sydney Mardi Gras / WorldPride), Morning Glory, The Wickham, YOT Club, ARQ, The Imperial, Turtle Cove, Broken Heel Festival and so much more. Her music sweet spot is popular/commercial dance remixes and vocal house – but has played everything from high energy circuit parties to chilled disco at corporate parties and a side business, Dolly Does Weddings, for those who want to make their wedding reception the ultimate party. No matter what style of event, she takes pride in scouring the internet to find the sexiest remixes of songs audiences love. Known for her ‘kill’ em with kindness’ approach to life, this Buddhist boho beauty slays the DJ decks, fills dance floors, and leaves audiences smiling and wanting more.
8pm – 11pm: Jarred Baker (DJ set)
Known for his floor-filling sets and signature ‘big hat’, Jarred Baker has been a staple in Sydney’s party scene and beyond for the last decade. His fine-tuned skills are a result of working the decks alongside DJ royalty, leaving him in demand, headlining the hottest parties, clubs, and events around Australia. In 2022, Jarred earned himself his first Apple Music number 1 for two consecutive weeks for his collaboration with Sydney Mardi Gras, producing their Official 2022 Festival Mix, which coincided with him playing across multiple events at the festival in March. In the European summer of 2022, he hit the road, playing a run of shows in UK, including for DJ Fat Tony at the world-famous Ministry of Sound, headlined his own show at Jackie O’ in Mykonos in a season that programmed him alongside legends The Shapeshifters and Melvo Baptiste (Defected), before heading to Amsterdam for Milkshake Festival, playing the closing set on the Saturday night. Currently holding residencies at Sydney’s Fame (Universal), POOF DOOF Sydney (Ivy) and Melbourne (Chasers) as well as Sydney’s iconic Beresford Hotel, he’ll bring his distinct brand of disco / tech house to Splendour’s Rainbow Bar.
11pm – 2am: NiPSLiP (DJ set)
NiPSLiP is the DJ duo of your wildest party dreams! Comprised of solo DJs Maple Behaviour and Amie Hess, they will bring their camp, fiery, fun energy, on-stage antics and (sometimes terrible) dancing to Splendour’s Rainbow Bar. Think Beyoncé and Lady Gaga in Telephone if it was set in the Kath & Kim multiverse!
Plus!
- POOF DOOF Superstars – drag shows and gogo dancers
MEET THE QUEENS
With the face of Barbie and the body of Ken, this dancing diva is sure to make any man in the audience confused. She will bring comedy, dancing, and beauty to any stage. Ladies watch out, Janet is coming to steal your man.
Sydney’s premier dyslexic, ADHD and lactose intolerant drag queen. She has the beauty of Natalie Bassingthwaighte and the voice of Carl Barron. Since blasting onto the Sydney Drag Scene in 2018, Danni Issues has proven to be a staple in the Sydney drag community. She has made appearances on prominent shows, such as Channel 9’s Celebrity Apprentice, SBS Australia’s Insight and the Today Show. She most recently hosted the live and proud pre-show for Sydney WorldPride and has worked with brands such has Oreo, Uber, and Tinder.
Meet Daphne Gaye, Gadigal land-based drag artist. Host and performer. Chaotically elegant.
Bringing muscle, campery and a good time, Kalin Klein will make your Splendour unforgettable. Give him a compliment (or a cocktail) and he will be blushing, all 4 cheeks.
Say hello to Sydney drag baby Venus Pagina, pansexual gender non-conforming sweetheart.
Foodies Unite
YUM, TWO, THREE.
Check, Yum, two, three. At Splendour we pride ourselves on serving up the yummiest and freshest food to keep those energy levels in check for the festival. From gourmet burgers to Asian delights and everything in between, Splendour’s food offerings are hand-chosen to cater for vego’s, paleo, gluten free, dairy free, vegan, hard-core raw or the extremely carnivorous. From awesome little eateries to Splendour’s epic food halls, we’ve got your food and beverage needs covered, big time.
Destination Venues
Smirnoff’s Seltzer Springs will be bringing perfect Palm Springs vibes by day and Vegas neons by night. Set in a desert-inspired, cacti-filled oasis, you can expect a bio-glitter station creating free festival looks and a full DJ line up curated to bring keep the good times going.
Welcome to our House of Friends! A respite from the festival where you can enjoy the sounds of the festival from within our picturesque oasis and of course our signature Casamigos cocktails – You had us at margs!
Catch Byron Bay Brewery Bar at Splendour, stocked with chilled Byron Bay Premium Lager and a stacked lineup of musician mates #GoWithIt
Warm up those vocal chords and head to the Platypus Karaoke Bar to belt out your favourite tracks.
Hidden in plain sight, seek and you shall find. Come discover Red Bull Unforeseen!
Energy to discover moments together. Grab a cold can of Red Bull before heading front of stage at Splendour.
Want to get some class in the grass? Head to the Champagne Bar – the perfect spot for socialising and soaking up the atmos, while enjoying bubbles in a dedicated space. Toast with friends and recharge your festival spirit with a touch of decadence! The Champagne Bar is serving up perfectly chilled champagne, in a prime location for people watching.
Keeno for some vino? Enter the cellar door and step into The Winery to unwind with a selection of rosé, red, white, or sparkling wines. Meet your mates, find a cosy nook, and warm up at The Winery. See you there!
BYRON BAY BREWERY
Catch the Byron Bay Brewery Bar, headed back to Splendour! Get ready for a stacked line-up featuring mates Beddy Rays, Chutney, Cool Sounds, Eggy, Ghost Mutt, Go-Jo, The Grogans, Lazy Ghost, Old Mervs, Pasiflorez, Ra Ra Viper, Royel Otis, and Velvet Club.
The Byron Bay Brewery Bar will be stocked with chilled Byron Bay Premium Lager, delicious new Fruit Lager, and a whole lot of good vibes. Stop by on Thursday for an extra special opening night party with special performances and giveaways.
Beddy Rays started making music together not long after they first met on the primary school oval back in the day. The release of weekend anthem Sobercoaster in 2020 really started shaking things up for these fun-loving larrikins. The tune amassed 4.5 million streams on Spotify and echoed throughout the backyards of Australia during triple j’s Hottest 100 of 2020, cementing the four-piece as one of the country’s most loveable bands. Their highly anticipated and fully independent debut album was released in July 2022 and achieved #1 Vinyl and #2 Australian Album on the ARIA charts, as well as the coveted ‘Spotlight Album’ on triple j. 2022 was a milestone year for these four humble young tradies who are well on their way to becoming the next big Australian export. An incredible debut record and a slot at Splendour in the Grass will leave you hanging to be friends with Beddy’s.
Chutney have made a name for themselves through their own brand of indie-rock with infectious tunes and captivating live performances. The five-piece have a strong track record of enjoying supports with some of the country’s finest including The Terry’s, Beddy Rays, Bootleg Rascal, Tones And I, Pacific Avenue, Hollow Coves (and more) while boasting upcoming shows with King Stingray, Dear Sunday, and Surf Trash. Off the back of their latest single, Madeline, Chutney received praise from Spotify, a Track of the Day feature on triple j Unearthed and a national spot add to triple j. The group has also previously received support from MTV, Rage, Blank Street Press, The AU Review, Beat Mag and even secured national airplay on Triple M. Chutney were nominated for three Gold Coast Music Awards in 2022, including Breakout Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Video of the Year.
Cool Sounds is the key project of Australian pop polymath Dainis Lacey, with a live band that sees up to six musicians crowded onstage. Across five albums to date, Cool Sounds’ shapeshifting indie rock has given nods to 80s pop, cheerful funk, and alt-country, all with a lightness of touch that disguises Lacey’s thoughtful, perceptive song writing. Their new album Like That (Chapter Music) “rips into a slicked n’ slippery, dance-ready aura of disco and funk-flexed pop.” Like That was Album of the Week on RRR and has received rave reviews from media around the world as well airplay on BBC 6 Music, triple j, double j, Rage and across community radio at home and abroad. Cool Sounds has toured Europe in 2023, 2019 and in 2015, most recently selling out shows and performing at festivals, as well as shows with Australian indie royalty Good Morning, RVG, Snowy Band and Mod Con.
Taking melodic cues from avant-pop experimentalists Stereolab, with the rhythmic and left field stylings of Krautrock renegades Faust, Eggy fuse these together to forge a sound that is at once fascinating and disconcerting. One of the most exciting new bands to emerge from the Melbourne underground, the five-piece of Charlie Wolstenholme, Dominic Moore, Lucy Packham, Sam Lyons, and Zoe Monk cast a wave of admiration across the Australian and international music scene with their sophomore album With Gusto. Released through the revered indie label Flightless Records (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Amyl & The Sniffers) the album was awarded 8/10 stars in Line of Best Fit and has seen widespread support from Rolling Stone, NME, Bandcamp, Beat Magazine, Tone Deaf, Rage, triple j, and double j, 3RRR and 4ZZZ. Performing in ballrooms and halls with cello and violin, or in clubs and band rooms with saxophones and driving riffs, Eggy has no hierarchy, just fuzz, synths, samples, and synergy.
Hailing from Meanjin and born from the belly of burnout, Ghost Mutt hurl their special brand of moody pop-rock into the universe. Crooning, wailing and occasionally inwardly screaming, their wholehearted performances and earnest lyrics about love, life, and existential dread have been making impressions on the crowds of Meanjin and beyond. With lyrics in both English and Spanish, Ghost Mutt takes sonic inspiration from the likes of Ball Park Music, Nice Biscuit, Pixies, and Radiohead – with layered harmonies and spacey guitars interrupted by crunchy distortion and pop hooks.
Go-Jo is the solo project of emerging pop star Marty Zambotto. Growing up off the grid on a self-sustained property in remote Western Australia, Go-Jo’s unique upbringing gave him a chance to explore his unconventional sound and character. After getting his first guitar at 13, Go-Jo began producing and writing songs for others before finding his own voice and launching his solo project. What sets Go-Jo apart from other artists is his incredible ability to write, produce, record, mix, master, and perform as an artist, whilst also having an almost innate knack for connection with fans, entertaining, and engaging with audiences both in person and online. He has championed an out-of-the-box approach to his catchy music and mashed it with his captivating personality and personal style.
Genre-expanding outfit The Grogans are a trio of best friends from Melbourne who explore nuanced manoeuvres in surf, punk, blues, garage, psych, rockabilly, and reggae. Banding together in high school playing backyard gigs and weekly jam nights, their third ep Grogan Grove (2018) featured the outfits still lauded live fave Lemon To My Lime, which has now clocked over four million Spotify streams and subsequently catapulted The Grogans to the top of the nation’s ones-to-watch list. Cutting the ribbon on their debut album Just What You Want, 2019 saw the band perform and sell out multiple venues across Australia. The following year, The Grogans dropped their self-recorded and mixed magnum opus Day / To / Day resulting in a completely sold-out national Australian tour. Following this album, the band released their third LP Which Way Is Out featuring singles Just A Kid, Be Your Man, Inside My Mind, and No Thanks (I’m Going Surfing) which led to sold out shows around Australia.
After many years spent playing abroad in Canada, Lazy Ghost have relocated to the Southern Hemisphere to dive into their already established following within the Australia and New Zealand music scenes. Their music tonality stems from their love of indie tones and surf rock tempo. Founder, lead singer and songwriter Kyle Leeming is originally from the Byron Shire, NSW. He formed the band in Whistler, Canada on one of those “I’ll only stay for 6 months” type holidays and hasn’t looked back since. Now, they’ve amassed millions of streams online and built a loyal following who have been begging for the arrival in New Zealand. It’s time to give them what they want!
Old Mervs are riding at the peak of a surf-rock renaissance in Western Australia, having sold out a string of huge rooms in 2021 and winning fans across the country with their no-nonsense song writing and country-lad charm. Best mates since the age of five, David House (vocals and guitar) and Henry Carrington-Jones (drums) grew up together in Kojonup, a tiny town approximately halfway between Perth and Albany. They began their journey as Old Mervs as Henry finished high school in 2017, converting an old stable into their first jam space and spending the following years flitting between the stints in Wollongong, Perth, and various country towns. With David now based in Margaret River, and Henry now based in Perth, the band have been building their regional and metro fanbase with successive sell-out shows.
Pasiflorez are a four-piece, psych-surf collective hailing from the Northern Rivers. Since their inception in 2020, Pasiflorez have two albums, an EP, and four singles already under their belt, with their latest album (released via Nice Guys) garnering attention both locally and overseas. Performing shows across Australia, they’ve gained a reputation for their enigmatic and colourful live shows. First impressions reveal a style drawing influence from classic surf rock, pyschedelia, and old school funk. With their unique blend of laidback funky grooves, sun-soaked melodies, and 70s nostalgia, Pasiflorez create dreamy sonic worlds that you can’t help but get lost in. Enter their dreams through your ears, close your eyes and absorb the colours.
Ra Ra Viper are a five-piece indie-rock band from Fremantle, Western Australia. Known for their sweaty, energy filled performance, the band has become a staple of the Perth and Fremantle gig scene. Taking inspiration from the likes of The Black Keys, Noah Dillon, and Fontaines D.C., Ra Ra Viper have put their own spin on rock’n’roll. With hard hitting lyrics addressing the important topics that come with being a young adult navigating through life, the band’s music has proven to be popular amongst their passionate and loyal fanbase.
Get ready to experience dream pop duo Royel Otis – the brainchild of Otis Pavlovic and Royel Maddell. After living in New York for a few years, Royel returned home broke and started working in a bar, where he met Otis fresh out of school. After hanging around on a night out with friends, Otis showed Roy some of the demos he had been working on. Royel took them home and started matching with guitars and some Fat Boy Slim samples he stole during his time in NYC. The two started having weekly catch ups and churning out tunes in Roy’s Bondi Beach sunroom, laying guitars over beats and going on long drives along the east coast to write melodies over the tracks. Drawing inspiration from old Japanese city pop records and ’90s nostalgia, and produced by Julian Sudek, the guys sent their track off to the legendary mixer Dave Fridmann who agreed to mix their debut song. Without You is the duo’s shimmering debut single.
Forming in 2018 in Melbourne / Naarm, the five-piece consisting of AJ, Sam, Tom, Dos, and Macca have taken their emphatic live show from backyards to playing support for the likes of Great Gable, Eskimo Joe, Dulcie, Pacific Avenue, and Death by Denim. Writing radiant indie-rock songs about navigatting life through their 20s to the tune of a driving rhythm section and lead hooks throughout, The Velvet Club are primed for the stage. With their unforgettable stage presence, the five-piece have recently returned from their latest adventure – an epic national tour which saw them sharing the stage with The Rions, Great Gable, Sophisticated Dingo (co-headline) and more, enthralling audiences across Australia. Releasing two singles in 2022 with Love Me the Same and One Way, The Velvet Club are clearly refusing to slow down as they ramp up for more music releases and touring this year!
SMIRNOFF SELTZER SPRINGS
Smirnoff’s Seltzer Springs will be bringing perfect Palm Springs vibes by day and Vegas neon’s by night. Set in a desert-inspired, cacti-filled oasis, you can expect an enviro-glitter station creating free festival looks and a full DJ line up, curated by some of East Coast’s finest selectors, to keep the good times going. Starring Jessie Belters, Dan Muz, Yazmin, Club Raiders DJs, Beandip, Spacie, Kira Sunday, Cashew, Reiflex, Tony Velvet, Tere and Kaktus.
Northern Rivers legends Bare Foot Beat is a cultural movement of art, music, dance, and expression! Their soulful platform is the place to discover the soundtrack of an avantgarde and sustainable lifestyle. Known for their monthly parties in Byron, Billinudgel, and Brisbane, expect ground-breaking hybrid electronic acts, downtempo and mid-tempo world electronic music, global beats, and highlife. They’ll keep the atmosphere at Smirnoff Seltzer Springs sassy and bright.
When life gives you lemons, recover with Sundays Lemonade! What started as a passion project in April of 2022 has now turned into a community. Infusing sounds of the world past, present, and future, Sundays Lemonade unites different cultures, genres, and countries under one roof. Brisbane’s newest monthly party people are relocating to Smirnoff’s Seltzer Springs on Friday to provide some of the best hip hop, R&B, Afro, and Soulection.
From the people behind Lost Paradise Festival comes Lost Sundays – an expression of rhythm and dance, each and every Sunday afternoon in Eora/Sydney. On the Saturday of Splendour, Lost Sundays DJs and friends will bring their feel-good, anything-goes take on house, techno, breaks, and disco to Smirnoff Seltzer Springs for a full day takeover. Come as you are, lose yourself, and leave revitalised. Find your people at Lost Sundays, taking over Smirnoff Seltzer Springs on day three of #SITG2023. See you there!
Designed with good times and sunshine in mind, Doc’s events aim to bring together great people, great music, and great vibes. Established in the summer of 2019, their events have become renowned for the infectious energy, talent, and company they attract, with events running throughout the sunny season at staple Geelong and Melbourne venues, and now headed to Smirnoff Seltzer Springs this Splendour.
Passionate club night founder and DJ Jessie Belters has been promoting and smashing dancefloors around the world since 2017. Since making the move down under from her homeland of Wales, UK, Jessie has become a host on Sydney’s Orbital Radio with her show “Strictly Belters” and co-runs events with her collectives “Cloud 909” in Sydney and the newly formed “Northern Rhythms” in the Northern Rivers where she is now based. Known for her huge knowledge of musical genres she is capable of effortlessly weaving sounds together with equal measures of ease and style. You can expect her creative and energetic sets to keep you captivated all the while shifting between house, disco, techno, garage, breakbeat and their various intersects.
Dan Muz is an underground DJ and house music producer hailing from the sunny shores of Byron Bay, Australia. A skilled turntablist and musician, Dan’s melodic, groove driven sound sits on the fringes of soul, house, tech and breaks. He’s been continuously evolving and building his music catalog with originals and remixes on Sorta Kinda Music, Bonfire Records and Lustre. With experience as a resident DJ, all the way up to major festival billing, Dan is set to combine all his performance and musical experience to create tasteful club music.
Yazmin is the ultimate party-starter! With a career spanning back to 2013, she’s rocked dance floors across Australia, Indonesia, and the UK. Her journey has taken her to some of London’s hottest clubs and events, including Printworks, Ministry of Sound, Egg, Southwest Four Festival and Electric Brixton. And now, she’s back on home soil, bringing with her a global perspective and a love for all things dance music. Yazmin’s library of tunes is unparalleled, spanning from Afro house to electro and everything in between. She’s a master of mixing, and always knows exactly how to get the party started and keep it going all night long.
You know them. You love them. From sexy sunset vibes to brain fizzing late night bangers, the Club Raiders crew know how to throw fajitas with extra hot sauce at any party. With over 10 years of DJ and event experience, this motley crew have got serious runs on the board, partnering and performing with Australia’s biggest events and brands and always delivering an experience that showcases their love for making people enjoy themselves.
With his feet set firmly in every facet of his local scene, Beandip’s sound is always evolving. Influenced heavily by the 90s rave scene, his sets move between deep tech, break beat, UK garage, and underground house and disco. Whether you catch him behind the decks commandeering the dance floor or find him behind the scenes steering the ship at ever successful events, one thing is evident; he knows how to curate a good time.
Legendary local lordette and OG of the Byron scene, Spacie was born and raised in the heart of Byron. Her deep connection to the region, its history, culture – and of course music – is strongly reflected in her wide musical vocabulary and her undeniable ability to get crowds grooving. Spacie released her debut Azure ep in 2017 and has had residencies at musical institutions such as LaLa Land, elsewhere and The World Bar in Sydney, and played festivals including Rabbits Eat Lettuce and Splendour in the Grass.
Kyra aka Kira Sunday is a familiar face around Byron Bay. Known for her energetic and fun sets that never miss a genre, she’s tearing up dance floors left, right, and centre. With a name that stems from her party animal alter ego, Kira Sunday is the life of the party, bringing that same energy to every performance, as she pushes the boundaries of what’s possible behind the decks.
Cashew’s infectious sounds are ready to take you on a joyous journey through house, tech house, deep house, RnB, hip hop, funk, and disco. Uplifting and exciting, each set from this party-starter masterfully weaves a mix of old school and new school tunes. Cashew’s ability to read the room has dancefloors up and down the east coast pumping, delivering satisfaction every time.
Known around Byron Bay as DJ Reiflex, Reif Hand has a deep love of music that is infectious and shows with every song selection. While having a love of sharing music, Reif is a firm believer in every DJ set should be like a good album, it should take you on a journey with a defined start and finish that includes highs and lows of energy that respects the crowd, venue, booking and the timeslot. With thousands of hours behind the decks and hundreds of gigs played from pool parties, clubs, radio shows, concerts and festivals, Reif has shared the stage or opened for such quality performers as Drapht, Claptone, the Aston Shuffle, Rob Pix, Torren Foot and Dom Dolla.
Tony Velvet spins garage and house music from the lands of Bundjalung / Byron, NSW. Throwing out shuffles and heaters, he has built a name in the local scene for keeping booties on the dance floor and chairs to the side. Tony Velvet aka Vinyl Richie kicked off his career playing in bands and spinning vinyl. If you’re ready to get down or in need of a serious pickup, grab that icy drink and report to the Velvet floor.
Originally from Chile and based in Australia, Tere has been sharpening her crafts as a DJ for 6 years. Inspired by the groove scene that raised her in Santiago, and influenced by the European club culture during her experience living in Madrid. She is a vinyl collector, characterised by encompassing genres such as minimal, house, groove, and breakbeat. She has been able to perform on consolidated stages and clubs throughout her country, performing on Club La Feria, Teatro C, Santo Remedio, and others, as well as some international places in Thailand (SN50 Bar) and Australia (Hamilton Island).
Born with an insatiable passion for music and an innate talent for blending different genres seamlessly, Kaktus takes audiences on an unforgettable journey through the realms of disco, funk and, house, with a magnetic stage presence and an unrivalled ability to create electrifying sets. His sets are a meticulously crafted tapestry of soulful grooves, infectious basslines, and uplifting melodies, all intricately woven together create an atmosphere of pure euphoria on the dance floor.
CASAMIGOS TEQUILA OASIS
Welcome to our Tequila Oasis, a respite from the festival where you can enjoy the sounds of Splendour within a picturesque haven and, of course, signature Casamigos cocktails. You had us at margs!
RED BULL UNFORESEEN
Seek and you shall find. Red Bull Unforeseen is returning to Splendour in the Grass. Flights are departing daily from 6pm. Stand by for updated flight information and thank you for flying with us!
STONE & WOOD CRAFT BAR
The perfect place in-between sets, the Stone & Wood Craft Bar will be slinging the festival’s freshest beers and comes complete with firepit for festivalgoers to warm their icy cockles.
THE CHAMPAGNE BAR
Want to get some class in the grass? Head to The Champagne Bar – the perfect spot for socialising and soaking up the atmos, while enjoying bubbles in a dedicated space. Toast with friends and recharge your festival spirit with a touch of decadence! The Champagne Bar is serving up perfectly chilled Mumm champagne, in a prime location for people watching.
THE WINERY
Keen for some vino? Step into The Winery to unwind with a selection of Headline Acts rosé, red, white, or sparkling wines. Meet your mates, find a cosy nook, and warm up at The Winery. See you there!
PLATYPUS KARAOKE BAR
Warm up those vocal cords and head to the Platypus Karaoke Bar to belt out your favourite tracks.
PLATYPUS CHAPEL OF KICKS
Hallelujah! Platypus are bringing a Vegas style Little White Chapel to Splendour. Now’s your chance to follow in Britney’s footsteps and have your own Vegas-style ceremony. Round up your love, your closest friend, or your newest Splendour bestie for an unforgettable festival moment and get decked out in Platypus latest footwear.
RIMMEL LONDON STREET PARTY
Rimmel are back at Splendour this year, bringing the London Street party energy, complete with double decker bus! Climb aboard for FREE makeovers to elevate your festival look, while resident DJ Gabriella Spritz spins the best tunes.
GARNIER HAIR FOOD HUB
Garnier is partnering with Splendour this year to bring you a mouth-watering experience for your hair. Join us at the Garnier Food Hub where you can get your festival hair styled with the best Garnier Hair Food while enjoying some refreshing juice and the platters that matter.
MODIBODI LIFECHANGING LOO'S
Got your period at Splendour? No worries. Meet Modibodi’s ultra-comfy, super-absorbent apparel. Everyone’s favourite period underwear brand is hitting Splendour with a pop-up experience where you can purchase their life-changing period underwear and get all-weekend access to their exclusive VIP bathrooms for the first 150 people that sign up to their mailing list, each day.
SPLENDOUR MERCH STORE
We have all your festival threads and accessories officially covered.
The #SITG2023 Merch Store is back with all the event themed apparel you need to re-live the good times! The range includes unisex tees, sweaters, socks, hats, bags, water bottle, blanket, mouse pad, tea towel, ear plugs, stubby cooler, limited edition posters, travel bags, mugs, beanies, and a warm scarf to keep you feeling toasty on those winter nights.
There will also be a limited-edition daily sweater featuring the artists performing each day (available at the event only) AND an exclusive VIP Village tee you can flex around your mates.
There are two ways to purchase:
- At the physical store onsite at Splendour during the event (check the map on your app for location).
OR
- Jump the queue and purchase online or via the Splendour official app BEFORE the event and take advantage of our click and collect option available to purchase.
It’s also a thriving hub of knowledge and platform to do good, so be sure to check out our community stalls for info, education, and advice.
Markets
Shop til you drop at Splendour’s market, where stalls of all kinds will sell their festival wares. Splendour’s inspired fashion and assorted goods market returns with everything from unique locally handmade products and high fashion to jewellery, art, and crafts. There’s plenty of fun festival essentials as well as necessary day-to-day items available to purchase. It’s also a thriving hub of knowledge and platform to do good, so be sure to check out our community stalls for info, education, and advice.
